Men Who Like to Travel - David Latt

Moving into the colder months, be sure to carry an umbrella or rain coat when you visit Amsterdam. Don't let the rain stop you from renting a bicycle. It's still the best way to see Amsterdam. A city on a uniquely human-scale, there's so much to see in Amsterdam, focusing day trips in a single area will help you enjoy the city at a leisurely pace.    MUSEUMPLEIN AND DE PIJP Amsterdam is home to dozens of great museums, not the least of which are the  Amsterdam Historical Museum  (Kalverstraat 92) , the inspiring  Dutch Resistance Museum  (Plantage Kerklaan 61), the  Filmmuseum  (Vondelpark 3), the  Foam-Fotografiemuseum  (Keizersgracht 609), the Royal Palace (Dam), and the remarkable  Hermitage Amsterdam  (Amstel 51).  For a day trip, three of Amsterdam's best museums are conveniently within a block of one another in the  Museum Plaza  (Museumplein) just south of the city center.   The  Stedelijk Mus

Moving into the colder months, be sure to carry an umbrella or rain coat when you visit Amsterdam. Don't let the rain stop you from renting a bicycle. It's still the best way to see Amsterdam. A city on a uniquely human-scale, there's so much to see in Amsterdam, focusing day trips in a single area will help you enjoy the city at a leisurely pace.    MUSEUMPLEIN AND DE PIJP Amsterdam is home to dozens of great museums, not the least of which are the  Amsterdam Historical Museum  (Kalverstraat 92) , the inspiring  Dutch Resistance Museum  (Plantage Kerklaan 61), the  Filmmuseum  (Vondelpark 3), the  Foam-Fotografiemuseum  (Keizersgracht 609), the Royal Palace (Dam), and the remarkable  Hermitage Amsterdam  (Amstel 51).  For a day trip, three of Amsterdam's best museums are conveniently within a block of one another in the  Museum Plaza  (Museumplein) just south of the city center.   Ongoing renovation

EATING IN AMSTERDAM Most travelers agree, you don't go to Amsterdam for the food. The museums, no question. The canals and parks, absolutely. The Red Light District and the "coffee shops," sure, if that's your thing. But the food.  Not so much. The restaurant food is hit-or-miss. Most dishes are under seasoned, but that doesn't mean you won't eat well.  You'll have good cafe food--great sandwiches, delicious cheese, excellent coffee, and lots of really good breads, rolls, and desserts. EATING AND DRINKING WHAT'S LOCAL Interestingly, some Dutch export products consumed at home taste much better when you're in Holland.  Heineken and Grolsch, for instance, have more subtleties and depth of flavor.     Gouda isn't generally regarded as a particularly interesting cheese, but stop by Kaasland Singel (Haarlemmerstraat 2), west of Centraal Station, and have a sampling of the locally produced cheeses.  You'll be surprised that gouda can have a