Let's Plan a Trip to Amsterdam!

Day 2

Morning

First, we feast with breakfast at The Pancake Bakery. Yes, finally, pancakes. You'll no doubt be left feeling bloated, so it's time to walk it off in the seriously picturesque Jordaan neighborhood (just over the canal from The Pankcake Bakery). Walk and shop the lovely Jordaan, especially the upmarket "9 Streets." Keep your camera/phone at the ready — you will encounter many iconic photo spots. Depending on the day, you'll find all sorts of bric-a-brac, antiques and food at the Noordermarkt.

Now, get those tissues ready and make for the Anne Frank House — remember to book an entrance ticket online in advance. This place is a tearjerker and, while it's no wonky history museum, you'll surely feel the weight of the past as you tour the Frank family's hideout.

Afternoon

Enjoy a positively charming walk alongside the Prinsengracht Canal, one of the city's five original canals, from the Jordaan toward Leidseplein in the southeast. Make a "coffee" stop (should you be so inclined) at the touristy and boisterous The Bulldog, doing business in a one-time police station. Cross the Singelgracht Canal and settle into a picnic lunch on Museumplein. No picnic supplies? No worries. There's an AH Van Baerlestraat grocery store right underneath the park. Look for the covered escalator entrance in the park's western-most corner, across from the Stedelijk Museum.

Pick two of the three art museums and book your tickets in advance:

• Von Gogh (the man, the myth, the delusional genius)
• Rijksmuseum (Dutch and European masters of yore)
• Stedelijk (modern art)

Allow for a couple hours in each museum. Remember to grab some fresh air in-between. Afterwards, head to (perhaps after fetching some beer or wine)Vondelpark for a long walk and some much-needed post-museum decompression. Huge mansions surround the park. This neighborhood, Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, is one of Amsterdam's wealthiest.

Evening

Walk a few minutes north of Vondelpark for dinner and drinks at Foodhallen, Amsterdam's bustling food hall. Choose from all manner of international cuisine served in a casual, convivial atmosphere. Make a "coffee" stop (should you be so inclined) at nearby Coffeeshop La Tertulia, on the way back to the Jordaan.