Hey, Destination Fun-seekers!

 

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to do something a little different with my newsletter. Rather than focusing on “hot topics” and destination insights, I’d like to invite you to join me as I embark on a trip I’ve been looking forward to for a long time—a four-week adventure beginning in Los Angeles and taking me first to Amsterdam, then on to Cape Town, followed by an unforgettable safari through Kenya and Tanzania, with a final stop in Lisbon before flying home. I’ll take you through some of my most memorable moments and the little things I discover that I think you might find helpful—or simply interesting. I’ll also give you a glimpse into some of the realities that come with taking a trip like this, because regardless of how carefully an itinerary is planned, things don’t always go according to plan. I think those experiences can be just as valuable as the highlights. So, for the next month, consider this your invitation to experience the trip with me.

 As you can imagine, there was quite a bit of preparation that went into this trip. We scheduled all of our required—and recommended—vaccinations, figured out how to pack for several very different climates, and made sure we had everything we needed for Amsterdam and Cape Town’s cooler weather, our safari in Kenya and Tanzania, and late-summer days with family in Lisbon. We purchased the recommended duffle bags for the safari, stocked up on travel-size toiletries, and made sure our prescriptions would last for the entire 29 days. And, because I am an overplanner by nature, our hotels, activities, and car services were all booked well in advance. And then there was Charlie. Our wonderful dog sitter, Darien, takes such good care of him whenever we travel, but being away for 29 days meant making sure Darien had everything he needed—from dog food and treats to all the little details that keep Charlie happy and comfortable while we were gone. By the time we left Los Angeles, we felt completely prepared. We were ready.

Getting to LAX was almost too easy—no traffic, which was quite the surprise! Check-in went smoothly, and less than 30 minutes after arriving at the airport, we were sitting in the lounge, enjoying a snack and toasting to our upcoming adventure. It was right about then that we realized my husband had left one of his medications at home, along with the new belt he had purchased specifically for the trip. And my glasses? They were sitting right where I had left them—on the kitchen counter. Fortunately, we were joining dear friends in Kenya for the safari, and our wonderful cousin came to the rescue, agreeing to ship the forgotten items to New Jersey so our friends could bring them along in their luggage. So much for being prepared! Apparently, this time, my husband wasn't the only one who needed my traditional “mommy check”!

We landed in Amsterdam after our nine-hour flight, so our first day was intentionally a chill day. Having visited Amsterdam before, there was something especially nice about arriving in a city that already felt familiar. We chose to stay in the Museum District, which I think is one of the best areas to base yourself in Amsterdam. It’s home to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum, but what I particularly like is that the area feels more residential and relaxed than the heart of the city. There are beautiful streets, lovely cafés and restaurants, and the famous Vondelpark is right nearby. In spite of the jet lag, we “foodies” had to have a great dinner, so we chose The Seafood Bar, just a short walk from our hotel. Its casual atmosphere was exactly what we needed after a long travel day, and our seafood tower was not only delicious but practically a work of art. A pretty great way to ease back into Amsterdam!

Day Two brought something we had wanted to do on previous visits but had never been able to arrange: a visit to the Anne Frank House. This time, I found a fabulous private tour that combined the Anne Frank story with a walking tour through Amsterdam’s historic Jewish Quarter. This all-day experience took us back to the 16th century, when Amsterdam became a refuge for Jewish families fleeing persecution in Southern and Eastern Europe, and then through the much darker history of the Jewish community during World War II. We learned about the families who went into hiding, the extraordinary efforts to save hundreds of Jewish children from deportation, and what life was like in Amsterdam during the German occupation. The tour also included the Westerkerk followed by an opportunity to visit Ann Frank's house and museum. For us, this was much more meaningful than simply checking off an item on our sightseeing list. It gave us the historical context and a deeper understanding of the city and the people who lived through this incredibly difficult period.

Dinner that night was at The Pantry, a longtime Amsterdam favorite and a wonderful place to experience traditional Dutch food. Located near Leidseplein, The Pantry has been a family-run restaurant since 2000 and feels more like a cozy Dutch living room than a typical restaurant, with traditional dishes and plenty of old-fashioned Amsterdam charm. It was less than a 10-minute walk from our hotel, which made it an easy choice after a full day of sightseeing. After our seafood feast the night before, it was fun to try a completely different side of Dutch cuisine—and exactly the kind of neighborhood restaurant I love discovering when we travel.

We also knew we wanted to devote our last day in Amsterdam to one of our favorite ways to explore a city: a food tour. We joined a small-group experience that took us to several local eateries to sample some of the specialties Amsterdam is known for—Dutch cheese, fries, apple pie, stroopwafels and more. What I especially enjoy about these tours is that they are about so much more than eating. Our guide shared stories and anecdotes we wouldn’t have discovered on our own, while introducing us to neighborhoods and places we might otherwise have walked right past. By the end, we had tasted our way through the city and gained a better understanding of its food culture. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time in a city we already knew and still manage to see it from a different perspective.

And just like that, our time in Amsterdam came to an end. We left later that evening, full of great food, interesting stories, and a few new memories in a city we already loved. But Amsterdam was only the beginning. Our next stop would take us quite a bit farther from home—and into a completely different kind of adventure. I can’t wait to tell you about it in a few days.