I’m a romantic at heart and this cold weather is making me sentimental. Jacob and I moved to Amsterdam about three and a half years ago. We got married in Amsterdam and although Amsterdam has a certain reputation, I find it to be one of the most romantic cities in Europe. I’ve included in my insider tips for my favorite romantic things to do in Amsterdam, cozy romantic hotels perfect for a couple’s weekend, and the best romantic meals in Amsterdam.
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Your insider guide to New York City in winter by a New Yorker
It is no secret that New York City is one of the greatest winter destinations in the world. Every winter this immense city has a certain way to turn itself into a real life winter wonderland. With the magic of the upcoming holidays in the air, there is no better time to visit the Big Apple.
This ultimate guide to winter in New York City will go into details on how to spend winter in New York and all the best things to do in New York in winter. Fortunately for you, despite the below freezing temperatures, New York is filled with some amazing winter activities.
…Your Dutch bucket list: 55+ Amazing things to do in the Netherlands
I’ve been lucky enough to call the Netherlands my home. Visiting family and friends will ask me what is the one thing that they must do in the Netherlands. That answer isn’t so easy. We’ve came up with 55+ things for you to do in the Netherlands to add to your Dutch bucket list based on our time living in the Netherlands. Not everything will be possible (due to weather) during your trip, but I hope that it inspires you to revisit this beautiful country.
…Travel Tips For a Winter Road Trip In Iceland
When we decided to visit Iceland in December, people told us we were crazy to drive in Iceland in winter. However, our Iceland road trip in December was great. Winter in Iceland is fierce, but beautiful. Keep reading for more travel tips for Iceland in winter if you’re considering a self driving tour of Iceland.
…Visiting a Nazi concentration camp for the first time: Why we must bear witness
One of my most emotionally raw moments of this year was unexpected: A friend offered me her house to catsit at. I readily accepted, however my research into the area led me to discover that the Mauthausen concentration camp was nearby.
Visiting a former Nazi concentration camp for the first time was difficult, however it was something that I had to do. I hope that this article helps you prepare for your visit.
…Our post elopement party: Tips for holding a reception after eloping
As many of you know, we eloped last year. It was perfect in its own way, but not being able to celebrate our wedding with our families bothered us. We were saving up for a wedding in the States, but eloping threw off some of this.
Our elopement was small, intimate, and romantic, however I knew that I still wanted to have a proper reception and a ceremony despite eloping. I’ll include some lessons learned from our post-elopement party, which was planned from abroad.
…Secret Jordaan: a self-guided walking tour of the Jordaan
One of my favorite neighborhoods in Amsterdam is the Jordaan. If you’re looking to escape some of the crowds of center and experience some of the charm of Amsterdam, you can follow this self-guided walking guide to the Jordaan, one of Amsterdam’s most charming neighborhoods, to see a few secrets of de Jordaan that you might not see otherwise. It’s based on my time living just five minutes away from the Jordaan.
I do my best to discuss history as well as some charming cafes, restaurants, hofjes and streets that I always love to stop into. The walking tour of de Jordaan should take about 1.5 hours. The total distance covered is 2 kilometers (~1 mile), but I encourage you to slow down. Map at the bottom of the post.
…How to make authentic New York bagels at home by a New Yorker
As a born and raised New Yorker, one of the things that has driven me crazy about living abroad is not having access to good bagels. In a crazy attempt to rectify this, I’ve tried making my own everything bagels at home and trust me, they delivered. I’ve adjusted some other recipes in trying to get the right taste to my bagels as I love a bagel with an extra taste of garlic and onions. Keep reading for my real New York bagel recipe!
…A perfect weekend in Amersfoort, the Netherlands
One of the things that I love most about living in the Netherlands is how easy it is to travel around the Netherlands. Amersfoort is a charming city just thirty minutes from Amsterdam (and only 15 minutes from Utrecht) with a stunning medieval center. Although I’ve been to Amersfoort briefly before, this past weekend gave me the chance to explore this beautiful Dutch city. Keep reading for your perfect weekend itinerary for Amersfoort, the Netherlands!
…Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren Amersfoort: the musical center of the Netherlands
In the center of Amersfoort, standing 98.33 meters tall, is the most distinctive and noticeable landmark of Amersfoort: Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (in English, “Tower of Our Dear Lady” a common reference to Mother Mary). Not only is the height impressive, being the third largest tower in the Netherlands, but this tower, known as Laang Jon, houses an impressive collection of bells and marks center point for all surveying done in the Netherlands. Read about the history of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, the carillons of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, and the Rijksdriehoekscoördinaten.
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