Spring (March–May)
Spring is the obvious one, and for good reason. Late March through early May is when the tulips show up, especially around Lisse, and it actually looks like the photos (which I was slightly skeptical about until I saw it in person).
Summer (June–August)
Summer is busy but fun. Longer days, warmer weather, and everything feels open and active. It does get crowded though, especially in central Amsterdam—so just expect that and plan around it.
Fall (September–October)
Fall is quieter and honestly underrated. Cooler weather, fewer crowds, and still very walkable.
Winter (November–February)
Winter is slower and colder, but if you don’t mind layering up, it’s a different kind of experience (and significantly less crowded).
You’ll probably fly into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which is about 20 minutes from the city center.
Once you’re in Amsterdam, the best thing you can do is just walk.
The canals are what you came for, and they’re everywhere. You don’t need a strict plan here—just start moving and you’ll hit something worth stopping for.
If you want a structured way to see it scroll down to my blogs to see my exact path.
This was one of the main reasons I went—and it lived up to the hype.
Lisse is where most of the fields are, and it’s about 30–40 minutes from Amsterdam. I didn’t expect how big they’d actually be. It’s not just one field—it’s rows and rows in every direction.
This ended up being one of my favorite parts.
Delft felt calm and easy to walk. Gouda was smaller but fun for a half-day. Alkmaar had less crowds but still had plenty going on.
You don’t need to overplan these—just pick one or two and go.
This is where the Netherlands really stands out.
The train system is extremely easy to use and connects pretty much everything.
I used trains for some of my trip and it was pretty effortless.
Everyone bikes here. Everyone.
I thought about renting one in Amsterdam… and then decided I liked being alive.
If you’re comfortable biking in traffic, go for it. If not, walking and trains will cover you just fine.
If you want to explore more rural areas or move at your own pace, renting a car makes sense. I ended up going to a lot more cities just by having one.
Driving itself is easy—it’s more the parking in cities that can get annoying.
Type C and F plugs. You’ll need a European adapter.
I always bring a compact one with extra USB ports because outlets are never where you want them → Anker USB-C Travel Adapter
Central European Time (CET)
Cards are widely accepted, but smaller places sometimes prefer debit cards or cash. I kept a small amount of euros on me just in case.
You will walk more than you think. And stand. And walk some more.
Comfortable shoes are not optional.
This is not a suggestion. They will not slow down for you.
Look both ways for bikes before stepping anywhere—even sidewalks.
If you see fresh stroopwafels being made—just get one.
I thought I’d try one and move on. That did not happen.
Most international flights into the Netherlands go through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which is the main hub and where you’ll likely land. It’s one of the busiest airports in Europe, but it’s very straightforward to navigate once you’re there.
If you’re planning to visit multiple cities, Schiphol is still the easiest entry point. You can go straight from the airport to other places like Rotterdam, The Hague, or Delft without needing to stay in Amsterdam first.
There are direct trains from the airport underneath the terminal, and if you’re renting a car (my suggestion), pickup is right outside and easy to navigate once you’re on the road.
If you’re flying from the U.S., expect overnight flights going there and daytime flights coming back.
A hotel that’s also a free 24-hour contemporary art museum penguins included. We booked a Corner Suite at 21c and it was massive: separate bedroom, living room, dining area, 699 square feet to spread out in. The bathroom alone had a double vanity and custom Rookwood Pottery tile that made getting ready weirdly entertaining.
The location is downtown, two minutes from Fountain Square, walkable to Boca for dinner, and close enough to hop the free streetcar into Over-the-Rhine. If OTR is where most of your plans are, you might want to stay closer to that neighborhood instead downtown worked for us, but we spent more time in OTR than we expected to.
And yes, there’s a recycled-plastic penguin sculpture that will absolutely scare you the first time you open your door and forget it’s there. Link in bio for the full review rooms, parking, walkability, and everything else before you book 🎨
Three neighborhoods, one streetcar, and more Cincinnati specialties than I could finish in one afternoon.
We hit a goetta breakfast sandwich, chocolate chip ice cream from a shop that’s been at it since 1870, a Liège waffle that earned its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives spot, and Cincinnati chili the way it’s actually meant to be eaten... over a hot dog, buried in shredded cheddar.
$75 got us three and a half hours, a local guide, free streetcar rides, and a genuinely full stomach. Don’t eat breakfast before this one, the portions add up fast.
My third Secret Food Tour in my third city, and it’s still undefeated.
Link in bio for the full review cost, route, parking, and every stop we hit 🥟🌶️
13 creek crossings, a canyon that keeps closing in around you, and a hike I’d genuinely put back on my itinerary, West Fork Trail was the one.
We got to Call of the Canyon at 7:15am and the lot was barely a quarter full. By 12:30 it was 85% full, so if there’s one tip that matters most, it’s this: go early.
The maintained trail is 6.6 miles round trip, mostly flat, mostly shaded, but I kept my regular tennis shoes dry the whole way by hopping across the rocks at each crossing. It’s rated moderate, and honestly that’s about the distance, not the terrain.
Here’s what nobody tells you though ✨ the maintained trail isn’t the end. We changed into water shoes at the official endpoint and kept going another mile straight through the creek, canyon walls narrowing around us the whole time. That extra mile ended up being my favorite part of the entire hike.
5/5 for me. I’d bring the water shoes again in a heartbeat.
Link in bio for the full guide parking, timing, what to pack, and everything I wish I knew before I went 🥾
Two hours, zero regrets. The Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is hands down one of the most fun things we did in Sedona.
Open-air Jeeps crawling over slickrock, backcountry views you can’t reach on your own, and the famous Road of No Return, steep, thrilling, and somehow completely safe the whole way down.
If you’re picking one paid activity in Sedona, make it this one.
You have to do @pinkjeeptours 🌵🚙 Link in bio for the full review.
Dinner beside Oak Creek at Cress, and yes, it’s a splurge, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.🤍
Candlelit tables under the trees, the creek running right beside us, a menu that mixes Arizona ingredients with French technique. We ordered a little of everything: the squash and beet salad, milk rolls with three different butters, sweet potato gnocchi that somehow felt light instead of heavy. Then two desserts because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Crème Caramel with Manchego cheese completely stole the show, salty and sweet in a way that sounds strange until you taste it.
Plan on $100–250 for two depending on what you order, and this isn’t the spot for a quick casual dinner, it’s slow, intentional, and worth every minute. Book ahead and ask for a creekside table if you can.
If you’re looking for one unforgettable meal in Sedona, this is it. Link in bio for the full review 🍽️
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