Girlspytravel

Your first destination outside of Amsterdam should be DELFT-it's fabulous, the lovely canals, the weekend flea markets, ancient medieval center, hip bars and restaurants, and naturally Delft pottery, which you can go and watch the tiles being made. I also love the Hague, with its great Mauritshaus museum, a former mansion of a count, it has a fabulous collection of Rembrandts and Vermeer, where you can get up close and personal to the real "Girl with the Pearl Earring." From the Hague, get on the tram to take you to the lovely seaside resort of Scheveningen-about 10 minutes away, with all kinds of great mussels and frites stands, a boardwalk, beach shopping and a 5 star luxury hotel, among other things. Lovely atmosphere at this resort.

Also for a great, largely undiscovered little Dutch restaurant on a canal 5 minutes from Centraal Station, where the locals go, try my favorite: DE HAVEN VAN TEXEL-restaurant cafe, on Sint Olafsteeg 11. It's located just behind the Zeedijk, in between the Oude Kirk (old church) and Sint Nicolas church. It has a view of the two oldest canals in Amsterdam-fabulous in warm weather, but also in cold-house made specialties on the chalkboard in Dutch each night. Love this place.