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Amsterdam is like a good outfit; appropriate year round and goes seamlessly from day to night. No matter your travel style, pace, or experience, Amsterdam greets visitors with open arms and provides the kind of effortless encounter that jetsetters dream of. Whether your jam is food, museums, music, or a solid aged gouda, Amsterdam is yours for the taking, one canal at a time?        SEE   For the art buff, Museumplein is your one stop shop for the best works Amsterdam has to offer. The Rijksmuseum boasts over 8,000 pieces on display from their collection of over 1 million objects including Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer. The building itself, designed by Pierre Cuypers in 1885, is a sight to behold and worth getting lost in on the hunt for national favorite, “The Night Watch" by Rembrandt..        The Van Gogh Museum unpacks the man, the myth, the legend through its thoughtful audio guide and honest telling of Vincent’s personal and artistic struggles. See famed works like pieces from the “Sunflowers” series and early days attempts at capturing the common man in “The Potato Eaters.” Considered the most visited museum in the Netherlands, the museum covers the full span of his art and life as well as that of some of his closest contemporaries.     Van Gogh also makes an appearance along with Chagall, Matisse, Warhol, and Pollock at the modern and contemporary art hub, the Stedelijk Museum.  Along with paintings, sculptures, installations, moving image and sound, and photography the museum has also offers virtual “ARtours" for visitors to learn more about objects within the museum’s walls and well beyond into the surrounding city. Whether visiting one or going for the entire trifecta, be sure to buy tickets online well in advance!      EAT Hours of art appreciation is sure to make anyone hungry and Amsterdam has a cure for that, too. Enjoy the national junk food staple: frites. These plump butcher fries are paired with a side of mayo of all kinds including truffle, curry, or even pesto. Variety of sauces and lines abound at Manneken pis Verse Vlaamse Friet located just a short walk from Amsterdam Central Station and makes for a great late night snack. For a more laid back experience, meander around the Waterlooplein Market where frite stands punctuate the eccentric flea market.    Pancakes Amsterdam has multiple locations (including next-door to the famed Anne Frank Museum) and is a go-to for the traditional Dutch pancakes both savory and sweet. Plate-sized and crispy, Dutch pancakes are embedded with everything from baked apples to ham, spinach to smoked salmon. Eyes bigger than your stomach? Try the Poffertjes or baby pancakes topped with powdered sugar.    For the real cheese connoisseur, swing by Reypenaer Cheese to get your gouda fix or, better yet, sign up for a cheese tasting class. Over the course of an hour or two, learn what goes into a real good gouda, how to pair with beverages and spreads, and cut like a pro using le guillotin.    NIGHTLIFE While the Red Light District gets all the attention, nightfall is also a great time for jazz, especially during the various jazz fests that take place throughout the year. Between festivals, try Bourbon Street Music Club, Jazz Cafe Alto, and Bimhuis; well known staples of the scene with some creative surprises.  Looking to dance the night away? Greet the morning sun at a number of cool, original venues that each bring something new to the nightlife. House and techno music reign at Shelter which, as the name might imply, is accessed through a trapdoor. Located in a former technical school, De School is open 24 hours and doubles (triples?) as a restaurant and art exhibit. AIR is grand in square footage as well as design. Founded in 2010, the club is all about inclusivity and makes everyone feel at home amidst hip hop and R&B tracks.  DAY TRIP     Lastly, no trip to the Netherlands would be complete without a windmill sighting. The quaint neighborhood of Zaanse-Schans lies just outside of Amsterdam proper and features breathtaking landscapes, handsome wooden houses worthy of a fairy tale, and, of course, a collection of windmills each with its own character and backstory.     While in the area, pet some farm animals, grab some cheese and be sure to take advantage of the chance to get up close and personal with the craftmanship and history behind wooden clogs at the local shoe factory.     Just try to resist getting a custom pair of your very own!  

When daydreaming of a getaway to the Dominican Republic, sun, surf, and rum-based cocktails first come to mind. And you’re not wrong. But the island-nation’s capital city of Santo Domingo is also brimming with history, culture, and natural wonders well worth visiting. So, why not make a weekend of it?      SEE With most major cities offering nonstop flights to Las Américas International Airport, a dose of some much needed R&R against a rich and vibrant backdrop is just a hop, skip, and a jump away.      A mere 30 minutes from your arrival gate you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage site and must-see (and stay) area of Zona Colonial. A peek into the past, “La Zona,” as it’s known, is the first European Colonial district in the New World and hasn’t changed much. Stroll along the cobblestone streets where you’ll undoubtedly stumble upon massive squares, stone churches, statue-packed parks, and fortresses dating back to the 1500’s.    STROLL Start your jaunt at the top of Calle El Conde, or Street of the Count, at Parque Independencia, accessed through La Puerta del Conde (The Count's Gate) which once served as the entrance to this fortified city.  Along with the occasional stone sentry box, busts of national heroes line the grand walkway and hide amongst the lush greenery and rotating art exhibits on the grounds. Larger than life statues of the Fathers of the Dominican Republic (Juan Pablo Duarte, Matías Ramón Mella, and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez) reside in the impressive marble mausoleum, Altar de la Patria, where visitors come to pay their respects.   Calle El Conde itself is a colorful, bustling scene rife with shops, restaurants, music, street dogs, performers, and talented artisans. Grab a coffee at an open air cafe, browse beautiful original canvases often featuring the beauty of the adjacent Ozama River, or try your hand in a chess tournament against a regular at one of the many outdoor tables. DRINK   At the end of this 1 KM stretch you’ll reach Parque Colón or Columbus Park.  Without surprise, a statue of Christopher Columbus stands dead center; pointing towards his next conquest and constantly covered in pigeons. Galleries, government buildings, and arch-adorned cathedrals surround the plaza as well as laid back cafes and bars offering outdoor seating and thirst-quenching drinks. And amazing location for people watching, dog watching, and taking it easy. Be sure to order a traditional Dominican drink, the Morir Soñando. Essentially frothy milk and orange juice, the name means “to die while dreaming" and is apparently acceptable to sip on morning, noon, and night!  DAY TRIP   If you’re in the mood for a little escape from the hustle and bustle, Los Tres Ojos, or the three eyes, is just 15 minutes away. The three eyes stand for the three lakes  located within the limestone caves of the Mirador del Este park. With bright turquoise water and stalactites abound, the caves look like something out of the prehistoric era, and they are! Scenes from the third Jurassic Park movie (as well as Tarzan) were shot here and it’s easy to see why! A few pesos gets you a trip across the turtle-filled waters of the second eye, La Nevera, on a small ferry boat operated by ropes. This descent deeper into the cave proves completely breathtaking and a little eerie. EAT It wouldn’t be a trip to the Caribbean without a little beach time. Playa Boca Chica is close, clear, and calm. Despite soaring temperatures, fried food is the delicacy of choice on the sand. You can order everything from fried fish to fried yuca and Yaniqueques (Johnny Cakes) amongst the myriad of bright wooden stands lining the road en route to the beach.     Prices here are more favorable and the food is often prepared on the spot under the charming hand painted signs. If you want front row seats to the Caribbean Sea, you can pay a little more to sit under an umbrella at one of the restaurants that plunge over the shoreline and offer larger seafood platters and giant bottles of Presidente that really hit the spot.   NIGHTLIFE   Back in Zona Colonial, the perfect end to a stint in Santo Domingo is at the perfect rave. The ruins of the Monasterio de San Francisco is home to a Sunday night Dance Party featuring bright lights, ample drinks, and live music for all generations. It’s a balanced blend of old and new; breathing new life into the first monastery of the new world and making for an unforgettable finish to a fabulous weekend in the sun.   EXPLORE

Kate Moss edited by Fabien Baron / Mad About The Boy by Helen Fielding / Luxe City Guide: London 5th Edition / Creative Living: London by Emily Wheeler / London Underground Maps by Claire Dobbin / Confessions Of A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella RELATED PRODUCTS

Immerse yourself in the City of Love by reading fabulous tales and insightful guides that reveal style, innovation, hidden hangouts, delicacies and of course, love. The well-known French saying nicely embodies what travel brings us:“La vie est faite de petits bonheurs” (life is full of little pleasures). VIEW THE BOOKS Parisian Chic by Ines De La Fressange  / Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life by Justine Picardie  / Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard / Taschen’s Paris by Vincent Knapp and Angelika Taschen / The Fashion Insiders’ Guide to Paris by Carole Sabas / Eiffel’s Tower by Jill JonnesRELATED PRODUCTS