by Marcia Simon, CTA, APR
 
Amsterdam, the capital city in the Netherlands, is known for its canals, bicycle culture and love for the arts. After all, this is home to Van Gogh, Vermeer and Rembrandt. And Heineken.
 
Amsterdam’s tourist season begins in April when tulips generally reach their peak in Holland, which covers two provinces in the Netherlands. Summers are very busy, and August 2020 will be no exception with Sail Amsterdam, a once-every-five-year event that features tall ships from around the world accompanied by street food and entertainment, and also August’s annual 10-day Grachtenfestival for classical music, jazz, and music from other cultures.

Off-season, on November 2, 2020 to be exact, the annual Amsterdam Museum Night gives you access to museums city-wide that stay open until 2 am. One wristband gets you in to all 50 participating museums. November also brings the Super-Sonic Jazz Festival to the city.

For canal tours, the "best" time is April through October. Summers, of course, are warmest and also the most crowded.
No matter what time of year you go, here are 10 Ways to Feel the Groove of Amsterdam, Holland:

1. Take a canal tour. The guide steers you through the canal ring while explaining parts of the canal’s history dating back to the 17th century when wealthy merchants built mansions along the newly excavated canals. Patrons of the arts commissioned pieces to hang on the walls from local artists of the time, such as Rembrandt van Rijn who later became known simply as Rembrandt. Tours that leave around dusk allow you to see the changing sky and silhouettes of the 17th century canal houses as evening lights appear in the windows and on bridges.
2. Stop in to at least one cheese shop. Amsterdam is known for its Gouda among others. From pesto to truffle, olive to specialty aged Goudas, it’s fun to browse the stores and try the free samples.
3. Coffee cafes are a way of life, so take a break and enjoy some good people-watching while sipping a cup. Most cafes don’t open until 9 am, so if you’re looking for an early morning caffeine jolt, you may be most lucky getting it at your hotel.
4. Anne Frank House – This stark reminder of Nazi history during World War 2 is one of Amsterdam’s most visited museums. See the living quarters where a young girl lived in hiding and wrote her famous diary before her family was arrested and taken to a concentration camp. On my recent trip to the Anne Frank House, visitors were riveted, slowly moving respectfully through the house, seeming to read every word on every placard, trying to comprehend how this atrocious chapter of history could have ever occurred. Photos are not allowed. Tickets are sold only online, beginning two months in advance. If you want to visit the Anne Frank House, you must purchase tickets in advance to assure entry. A limited number of same-day online sales become available at exactly 9 am, but if you are trying to purchase same-day tickets, get on the website before 8:30 am to get into the queue. (As an example, I went online at 8:50 and was #649. It moves fairly quickly once the clock hits 9.) To learn more about Anne Frank and the events that led to persecution of people during Amsterdam’s dark past, guided walking tours of the Jewish Quarter are offered through various tour operators.
5. The Rijksmuseum, considered one of the top museums in the world, houses more than 8,000 masterpieces including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Van Gogh’s self-portrait as well as several pieces by Vermeer.
6. The Van Gogh Museum has the world’s largest collection of works by post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh.
7. Visit the Red Light District to understand the history behind Amsterdam’s view of  prostitution. Tours are offered through Red Light Secrets at the affiliated Museum of Prostitution.
8. If you stop into bakeries in and around the Red Light District you may very well find a cannabis section of delectable edibles. The Betty Boop Coffee Shop, located behind Amsterdam’s flower market, is a two-level coffee shop and Internet café with a very interesting display of canna-infused doughnuts, pastries and other snacks to keep you buzzing.
9. Go for a bike ride. Bicycling is a major mode of travel in Amsterdam with world-class bike paths throughout Holland. Riding in the busy city center, although well marked with bike lanes, may be intimidating for some out-of-towners. Easy fix – Get out of town. Many group and self-guided tours take you beyond the city limits. I chose to hop a bus from Centraal Station to Volendam, about 30 minutes north of the city. It’s a 10-minute walk from Volendam’s bus station to the coastal village lined with boats, ice cream shops and tourist attractions as well as Volendam Rent & Event where you can rent a bike for either a couple of hours or a full day to explore the countryside. They gave us a self-guided map with a couple of suggested routes. We followed the loop to the island of Marken, riding the causeway to get there and taking the ferry back after a leisurely lunch. The landscape along the bike path is very flat , follows the water and is away from vehicular traffic so riding is easy at all levels for all ages.

 
Getting to Amsterdam is easy with flights arriving at the city’s Schipol Airport from around the world. A taxi from downtown Amsterdam will cost about 60 euros, while the train from the airport to Centraal Station runs every 10 minutes for 6 euros a ticket. The kiosks to purchase train tickets are located just after you pass the baggage carousels  both inside the baggage claim area and outside once you clear customs. Trains and buses from Amsterdam take you throughout Europe.
 
Marcia Simon, APR, CTA, is a PRSA-accredited public relations practitioner, and an IATA-accredited travel advisor. Connect through facebook.com/friendlygrouptravel, Instagram @friendgrouptravel or welcome@friendlygrouptravel.com.

by Marcia Simon, APR, CTA

Copenhagen is a fabulous walking city.
​Tip #1:
Do NOT walk in the bike lanes.

Unlike the United States, where cyclists are often forced to share roads with motor vehicles and pedestrians, bicycling in Denmark is a serious mode of transportation with designated lanes and traffic lights in urban areas. In Copenhagen, where more than half of all employees bike to work, wandering tourists walking into bike lanes can lead to injury, so pay attention to the bike lanes and stay clear. The train and bus systems make it very easy to get around Copenhagen without a car.
​
​Whatever your mode of transportation, here are 7 things to do in Copenhagen:

1. Across the street from the Central Train Station you’ll find Tivoli Gardens, one of Copenhagen’s most popular tourist attractions. Tivoli is a classic example of an amusement park done well with family activities, rides for all ages, lots of food choices, live entertainment, bright lights at night, and fireworks every Saturday throughout the summer.
2. The big “must do” for first-time visitors to Copenhagen is Nyhavn, the iconic canal strip lined with colorful buildings dating back to 1681, outdoor cafes, houseboats and boat tours. Sit outside and sip coffee or cocktails while watching the everchanging canal scene. Take in the aromas from and indulge in a waffle cone. Early mornings are the best time to take photos free of tourist-filled backgrounds.
3. For those who like to shop, Strøget is one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets lined with designer shops and local brands.
4. Most visitors who take a canal tour start from Nyhavn (there are plenty of boats and it’s a wonderful way to see the popular sights from the water). If you want to experience more off-the-beaten-path parts of the city, try the 2-hour Hidden Gems tour operated by Hey Captain, located just around the corner from Nyhavn in Ofelia Plads at a blue van selling tickets. The tour begins with a complimentary help-yourself beverage from the cooler, in my case a cold Danish Carlsberg pilsner. Our guide/driver Freddie pointed out that Denmark is surrounded by more than 700 little islands. Many of the old retired island ferries have been turned into houseboats and line the canals and coasts of Denmark. Some are dilapidated or have been abandoned by the free spirits and squatters of the ‘60s around Christiania, and others that have been turned into beautiful contemporary Scandinavian-designed homes.
5. Reffen – This street food market is located in a former shipyard. Upon approach, it seems like you’re walking into an industrial area, but when you arrive you’ll be in the center of a millennial hot spot featuring an overabundance of foods from around the world. Choose your food, grab a beverage (alcoholic or non) and then grab a seat by the beach and watch the sun set over the city. To get to Reffen: Walk or take the 9A bus from Central Station, or the 991 or 992 harbor bus. Speaking of buses, you can buy a bus ticket at kiosks around the city or pay with Danish krone. Credit cards are not accepted on buses. (It’s kind of funny that when you walk to or from Reffen you pass by Noma, rated as one of the best restaurants in the world. Reservations at Noma must be made months in advance – online only – and will set you back nearly USD $400 per person, not including alcohol, for a 20-course vegetarian meal in summer; fall brings the game menu; winter is seafood. What they serve is what you get. Period.)
6. Christiania – Visit Copenhagen’s “hippy section,” claimed by squatters in 1971. This free-spirited community has found a way to capitalize on tourism with foods, t-shirts, crafts and hash (yes). If you walk down Pusher Street, do not take photos – and it may be best to visit Pusher Street during daylight hours.
7. Almost across the street from a marked entrance to Christiania is the Church of our Savior, built in 1696. Climb the wooden staircase to the top for a 360° view of Copenhagen and the Øresund Bridge. The last 150 steps are outside the gilded spire for those unafraid of heights. Check for hours because tourist hours stop when church is in service.

 
Leading the Way for Sustainability
Denmark is a world leader in bringing sustainability to life, affirming the importance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Currently, 30 percent of all Denmark’s energy comes from renewable sources, including bioenergy, followed by wind, solar and geothermal energy, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Denmark. The country’s public and private sectors are both committed to achieving an energy system without fossil fuels by 2050. The enthusiastic Danish Society of Engineers, IDA, and is ahead of schedule on the project, and has a roadmap to implement the goal of a 100 percent renewable energy system by 2035.
 
Playing On a Heap of Trash
One of the steps towards Copenhagen’s goal of becoming the world’s first carbon neutral capital includes the opening of Amager Bakke, or CopenHill, planned as the new  epicenter for urban mountain sport, offering year-round skiing and snowboarding on artificial snow. It includes the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall, running and hiking trails, and a café – all surrounded by a sprawling recreation area with water sports, soccer fields, and even a go-kart track.
 
The clincher? CopenHill is built on top of the city’s new waste management and energy plant. Amager Bakke is considered the most efficient waste-burning and energy-generating plant in the world, and is expected to power and heat 160,000 households across Copenhagen.
 
Getting Away From the City
As beautiful as Copenhagen is with its waterways and happy vibe, seeing the outlying countryside is part of the Danish experience. Whether you travel by bicycle, car, train or bus, here are 5 day-trips that take you outside Copenhagen’s city center:

1. Head north toward Helsingør (Elsinore). Visit the 15th century Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Shakespeare Festival takes place under the stars here every August. Then stroll the charming streets, enjoy lunch and poke your head into some of the local shops. If you have your passport with you, hop the ferry for the short ride over to Helsingborg, Sweden. The ferry runs every 20 minutes in both directions.
2. Find the Six Forgotten Giants. Made of wood and placed in thoughtfully selected locations outside of metro Copenhagen, these troll-like figures were created by Danish artist Thomas Danbo to get people to explore the land outside of the city.
3. Camp Adventure and Forest Tower, about one hour outside the city, has the largest rope course and longest zip lines in Denmark. An aerial boardwalk gently spirals into an observation tower that offers spectacular views beyond the forest to the city of Copenhagen and beyond to Sweden.
4. The Viking Ship Museum is the only place in the world where you can sail on an actual Viking boat (Sailing season runs May through September.) It's located in the historic city of Roskilde, just 30 minutes west of the city by train. (Also in Roskilde – the Roskilde Festival, one of Europe’s biggest music festivals every July.)
5. Visit the island of Funen (Fyn), about two-hours from Copenhagen (and in the middle of Denmark.) The hub city Odense is home to Hans Christian Andersen who wrote The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea and other well-known fairy tales. Funen, called a magical island, is filled with old homes and adorable villages. Funen is underway with plans to be the friendliest bicycling island in the world.

Before you even set foot on Danish soil at Kastrup International Airport, especially if you’re flying in from the US and sitting on the left side of the plane, you may get a great view of the world-famous Øresund Bridge, which connects Denmark’s capital city to Sweden’s city of Malmö. This seven-mile crossing is half bridge (on the Sweden side) that seems to vanish into the sea as it approaches a man-made island and then burrows below the surface into a 2.5-mile tunnel to Copenhagen. It’s pretty awesome.

​Marcia Simon, APR, CTA, is a PRSA-accredited public relations practitioner, and an IATA-accredited travel advisor at FriendlyGroupTravel.com. Connect through facebook.com/friendlygrouptravel, Instagram @friendgrouptravel or welcome@friendlygrouptravel.com

by Marcia Simon, APR, CTA
How can a town originally settled as “Eden” be anything but beautiful, comfortable, and as welcoming as the nature that surrounds it? Such is the lure of Bar Harbor, Maine.
 
At the footstep of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor attracts millions of visitors every year – from hikers, bikers and boaters to artists, musicians and people who enjoy fresh lobster, casual fine dining, local craft beers and warm hospitality.
 
Here are 10 Fun Things to Do in Bar Harbor:

1. Leave your car parked and hop aboard the free Island Explorer, the continuously running shuttle around Mount Desert Island, with primary stops at Bar Harbor’s village green, the Acadia National Park visitor center and main park destinations. The shuttle has room for a few bicycles, too.
2. Rent a bike. The Island Explorer Bicycle Express is a free bicycle shuttle with a trailer that runs continuously from about 9:30 am to 5 pm daily throughout the summer until Columbus Day. It stops at the village green and at the Carriage Road by Eagle Lake in Acadia. Get rentals through www.acadiabike.com or www.barharborbike.com.
3. See a comedy show at Improv Acadia, but book in advance because shows sell out.  
4. Sit outside at the Bar Harbor Inn’s Terrace Grille and enjoy a bite and a drink, watching the changing ocean landscape and the relaxed pace of visitors milling about the waterfront. Watching the fog hug the small outer islands is equally as beautiful as the colors of light on the boats at sunset.
5. Go for a sailboat ride. The Margaret Todd, a 151-foot schooner, sails Frenchman Bay three times a day including sunset. Depending on wind conditions, the ride is one and a half to two hours long. Bring a sweater or windbreaker; it can get cool on the water, especially as the sun goes down.
6. Ride Oli’s Trolley. Various narrated tours are available both around Bar Harbor and at select stops in Acadia National Park.
7. Stop in at Jordan Pond House, a lovely casual restaurant in Acadia National Park that offers indoor and outdoor seating. A popular stop for popovers and tea, or a more leisurely full meal with wine, beer or cocktails, this restaurant sits at the head of Jordan’s Pond and offers wide open views.
8. Have a rainy day Plan B. It’s part of island life. Either gear up in your wet weather attire and carry on as usual, or nestle in with a good book and a seat with a view of Mother Nature doing Her thing.
9. Buy a t-shirt. Browsing the shops is fun and you’ll find lots of witty and classic styles of t-shirts, sweat shirts and hoodies.
10. Put on your walking shoes and follow the sounds of music, whether a bluegrass band at Paddy’s Irish Pub, a town ensemble performing in the gazebo on the village green or a solo singer/guitarist outside on the patio at Bar Harbor Beer Works, home of the giant warm pretzel with coarse ground mustard and beer cheese dips. You never know what music will pop up throughout town. July is the Bar Harbor Music Festival with a mixed bag or performers, leaning toward the classical and chamber music style, but dotted with jazz, bluegrass and more at locations throughout the island.

 
For the remainder or 2018 and part of 2019 road construction is ongoing for a half mile near a strip of hotels and the park entrance on Route 3. The inconvenience is minor compared to the rewards of the improvement plan, which will add paved bike lanes, new sidewalks and safer crossings to the water.  
 
For help planning your visit to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, email welcome@friendygrouptravel.com or call 860-399-0191.

Marcia Simon, APR, CTA, is a travel writer, IATA-accredited travel advisor and principal of MSE Public Relations - creating small group travel experiences and unique promotional opportunities for brands, products, destinations and – above all – travelers. Everyone gets added value.

by Marcia Simon, CTA, APR
 
Martha’s Vineyard, just four miles off the coast of Cape Cod, has become an increasingly popular destination, and therefore more crowded, over recent years. Even so, a day or two can easily trigger the magic power of island life to soothe the soul and take you away from the troubles of the world.
 
A New England gem, about 25 miles long and nine miles wide, Martha’s Vineyard is an easy ferry ride from either mainland Massachusetts or Rhode Island, as well as from Montauk on the east end of Long Island.
 
Whether by car or bicycle, wherever you go on the Vineyard you’re likely to see water along your journey. The island has a whaling history you can still feel –  from the widow walk rooftops looking out over an expansive horizon, to the large metal whale blubber pots that now serve as flower planters that adorn the porches of museums and inns on the island. Fishing today via charter trips is focused on bonita, tuna, shark and marlin (in certain seasons.) It’s quite common to see men with pickup trucks and boys with bicycles packed with fishing reels heading for the water’s edge to surf cast in hopes of snagging a big striped bass.
 
Edgartown, known as the most affluent part of the island, seems a lot more casual today than it was 10 years ago, as millennials with yoga pants and baby strollers outnumber baby boomers in pink pants and pearls. Oak Bluffs attracts more of the drinking crowd, but no matter where you go on Martha’s Vineyard, it’s easy to chill and relax. High season starts right after Memorial Day and goes through September, which has become a big month for weddings on the island.
 
October’s weather is usually still warm, with sweater-weather nights, and weekend hotel rooms offering lower rates and availability.
 
Getting around the island is easy with the Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority bus system. They have a few spaces for bicycles. So, whether you take your car, a bike or just walk aboard a ferry to Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs, remember to travel light in mind, spirit and luggage.
 
Here are 10 Great Things to Do on Martha’s Vineyard

1. Ride a bike – bring it on the ferry or rent one when you arrive in either Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs. You’ll find wide, scenic bike paths in the busier Oak Bluffs to Edgartown stretch. Cars and cyclists share the roads politely toward the quiet parts of the island from the fishing village of Menemsha and sandy cliffs of Gay Head to beaches of Chappaquiddick.
2. Eat lobster and chowder. Most menus have both as well as fish and chips. A lobster roll in the Vineyard is generally a cold lobster salad stuffed generously into a hot dog bun. Menus may also offer a hot lobster roll with drawn butter. If fine dining is more your style, try Chesca’s in Edgartown.
3. Taste the local beer. The two main breweries are Bad Martha in Edgartown and the Offshore Ale Company in Oak Bluffs.
4. Explore the history and look at lighthouses. The Edgartown Lighthouse overlooks Edgartown Harbor and Chappaquiddick Island. On the far quiet side is the Aquinnah Light by the Gay Head cliffs. You can visit the Eat Chop and West Chop lighthouses as well as others. These are fun bicycling destinations.
5. Go the to the beach. You’re never far from a beach. Inquire at your hotel desk or ask a local to see what’s closest to you. Katama Beach (South Beach) is popular for larger waves and surfing.
6. Go fishing – bring your own equipment or take a day trip on a deep-sea charter boat from the quiet side of the island. Menemsha is the fishing village and most charter captains will filet the fish for you so you can take it home.  
7. Take a tour if you’re not up to self-exploration – Martha’s Vineyard Tours and Excursions, Martha’s Vineyard Tours and Transport and the Edgartown Tour Company are a few of the company’s that will drive you around and show you the sites in either a one, two or three-hour ride that includes some Native American as well as whaling history. The Jaws Tour remains popular, visiting the locations where the classic movie was filmed.
8. Take the ferry to Chappaquiddick. It’s the only way to get there. Cars, bikes and pedestrians are welcome, but getting around Chappy isn’t as much fun without some type of wheels. There are no restaurants and only one general store. The Mytoi Japanese Gardens are relaxing as you meander through native habitat.
9. Bring a book. A rainy day during your vacation pushes you into Plan B. “It forces you to relax,” said our inn keeper. It’s part of island life. Slow down. Enjoy the quiet time.
10. Visit The Carnegie, formerly the old Edgartown Library on North Water Street, and now the Vineyard Trust’s tribute to the whaling life and captains who called this area home. Opened in June 2018, The Carnegie offers free admission and is open from 10 am, Wednesdays through Sundays during summer season. If you’re walking around Edgartown or looking for a light activity on a rainy day, this might fit the bill. It’s small and easy to walk through in a short amount of time. There’s a small gift shop inside with lots of souvenirs and books geared toward children, and ice cream shops are just a few blocks away.

 
Marcia Simon is a writer/blogger, travel agent and principal of MSE public relations. Connect at friendlygrouptravel.com, facebook.com/friendlygrouptravel, @friendsgotravel or send email to welcome@friendlygrouptravel.com.
​MSE specializes in traveltech, health and wellness. mseusa.com.