Germany/Amsterdam Trip

[HogueNation]

Spending a couple days in Frankfurt/Mannheim and then flying to Amsterdam for another 3 days.

Anything we Must Do? Traveling with my wife, and she likes to party

 

[mdk2isu]

Spending a couple days in Frankfurt/Mannheim and then flying to Amsterdam for another 3 days.

Anything we Must Do? Traveling with my wife, and she likes to party

I think the bolded covers it. I'm sure you can find a spot or two.

 

[cyjones75]

We've been to both areas. Amsterdam is a good city for entertainment. The Red Light District (most Euro cities have them, but they're just not as famous as Amsterdam's) is fun with restaurants and bars and of course houses with women to rent. Like any entertainment district, the later in the evening, the younger and rowdier the crowd becomes. Visit the Anne Frank House for an interesting view of history. Lots of museums.

Mannheim is a decent-sized city, so there will be some things to do. Just a few kilometers to the east is Heidelberg, a tourist city with much to do. Lots of shopping, eating, drinking, and sightseeing. There is a castle right in the city center and the tram ride up the mountain on a clear day is worth the time.

Frankfurt (Bank-furt as the Germans call it because it is a financial hub) is a large, urbane city with a North American-style skyline--lots of tall buildings. There is much to do there as you would find in any large city.

 

[mj4cy]

Head to Heidelberg (right next to Mannheim). There is a really cool old castle to explore, great restaurants, and you can even take a train up to the top of a nearby mountain (Seilbahn Station)(here you can see 40+ kilometers away for a great view.

Also, if you'e a history buff, there are some neat things about Heidelberg.

 

[Dr.bannedman]

Spending a couple days in Frankfurt/Mannheim and then flying to Amsterdam for another 3 days.

Anything we Must Do? Traveling with my wife, and she likes to party

when are you going?

 

[HogueNation]

when are you going?

January 17th-25th

 

[WooBadger18]

January 17th-25th

I'd look at the Frankfurt tourism website to see if there's any events going on while you're there. Have an Apfelwein (apple wine) while you're in Frankfurt since that's their native drink, and if you want more of a club/bar scene I know you go south of the river Main (pronounced "Mine") from the city center. A really picturesque spot is St. Paul's Church and the City Hall Square which are right next to each other. It's also a real walkable city so it can be nice to just walk around and explore parts of it.

 

[NWICY]

Watch out for semis.

 

[jcyclonee]

Spending a couple days in Frankfurt/Mannheim and then flying to Amsterdam for another 3 days.

Anything we Must Do? Traveling with my wife, and she likes to party

 

[BoxsterCy]

Too old to help you with night time party stuff but I was there this spring and did the daytime stuff, the Rjksmuseum (Rembrandt's Night Watch etc) and the Van Gogh Museum. Also took in the "Heineken Experience" tour of their brewery. The Heineken thing was a fun way to kill an hour or two. If you go you have to let us know how you did on the rugby goal kicking simulator. This 65 year man humbled the young Euro guys there by going 3 for 3. Channeled my inner Cole Netten.

We did not do the Anne Frank house. Not sure about January crowds but when we were there you needed to have tickets in advance with specific times. Figured it was just a house since we all knew the story well since we are baby boomers with WWII parents.

The canal boats tours are a standard feature of course. Just because it's city visitor wonky doesn't mean it's not worth it. You get a nice channel view of the city and is a nice option if it is raining (clear roofed boats) and does not take long.

 

[HogueNation]

Anyone familiar with the Gray Area? I've been told there's very few seats but that it's def worth it.

 

[HogueNation]

Too old to help you with night time party stuff but I was there this spring and did the daytime stuff, the Rjksmuseum (Rembrandt's Night Watch etc) and the Van Gogh Museum. Also took in the "Heineken Experience" tour of their brewery. The Heineken thing was a fun way to kill an hour or two. If you go you have to let us know how you did on the rugby goal kicking simulator. This 65 year man humbled the young Euro guys there by going 3 for 3. Channeled my inner Cole Netten.

We did not do the Anne Frank house. Not sure about January crowds but when we were there you needed to have tickets in advance with specific times. Figured it was just a house since we all knew the story well since we are baby boomers with WWII parents.

The canal boats tours are a standard feature of course. Just because it's city visitor wonky doesn't mean it's not worth it. You get a nice channel view of the city and is a nice option if it is raining (clear roofed boats) and does not take long.

Booked tickets for the Heineken Experience this morning. Plan is to try go through it next Friday, I'll let ya know how the Rugby Simulator goes. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[HogueNation]

One thing I'm having problems finding is a German Beer Hall. You know, the ones with the big as s tables where everyone gets trashed together. Is this just the wrong time of year for that or what?

 

[ImJustKCClone]

We were there in the summer each time, so I don't know about winter activities. One of the things we did in Amsterdam was a wine & cheese evening cruise on the canals. The bridges over the canals are decorated with beautiful fairy lights, and you see "some" of the sights from the canals.
We also went a little ways outside of Amsterdam to an old school cheese making operation. Think "Living History Farms" with windmills & wooden shoes. The humongous wheels of cheese they made were pretty cool...and free wine/beer & cheese at the end of the tour was nice (are you detecting a theme yet?).
The large groups of beer drinking tables we saw were in Biergartens...outdoors, and with trellises hung with lights and flowers. Again, though...we were there in the summer both times.

 

[Macloney]

Anyone familiar with the Gray Area? I've been told there's very few seats but that it's def worth it.

Yes, started by some Americans, there are like 6 seats. Great service and product, closes super early. Top 4 spot for that.

1) Homegrown Fantasies. Local spot, best in the city. Great space cake.
2) Barneys. A very close second. Pull up a chair next to a Volcano and get lifted.
3) Greenhouse.
4) Gray Area
Also stop in: Damkring, Bluebird, Amnesia, Grasshopper.

Most of the food sucks, save the time and money and stick with fast food and street food. FEBO is like an automat where you get drunk food out of little windows, they are everywhere. Try a McKrocket at McDonalds.

It all depends on what you are close to. PM me if you need the down and dirty.

 

[HogueNation]

Not familar with how to send a PM,

Yes, started by some Americans, there are like 6 seats. Great service and product, closes super early. Top 4 spot for that.

1) Homegrown Fantasies. Local spot, best in the city. Great space cake.
2) Barneys. A very close second. Pull up a chair next to a Volcano and get lifted.
3) Greenhouse.
4) Gray Area
Also stop in: Damkring, Bluebird, Amnesia, Grasshopper.

Most of the food sucks, save the time and money and stick with fast food and street food. FEBO is like an automat where you get drunk food out of little windows, they are everywhere. Try a McKrocket at McDonalds.

It all depends on what you are close to. PM me if you need the down and dirty.

Not familiar with how to send a PM, shoot me a message and give me the Down and Dirty, I figure ya only live once. Might as well make the most out of it!

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Click on his avatar, click "start a conversation".

 

[ImJustKCClone]

And for the record, you don't even have to go in. Just walk down the sidewalk breathing deeply...

 

[MntneerLegion]

One thing I'm having problems finding is a German Beer Hall. You know, the ones with the big as s tables where everyone gets trashed together. Is this just the wrong time of year for that or what?

I don't know if you want to make the drive (a little autobahn time is thrilling though) but one such establishment is the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. It was built in 1589, is three stories and holds about 5000 people!


While I was there the oompah band launched into Country Roads (probably not as thrilling for you) which prompted everyone to stand on their benches holding their liters and rocking side to side while singing...honest truth!

It's famous enough that if you're there for very long at all you will see tour bus groups that just walk through it. Given how good fresh German "bier" is that seems like a shame but I saw several tours while consuming more than my share of beer.

The waitresses are also interesting in that they may carry 6-10 liters of beer to the table at one time.



If you do make the drive and are either a car or motorcycle nut you might consider the BMW museum too. I rented a 5 series BMW on my trip so I thought why not take a look...glad I did.

 

[The_Architect]

Cool thread.

I'll be in Amsterdam, Prague and Switzerland for 3 weeks in August. Looking forward to it and some other suggestions from this thread.