With the gentle undertone of the many peddled bikes, to the heady, warm, sugary-sweet smell of waffles coupled with the drifting scent of cannabis, it’s easy to slip away in Amsterdam. The intoxicating sights, sounds and smells make this Dutch city somewhere to get lost in.
There are few better ways to do this on a crisp fall afternoon than meander through the streets. The soft sun reflecting off of the cappuccino colored canals while the cool breeze flutters through the leaves of elms; by mid afternoon, your stomach is rumbling and you make your way to Haarlemmerweg.
As you walk and shop, you will find markets filled to the brim with cheese, endless wine selections, fresh out of the oven bakeries to buy bread, sweet pastries that will draw you in from their window seats, vibrant fruits and vegetables, and cured meats hanging from the ceiling of the local butcher.
This lively street is lined with cute boutiques, coffee shops, and quaint food markets.
By the time you have made it to the end of the road, you will have collected every mouth-watering morsel for your picnic in Westerpark.
The leaves of the Dutch elm and common hornbeam are golden-yellow and bunnies roam freely throughout Westerpark. The absinthe colored grass is inviting and seems to have been purposed for picnics. There are mallards and geese peacefully floating in the ponds.
This is the place where you can escape from the city bustle and reconnect with the beauty of nature. Amsterdam is actually one of the most tree-rich cities in Europe. You will take great value in this when you breathe in deeply, breathing out with a new sense of relaxation while you settle into your hazy afternoon.
