As I’m on the road about half the time, one thing that sold me on Portland was that, although it’s a manageable city with close proximity to greenery and the outdoors, it still has a world-class airport with plenty of direct flights, including international service to Asia and Europe. I keep my fingers crossed that PDX will land some future international routes, and in the meantime, I’m thankful for those we have.

As it happens, I’ve also long been a fan of one of the cities with direct flights from here, Amsterdam – I even wrote a guidebook on the city back in the ’90s. Just this past May, I returned for a visit and to research a few stories for different outlets (I write for a mix of publications, some mainstream, and others with a mostly gay and lesbian readership).

With my recent visit still fresh in my mind, here’s my quick-and-dirty take on what I most recommend seeing and doing if you find yourself in Amsterdam for a few days:

You can escape some of the more tourist-heavy parts of the city with surprising ease – the Nieuwmarkt area has some wonderful little lanes dotted with design shops and cafes – try Staalstraat and Zwaneburgwal in particular. From here you’re very close to the Rembrandthuis, which is absolutely worth a visit.

Another excellent neighborhood for strolling and lazing away the afternoon in diverting cafes is the Jordaan – cozy Balthazar’s Keuken is a fantastic spot for market-fresh country French cooking, with a menu that changes weekly.

As culinary joys go, also be sure to try Indonesian food while in town. The traditional rijstaffel (”rice table”) meals served at countless spots around the city offer a terrific sense of what this flavorful, sweet-and-spicy cuisine is all about. Restaurant Selecta is one of my favorite places for rijstaffel – it’s just around the corner from Reguliersdwaarsstraat, which is home to several of the city’s most popular gay bars.

If you get the chance, budget some time to explore a couple of nearby cities – several great ones are within 30- to 90-minute train ride. I’ve always enjoyed my time in nearby Leiden, a bustling university town since the late 16th century that’s rife with canals and gardens. Another favorite is the Dutch seat of government, The Hague, which is rich with museums (the Gemeentemuseum has a huge collection of works by Dutch modernist Piet Mondriaan).

Zandvoort is a scenic resort town on the North Sea that’s one of northern Europe’s favorite gay beach towns – Portlanders partial to Sauvie Island might be happy to know that Zandvoort also has a popular clothing-optional beach. And then there’s the second-largest city in the Netherlands, Rotterdam, which many visitors have dismissed over the years as a gritty, industrial port city. There’s truth to this, but I love it here – you’ll find some exceptional examples of avant-garde post-World War II architecture, and a burgeoning cafe and nightlife culture.

Andrew Collins
Freelance Travel Writer
For more of Andrew’s writing, visit www.gaytravel.about.com

Kyoto

Kyoto is arguably most famous for its spectacular architecture. With over 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, Kyoto has preserved some of Japan’s most valued historical and cultural masterpieces. Both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines pay proper homage to their religious figures, but each edifice has its own unique architectural details. Since it is impossible to see all of Kyoto’s temples, a few suggestions include Enryaku-ji Temple, To-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple, Shokoku-ji Temple, the Golden and Silver Pavilions (Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji) and Sanjusangen-do. Sanjusangen-do hosts an annual kyudo or archery competition called Toshiya, which brings together about 2,000 participants. Many of the participants are teenagers who have recently undergone the coming of age ceremony the week before.

In Shino shrines, you will find millions of gods representing important elements in life, such as wind, rain, light, earth and fertility. For a complete Shinto experience, tour the Kamigamo-jinja, dedicated to the water gods and Yasaka-jinja, which honors the god of prosperity and good health.

After a long day touring through the temples and shrines, stop by a tea house for a traditional tea ceremony with Geisha and Maiko. These professional entertainers train from a young age and learn to perform classical music and traditional dance.

Nikko National Park

Known for its Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, vast gardens, waterfalls, hiking trails and fall foliage, Nikko National Park provides visitors a plethora of natural and architectural designs. The city of Nikko has earned is place on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Tokugaway Shoguns’ sanctuary and mausoleum.

Of the most famous natural sites in Nikko National Park, Kegon Falls (below), Lake Chuzenji, Mount Nantai and Ryuzu Falls have captured the most hearts. If you are to visit Nikko National Park, make sure to plan a few days. Between the various hiking trails and a city deeply rooted in spiritual history, you’ll be busy for a few days.

Great Buddha Kamakura

The faithful come to Kamakura to pray and experience Buddha’s wisdom and tourists venture to witness an architectural wonder. The Amida Buddha in Kamakura is one of the tallest bronze statues in Japan (nearly 50 feet), second only to the Buddha statue in Nara’s Todaiji Temple. Built in 1252, this statue weighs in at 93 tons and has outlasted even the temple where it was built, which was destroyed by typhoons during the 14th and mid-15th centuries.

Mount Fuji

We couldn’t leave out Japan’s largest mountain and one of its most recognizable icons: Mount Fuji. Dominating the skyline at just over 12,300 ft, Mount Fuji joins Mount Tate and Mount Haku to make up the “Three Holy Mountains”. Mount Fuji has been the centerpiece of Japanese art for centuries, including the famous painting “Tsumani” by Hokusai.

A mere three hour drive from Tokyo, Mount Fuji boasts some of the country’s most spectacular vistas and is a hiking and ski-lovers’ winter wonderland.

Photo credits: Geishas, Shadowgate; Great Buddha, MrHayata; Great Buddha; Njimi Falls; Nikko National Park Pagoda; Mt. Fuji, Palandrome6996; Tsunami

Photo credits: Heineken, Felix.Triller; Hopworks Urban Brewery, McCun934 ; Asahi and Tokyo, Tavallai

Photo credits: Portlandia, Wildcat Dunny; Van Gogh Museum, Quasimagyar; Tokyo Rainbow Bridge, Melanie-M