Known just as much all over the world for its vibrant and party-happy night life as it is for its cultural legacy, Amsterdam is truly a city that merges the best of the past and the present while keeping a pulse on the future. With loads of places to stay ranging from budget hotels to more elegant 5-star accommodations, Amsterdam is the perfect jumping off point for an adventure that you won\'t soon forget.

The various bars, clubs and entertainment spots are of course what draws the young and the beautiful into the city by the thousands every year and for good reason. Amsterdam boasts of a party scene that can rival the best that the world\'s most sophisticated cities have to offer. To start out your evening for example, you may want to have a drink at the Cafe Karpershoek, which is conveniently located at the center of the city. Here you can enjoy a wide variety of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages before heading out to more active pursuits.

Bourbon Street is where you want to be if live music is what you are after. The drinks may be a bit pricier but the entertainment provided both by live bands and the distinctive crowds makes it all worth it. For something a bit more on the adventurous tip check out Vrankrijk, which is where the city\'s more colorful denizens gravitate towards. And if you can manage to, make sure that you check out the Paradiso. The converted church boasts of the most vibrant scene around, with a host of celebrity DJ\'s playing music to an appreciative and excitable crowd.

In the day time particularly in the summer months a great place to unwind from all that partying is the city\'s famous Vondelpark. You can either take in a show by the water\'s edge or enjoy a leisurely beer or two at the Blauwe Theehuis. The park is also a great place for the time honored tradition of people watching, but if you really want to catch a show, the place to head to is Leidseplein. This city square is literally buzzing with life at most times of the day, and the terraces make great shady hangouts from which to view the crowds of interesting people walking by.

As expected, there are loads of department stores, boutiques and specialty shops all over Amsterdam, but if you have a taste for something that is a bit more on the exotic side, the numerous small curio shops scattered all over the city will be were you should do your rummaging. Keep an eye out for these shops, as many of them are so small you would likely miss them at first glance. Many of them are located off the beaten path as well, which makes them even harder to find, but they are great places to find mementos of your trip to this most fascinating of cities.