Tell Rob what you want — he'll send 3 curated trip ideas with rough budgets and timing. Works great for couples trips, family weeks, and guys weekends.
Rob is a Fora-certified travel advisor with a specialty in food, wine, family travel, and knowing which winery has the best outdoor setting. Book through Fora and unlock perks you can't get on your own.
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One point of contact for flights, hotels, and on-the-ground logistics
Honest recs — Rob's been to almost everywhere he recommends
Our summer home base. Wine, oysters, farm stands, beach days, and date nights. Better than the Hamptons and half as crowded.
Where to Stay
Sound View Hotel ★
Greenport. Waterfront, great pool. Day passes available. Low Tide is the best beach bar.
Silver Sands Motel
Greenport. Quirky motel with great food at Nookies/Eddies. Charming waterfront.
North Fork Table & Inn
Southold. Inn attached to a well-known restaurant. Good food truck on premises.
What To Do
Orient Beach State Park ★
Beautiful beach. Sunshine Shack (Little Creek team) has food on-site.
Ferry to Shelter Island
Quick escape. Beach, one of the inns, or drinks at Salt.
Custer Observatory
Saturday nights — music and telescope viewing. Great date night.
Chocolate class at Disset
Fun date activity in Greenport.
First Fridays on Love Lane
Mattituck. Monthly evening event.
Harbes Orchard / Catapano Dairy
Good with kids. Harbes has a corn maze and pumpkins in fall.
Bike to Orient Country Store
Or Opties and Dinghies. Great half-day ride.
🍷 Wineries
Rose Hill ★
New favorite. Beautiful spot, genuinely good wine. Same folks run Main & Mill.
Paumanok ★
Aquebogue. Very pretty setting, excellent wine.
Greenport Harbor Brewing ★
Cutchogue. Good beer, fun outdoor party vibe, food trucks.
Corey Creek
Southold. One of the prettiest tasting rooms. Wine is nothing special.
Sparkling Pointe
Southold. Only sparkling-wine-only vineyard on the Fork.
Lenz
Cutchogue. Nice garden. Warren's favorite.
Kontokosta
Greenport. Only one overlooking LI Sound. Very pretty, mediocre wine.
Terra Vite
Just reopened. Good weekend events.
RG NY
Spanish-inspired. Haven't been yet but on the list.
Where to Eat
Minnow at Gallery Ho ★
Cutchogue. New favorite special occasion spot. Weekend whole-fish grills are great.
Little Creek Oysters ★
Greenport. Packed but awesome raw bar.
American Beech ★
Greenport complex — bar and restaurants. Good for a clubby dinner.
North Fork Roasting Co. ★
Southold. Great coffee, good food, live music weekends.
Southold General ★
François Payard pastries and food. Very good. Expensive.
Love Lane Kitchen
Mattituck. A go-to.
The Halyard
Waterfront at Sound View. Good if pricey food, gorgeous setting.
1943 Pizza Bar / Brix & Rye
Wood fire pizza upstairs, speakeasy below. Perfect date night.
Alpina
Greenport. Italian and Swiss. Nice wine menu.
Durya's
Orient. Beach bar energy, Hamptons prices, North Fork charm.
Village Cheese Shop
Love Lane. Garden with fondue, great takeaway.
Southold Social / Southold General
Both Payard. General for morning, Social for nicer dinners.
8 Hands Farm
Working farm with gourmet butcher and good coffee. Kids see animals.
Little Fish
Southold. Solid. Now serving brunch.
Local intel
FB: North Fork Moms from NYC · IG: @North_Forker, @GoNoFo · News: Suffolk Times, Petite North Fork
Cute seaside town about 3 hrs from NYC. Went in winter — nice, though better in summer. Good for a family weekend.
Where to Stay
Residence Inn by Marriott Groton
Studios/suites so you can separate from the kids. Completely fine.
Hilton Mystic
Right across from the aquarium. Can't beat the location.
What To Do
Mystic Seaport
Historic shipyard museum. Half-day minimum.
Mystic Aquarium
Half-day. Good with kids.
Ole Mistik Village
Worth a wander for shops and charm.
Where to Eat
Red 36 ★
On the water, good New American food. Best dinner in Mystic. Make a reservation.
Engine Room
Really good brunch. Part of a bigger restaurant group.
Sift Bakery
Very good pastries.
Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream
Exactly what you want from a vacation ice cream stop.
Wine country done right. Make reservations everywhere. Rent a car — you'll need it.
Where to Stay
Embrace Calistoga ★
Beautiful B&B, lovely breakfast and happy hour, very helpful hosts.
Wydown Hotel, St. Helena
Right in downtown. Walk to Model Bakery and everything else.
Senza Hotel, Yountville
Nice hotel, outside of town so you need to drive everywhere.
Auberge / Indian Springs, Calistoga
Calistoga is known for hot springs. Luxe is Auberge, value is Indian Springs day pass.
What To Do
Schramsberg cave tour ★
Calistoga. Amazing sparkling wine. The cave tour is an awesome experience.
OxBow Market
Town of Napa. Great spot for lunch — Hog Island Oysters, the cheese place, the Mexican spot.
Castello di Amorosa
St. Helena. An imported Italian castle. Pure spectacle. Worth doing once.
🍷 Wineries
Schramsberg ★
Calistoga. Best sparkling in Napa. Cave tour is a must.
Goose Cross Cellars
Yountville. Used to be our favorite. More popular now but still good.
Stag's Leap
Yountville. Napa OG. Great wine.
Chandon
Yountville. Sparkling wine. Nice setting.
Heitz
St. Helena. Napa original. No appointment needed.
Cakebread
St. Helena. One of the originals. Good tour with good wine.
Elizabeth Spencer
St. Helena. Wine was good, beautiful backyard.
Duckhorn / Paraduxx
Both good. Duckhorn is PE-owned now but wine holds up.
Domaine Carneros
Napa. Sparkling on the terrace of a faux chateau. Gorgeous.
Tres Sabores
Friend just went and was raving.
Staglin
Top-tier producer. Worth seeking out.
Where to Eat
Bistro Jaunty ★
Yountville. One of our top bay area restaurants. Very classic French. Tomato soup with puff pastry is the move.
French Laundry
Yountville. A splurge. Best enjoyed when paid for by Fantasy Football winnings.
Bouchon Bakery
Yountville. Mini chain but Thomas Keller doesn't disappoint.
Gott's
St. Helena. Great burgers and custard. Good break from fine dining.
Model Bakery
St. Helena. The English muffins are famous. Worth it.
Grace's Table
Town of Napa. Nice, seasonal, fresh dinner.
Bounty Hunter Wine Bar
Town of Napa. Expensive wine + good BBQ. Quirky and enjoyable.
Evangeline
Calistoga. Cajun food. Good.
Often overlooked vs. Napa but the food scene is better. Girl and the Fig alone is worth the trip.
Where to Stay
Fairmont Sonoma
Good hotel in Sonoma town.
What To Do
WildFlour Bakery ★
Occidental/Freestone. Legendary. Worth the drive.
Japanese Spa, Freestone
Good stop if you're doing the Occidental area.
Sonoma town plaza
Walk around the historic plaza. Good farmers market on Tuesdays.
🍷 Wineries
Ridge Vineyards ★
Healdsburg (Lytton Springs). Perhaps our favorite winery to visit anywhere.
Iron Horse ★
Sebastopol. Second best sparkling in the region (to Schramsberg). Gorgeous hillside, often serves oysters.
Patz and Hall
Sonoma town. Good Pinot and Chardonnay.
Gundlach Bundschu
Sonoma. Old-school, great atmosphere.
Marimar / La Crema
Sebastopol. Both reliable Pinot producers.
Where to Eat
Girl and the Fig ★
Sonoma town. Bay Area top 10. Northern Rhone-inspired casual French. Do not miss this.
Sol Food (Marin)
Puerto Rican. One of our favorite stops on the drive back from wine country.
Sushi Ran, Sausalito
Excellent sushi. Good stop if you're crossing the bridge.
Tricky because it's very street-specific. Avoid the Tenderloin and Civic Center. Safest areas: Presidio, SoMa, Embarcadero.
Where to Stay
Inn or Lodge at the Presidio
Great location, beautiful park setting. Best area to be based.
Le Meridien or The One (Embarcadero)
Waterfront, great access to the Ferry Building.
W or Intercontinental (SoMa)
Good central options if you're not by the Presidio.
What To Do
Ferry Building Farmers Market
Saturday mornings. Drink at La Mar or Hog Island after.
Fort Mason → Marina walk
Best walk in the city. Along the water into Russian Hill.
Dolores Park / Mission
Ice cream from Bi-Rite, coffee, chocolate at Dandelion.
Ferry to Sausalito → Bar Bocce
Easy half-day across the bay.
Marin Headlands hike
Stunning views back at the city.
TreeTops at the Presidio
Great with kids.
De Young / Legion of Honor / SFMOMA
All good. De Young is in Golden Gate Park, easiest to pair with a park walk.
Where to Eat
Bar Crudo ★
Favorite SF spot. Amazing seafood.
Souvla ★
Go-to for takeout. Soup + salad + fro yo with olive oil and sea salt.
State Bird Provisions
Original American small plates. Started the SF food revival.
Octavia
Great special occasion spot.
Foreign Cinema
Beautiful Mission atmosphere. Movies play outside while you eat.
Monsieur Benjamin
Lovely fancy French in Hayes Valley.
Mister Jiu's
New Chinese. Very good.
Swan Oyster Depot
Bourdain-approved. Does takeout.
Hog Island Oyster Co.
Ferry Building. It's in the name.
Yank Sing
Classic dim sum.
Nopa / Nopalito
Fancy New American / fast casual Mexican from the same team.
Chez Panisse (Berkeley)
Alice Waters started it all. Worth the trip across the bay.
Coffee & Pastry
Arsicault ★
Best croissant in the city. Stop after the Presidio.
Tartine
The other best croissants. Famous country loaf too.
B Patisserie
Kouign-amann is the move.
Wise Sons
Original nouveau Jewish deli.
Bourbon and Branch
Retro speakeasy cocktail bar. Fun evening spot.
CA Day Trips From SF
Bodega Bay (great hiking) · Tomales Bay (Hog Island + Cowgirl Creamery factory tours + lighthouse) · Palo Alto / Stanford (hike the Dish, walk University Ave)
One of the best wine trips we've taken. Base in Beaune, drive the villages, eat well. Don't underestimate just wandering.
Where to Stay
Hotel Cep, Beaune
Central base for everything. A bit dated but well-located.
Chateau Bagnol (Beaujolais)
Actual castle, lovely restaurant. A bit further south but worth it.
What To Do
Drive the villages ★
Beaune → Pommard → Meursault → Puligny Montrachet → Saint Aubin. Stop wherever. One of our best travel days, ever.
Hospice de Beaune
Historic Gothic hospital. Worthy of a visit.
Château de La Rochepot
Cute medieval chateau. Good stop on the village drive.
🍷 Wineries
Drouhin ★
Beaune. Very cool cellar tour. Great introduction to Burgundy.
Jadot
Beaune. Modern meets classic.
Visit Pommard and Meursault
Lots of wineries take tour reservations in both villages. Walk around too.
Where to Eat
Le Montrachet ★
Puligny Montrachet. Michelin star. Walk the grounds, sit outside, take in the vibe in one of the world's most famous estates.
Le Benaton
Beaune. Japanese chef, very good.
Bordeaux is classic estates and big reds. The Northern Rhone is more rugged — Syrah country, steep hillside vineyards, and one of France's best restaurants.
🍷 Bordeaux
Bordeaux with Elodie ★
Our tour guide. Highly recommended for winery visits. bordeauxwithelodie.com
La Grand Vigne ★
At Les Sources de Caudalie. 2 Michelin stars. Beautiful vineyard setting.
Hotel de Pavie
Ate at the 2-star Michelin restaurant here. Very good.
Chateau Hotel Grand Barrail
St-Emilion. Very pretty hotel in the vineyards outside of town.
🍷 Northern Rhone
Chapoutier / Jaboulet
Tain l'Hermitage. Two major producers, both worth visiting.
Darnaud
Small producer worth seeking out.
Hôtel de la Villeon
Stayed in Tournon sur Rhone, just over the bridge from Tain l'Hermitage. Good base.
Where to Eat
Maison Pic, Valence ★
3 Michelin stars. Went for lunch and were blown away. One of the best meals we've had.
Les Belles Perdix, Bordeaux
Good restaurant in the area.
Our favorite island. Been multiple times — honeymoon, with kids, with grandparents. Wailea is the best base for families. Rent a car for at least 2 days. Pre-book a cabana.
Where to Stay
Grand Wailea ★
Best pool complex I've ever seen. Great for kids and grandparents.
Ritz Carlton Kaanapali
Was perfect for a honeymoon (pre-fire).
Anya's Honeymoon Cottage, Hana
If you're doing the Road to Hana overnight.
What To Do
Road to Hana ★
Drive it yourself. Some waterfall spots now require advance reservations.
Iao Valley
Beautiful waterfalls you can swim in. Great alternative to Hana. Needs reservations now.
Haleakala
Sunrise is great if jetlagged. Dress warmly — freezing at the top.
Whale watching / snorkel tour
In season this is excellent. Off-season, hotels run outrigger turtle tours.
Snorkeling at mile marker 34
Great spot. Rent gear for the week if going multiple times.
Ali Kula Lavender Farm
On the way up to Haleakala. Amazing views. Try the tea and shortbread.
Paia town
Hippie town on the way to Hana. Good food stop on the drive back.
Where to Eat — Wailea
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea ★
21+ only. One of the best sunset views anywhere. Get a babysitter.
KOAST
Great date night. Seafood and meat mains, inventive veggie sides.
Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman
Good for lunch or dinner. Reliable.
Humble Market Kitchen
At the Marriott. Swings way above expectations. Stunning view.
Tamura's Fine Wine
Poke in the back of a liquor store. Authentic and excellent.
Ululani's Shave Ice
Best of the shave ice options.
Island Gourmet Market
Shops at Wailea. Good takeout when you're over pool bar food.
Where to Eat — Beyond Wailea
Tin Roof Maui
Kihei. Sheldon Simeon (Top Chef) takeout near airport. Great elevated plate lunch.
Mama's Fish House
Paia. Come for the view. Fish is great too. $$$
Haliimaile General Store
Upcountry. One of the oldest gourmet restaurants on Maui.
Cafe Olei Mill House
Maui Tropical Plantation. Great food in a charming garden. Good for kids.
Merriman's Kaanapali
Excellent food. Best thing is a drink at sunset.
We stayed Kona side — lots of good AirBnBs, especially near Captain Cook.
Where to Stay
Fairmont / Mauna Kea / Four Seasons
The resort row is on the Kohala Coast. Highest density of beautiful beaches.
AirBnBs near Captain Cook
Good option for a more local feel, especially south of Kona.
Waikoloa Village
10 min inland from the Kohala beaches. Good if you want to be near beaches but not at a resort.
What To Do
Captain Cook Bay snorkeling
South of Kona. Great snorkeling. Coffee farms and honey farm nearby along the belt road.
Kaloko-Nonokohau National Park
Easy access north of Kona airport. Marked trails to the bay. Known for turtles.
Waimea upcountry
Cool contrast — ranch country feel, very different from the coast.
Honokaa / Waipio Valley
Cute village. Peaceful and pretty, not a lot to do but worth the drive.
Where to Eat
Da Poke Shack ★
Strip mall near Kona. Recommended by a local. Very much worth it.
Merriman's Waimea
Better food than the Maui location, less view. Still excellent.
The most dramatic scenery of any island. If you can handle a helicopter, do it. Otherwise take a boat around the Na Pali Coast.
Where to Stay
St. Regis Princeville
The nicest resort on the island. North shore.
Westin Villas, Princeville
Also nice. Good for families with space to spread out.
Secluded AirBnBs
Some really great, private options on the island. Good alternative to resorts.
What To Do
Helicopter tour ★
Best way to see the island if you can handle it. If not, take a boat.
Kalalau Trail, Na Pali
Intense but spectacular. We hiked 4 miles to the waterfall and back — half a day.
Waimea Canyon
Like a green Grand Canyon. Very cool.
River kayak + hiking combo
Did an excursion that was kayaking + hike + lunch. Really fun. Waterfall at the end.
Kauai Coffee Plantation
Largest coffee plantation in the US. Worth a stop.
Oahu (while we're here)
Pearl Harbor ★
Half-day to full day. Really interesting — one of the best things we did on Oahu.
Waikiki Beach
Good people watching. One of the better spots to learn to surf.
Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay
Just refurbished. Where I'd stay to be out of downtown Honolulu.
Great for a long weekend — beach, Wynwood, good food. Mid-Beach has gotten better than South Beach for a lower-key trip.
Where to Stay
The Cadillac, Mid Beach
Fancier option. Good beach access and pool.
AC Miami Beach, South Beach
Good location, private beach, rooftop. Not super luxurious but solid.
What To Do
Wynwood Walls / Design District
Walk it. Good half-day activity. Great street art.
Rubell Museum
Contemporary art. Worth it.
South Beach boardwalk
Walk or bike the length of it. Classic Miami.
Where to Eat
Doya ★
Wynwood. Really excellent. Sit outside.
Bakan
Great drinks, good Mexican food. Sit outside.
Ceviche Divino
By the AC Hotel. Good ceviche / Peruvian.
Be Bakery
Good coffee and breakfast spot near the AC.
Also Florida
Sarasota
Underrated Florida city. Good for a slower trip.
Clearwater Beach
Classic Florida beach. Good for families.
Disney
Have the grandparents take the kids and go somewhere else.
Snowmass is better value than Aspen and Base Village has improved a lot. But Aspen is Aspen.
Where to Stay
Snowmass Club
Great facilities. Try to spot celebrities at the gym.
Base Village, Snowmass
Ice skating and game room. Good for families.
What To Do
Maroon Bells ★
Must-see. Book the shuttle in advance.
Rio Grande Trail
Great walk / bike between Aspen and Basalt.
Aspen Art Museum
Free. Surprisingly good.
Ride the gondolas
Enjoy the view and hike around the top.
Snowmass Rodeo
Wednesdays in summer. Great family activity.
Where to Eat — Snowmass
Mawa's Crepes ★
Classic breakfast spot. A Snowmass institution.
Daly Diner
Good casual option.
Aurum
Upscale. Great for a dinner out.
Stewpot
Good casual winter spot.
Venga Venga / Big Hoss
Casual Snowmass options for lunch or après.
Where to Eat — Aspen
Pine Creek Cookhouse ★
Drive out to Ashcroft. Lunch or dinner in the middle of nowhere. Worth every mile.
Clark's
Good steak.
Meat and Cheese
Exactly what it sounds like. That's a good thing.
Upstairs at Matsuhisa
Nobu's Aspen outpost. Good special occasion dinner.
Steakhouse 316
Classic steakhouse in a fun setting.
Alpina
Italian and Swiss. Good wine menu.
Make reservations at all restaurants. Walk more than you think you need to. The accidental cafe stop is always worth it.
Where to Stay
Hotel Les Bains
3rd / Le Marais. Trendy, great location for walking without kids.
Hotel Galileo
Near Champs-Élysées in the 8th. Small rooms, nice hotel, great location.
What To Do
Musée Rodin / d'Orsay / l'Orangerie
Walk from d'Orsay to Shakespeare & Co then to Notre Dame.
Eiffel Tower lunch
Book the restaurant at the tower — skip some elevator lines.
St-Germain cafe sit
Walk up to any bustling cafe. Sit. Order. Underrated — no reservation needed.
Where to Eat
Bistrotters ★
Probably our favorite meal of the trip. Do lunch here.
17th arr. Cute neighborhood spot. Great break from fancy dining.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
St-Germain. Classic. Had dinner here on our first trip together.
Dchez Eux
French equivalent of red sauce Italian. Classic.
Mokonuts
Was closed when we visited but friends just went and loved it.
Zia Paris
Good breakfast spot. Dutch baby was delicious.
Angelina
Hot chocolate. Good with kids or to pick up souvenirs.
Wine Bars
Les Cave des Climats ★
Drink off the by-the-glass menu or pick any bottle. Really good range, nice staff.
Wine Therapy
Cute little wine bar with a fun pairing experience.
Willi's Wine Bar
Central. Slightly touristy but the wine is great.
Good Paris Resources
David Lebovitz blog (davidlebovitz.com) — amazing food writer based in Paris. Fass Selections (fassselections.com) — indie wine merchant with great producer recs.
We walked so much we had to buy the kids new sneakers. Worth it. Mayfair and Marylebone are the best neighborhoods to base yourself.
Where to Stay
Kensington Residence Inn
Friend stayed there and liked it. Good family option.
Marble Arch area
Great location for walking. We stayed near here — not a great hotel but the location was excellent.
What To Do
Tower of London ★
Bloody but so much fun. The tour is great.
Harry Potter World
20-30 min train. Reserve far in advance. Spent 4+ hours there.
Uber Boat on the Thames
Parliament to the Tower, walk back across Tower Bridge. Surprisingly great.
Double Decker bus, top deck
A hit every time with kids.
British Museum
Reserve free tickets in advance. Could spend a full day.
Parliament / Big Ben tour
Miri loved it. Book in advance.
Harrods food hall
Ride the escalator, browse the food hall. Worth a stop.
Waterstone's / Daunt Books
Both excellent bookshops. Daunt is especially beautiful.
Day trip: Hampton Court
Tudor palace. Well worth a half-day.
Day trip: Cambridge
Walk the colleges, go punting, tea at the Orchard Tea House in Grantchester.
Where to Eat
Rovi ★
Ottolenghi's wood fire cooking restaurant. Highlight meal. Very kid-friendly.
Honey & Co
Casual cafe and bakery from Ottolenghi alums.
The Ivy / The Smith
Classic British scene restaurant. Good for a splurge dinner.
Alice in Wonderland Tea at the Sanderson
Food was a B, experience an A. Kids loved it.
Good pub meals
Don't overthink it — a well-chosen pub is hard to beat. David Lebovitz and Phil Rosenthal both have good London recs.
Cambridge
Kanto Cafe
Filipino bakery. Get the cinnamon bun and ube bread.
Maison Clemente
Some of the best croissants and French pastries we've had anywhere.
The Blue Ball Inn
On the way to Grantchester. Classic upscale British pub. Very charming.
Orchard Tea House, Grantchester
Rupert Graves' house, now a tea garden. Walk or punt to get there.
Rent a 4x4 — required. Stay in Reykjavik and do day trips. If I'd change one thing: stay a night between the Golden Circle and Vik to save 2-3 hours of driving.
Where to Stay
Reykjavik AirBnB on main street
We stayed in a nice one on one of the main streets. Perfect base for day trips.
Day Trips
Golden Circle ★
Thingvellir → Geysir → Gullfoss (best). Lunch at Fordheimer (geothermal tomato greenhouse). Secret Lagoon on the way back.
South Coast to Vik ★
Seljalandsfoss (walk behind it) → Vik brewpub lunch → black sand beach → Dyrholaey cliffs (best stop) → Skogarfoss on the way back.
Whale watching, Reykjavik
Sea Trips Reykjavik on their yacht — small group. Saw a few humpbacks.
Blue Lagoon / Seltun hot springs
Good for your last day before flying out.
Where to Eat
Seabaron ★
Seafood shack by the harbor. Lobster soup + simple seafood kebabs. Delicious.
Braud & Co ★
Bakery famous for cinnamon buns. Went twice.
BBP Hot Dog
The classic. Do it.
Forretbarrin
Good Icelandic spot with several 4-course set menus.
Resto
Good casual dinner, excellent Icelandic food, quiet dining room.
Sushi Social
When you need a break from Nordic food. Get the sushi only — excellent fish.
Dill (Michelin)
Dill
Iceland's only Michelin restaurant. New Nordic. Good meal but didn't quite live up to the hype. Try Systr (their casual offshoot) instead.
Valdi
Get the soft serve.
Take the airtrain in and get a subway pass. So easy to get around. Ekstedt alone is worth the trip.
Where to Stay
Miss Clara by Nobis
Right by the subway. Nice if small rooms, great location.
What To Do
Sodermalm
Walk around for views of the city and cool boutiques. Stockholm's Brooklyn.
Vasa Museum
Fascinating warship museum. Don't skip.
Gamla Stan
The old town. Palace is a nice stop but not a must.
Where to Eat
Ekstedt ★
Best meal of the trip. All open-fire cooking. Great wine list.
Speceriest
Smaller plates, sister restaurant of Michelin 2-star Gastrologik. Really enjoyed it.
Ostermalm Food Hall
Classic Scandinavian food, lots of takeaway stands. Good for lunch day one.
Tak rooftop bar
Go for a drink. Food is good but not particularly Swedish.
Practical Notes
Take the Arlanda Express airtrain in from the airport.
Get a 3-day transit card — the subway is excellent.
Pick up breakfast at urban markets or coffee shops most days.
Utrecht is the underrated gem — beautiful, manageable, perfect for day trips to Amsterdam, Keukenhof, and Gouda. NH Hotel by the train station was excellent.
Utrecht — Where to Stay
NH Hotel Utrecht
By the train station. 10 min walk or tram into town. Great base.
What To Do
National Railway Museum ★
Acres of old trains for kids to run around. Highlight of the trip.
Keukenhof (day trip)
7 million bulb flowers. Go in spring. Also: worst seasonal allergies I've ever had.
Gouda market day (day trip)
Thursday cheese market or Saturday regular market. Fun half-day.
De Haar Castle
Didn't make it but supposed to be great.
Amsterdam — canal boat
Rent a motor boat and explore the canals on your own.
Rijksmuseum / Van Gogh / NEMO
Amsterdam. All worth it. Book timed entry in advance.
Utrecht — Where to Eat
Cafe Ferreria ★
Pastel de nata and amazing pastries. Went twice.
O'Panuozzo
Neapolitan pizza near the train station. Fantastic sourdough crust.
Westchester-based travel advisor and dad. Travels Like Dad is a community for parents who love great trips, smart planning, and sharing the best recs — hotels, itineraries, points hacks, kid-friendly wins, and grown-up getaways.
"My wife and I joke that whenever I plan a trip, our itinerary ends up in the NYT travel section six months later."