Amsterdam, Netherlands is perceived by many law abiding Americans as a city of sin. Both prostitution (in certain areas) and marijuana possession/consumption (as well as a few other "smart" drugs) are tolerated to a certain extent within the city's limits, which often scares off prospective tourists, especially families. One thing worth noting is that prostitution is only tolerated in a specific area (clearly highlighted on maps as the Red Light District) and drug consumption usually happens in private quarters or coffee shops; you will rarely ever see anyone just walking down the street smoking. That being said, Amsterdam is not just for adults, it is a place where both young and old can have a pleasant time.

Visit Amstelpark or Vondelpark

Amsterdam has an abundance of parks. If you are downtown, chances are there is one within distance. Amstelpark is a beautiful area in the southern part of Amsterdam. For children, there is a playground, pony rides, and a maze. For adults, there are numerous flower gardens (with well-known Dutch tulips), and 2 spots for art exhibitions. During the summer months, you can board a train that circles the park. Vondelpark is the most popular park in Amsterdam and quite close to the city center. This is not just a nature park, but even has 2 cafés, a restaurant, and a hostel. A film museum and outside theater are also located on the premises.

Artis Zoo

Since 1838, the Artis Zoo has been a popular tourist attraction for all ages. It has an aquarium, Botanical Gardens, a planetarium, and a butterfly pavilion that often has 20-30 different types of butterflies. Artis is usually open from 9am-5pm, but later during summer, and is open year-round. Group discounts are given in groups exceeding 20 people, but other than that, standard entrance fees are as follows for 2009: $26 for adults, $24 for seniors over 65, and $21 for children aged 3-9 years. Get there on a Sunday morning for a guided tour in English.

Museums

Museums are one of Amsterdam's main attractions. Though there are over 30 museums in the city, the two most popular are the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. The Van Gogh Museum has the largest permanent collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world and also has many paintings of artists of the same time period. Rijksmuseum has much more variety from archeological artifacts to clothing to paintings. For the Rijksmuseum, tickets are $16 for those over 18, free for those younger. The Van Gogh Museum is $17.50 for adults, $3.50 for those 13-17, and free for children under 13.

The Anne Frank House

A sobering and educational visit the Anne Frank Museum is a must do for any visitor to Amsterdam. Here, you'll walk through the home where Anne Frank and her family hid for two years from the Nazis. Admission is 8.50 euro for adults and 4 euro for children. The museum has different hours of operation depending on the time of year.