As we got off the airplane at 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning, I was feeling a mixture of extreme excitement, happiness and jet lag. Even though I had only slept fifteen minutes the night before, I could not have felt more alive as I passed through customs into Amsterdam. Amsterdam has been one of my favorite cities since my first visit with my mother and grandfather back in 2007. Carrying only my backpack and brief memories from my prior visit, I was excited to see Amsterdam through the eyes of an adult. We got off the plane without a plan or a care in the world, dying to see what the beautiful city had to offer.

Once we reached the apartment we were renting for the weekend, we wasted no time dropping off our bags and heading out the door. The first thing we did was, of course, eat. Our first stop was Grolsch Cafe located right in the heart of the city. Grolsch had a wide variety of beers to choose from ranging from fresh, local, pale brews to non-alcoholic beers. The lunch menu consisted of plenty of dishes for the carb lover as wekk, such as meat paninis, falafels and hummus sandwiches.

After a brief lunch to refuel after the plane ride, we walked across town to the Heineken Experience (Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands), which you must visit if you are in Amsterdam. Word of advice, it is imperative to wear comfortable shoes in this city, as traveling Amsterdam by foot is the best way to find all the best-hidden canals, footpaths and shops.

After a half hour walk to the towering Heineken factory, we finally made it. I have attended the brewing factory tour twice now and I could not have had a better experience. I would recommend going right before close (last admittance is 6:30 p.m.). My friends and I were among only several others in line on Friday night. We entered the factory swiftly and basically had the entire place to ourselves! When I returned on Saturday afternoon, the line was wrapped around the block and you could not get anywhere without bumping into a fellow tourist. If you find yourself only able to attend the Heineken Experience during peak hours I would suggest buying a pre-sale ticket in Rijksmuseum (Museum District) before hand in order to cut the line.

The interactive walking tour teaches you about the history of Heineken founder Gerard Adriaan Heineken and his successful beer company. The tour begins with a briefing about the life of Mr. Heineken himself before you advance throughout the building and learn how a smooth, delicious Heineken is made. I also had the experience to “turn into” a beer during the 3-D movie about the beer life cycle including production, bottling, packaging and transportation. Tourists get to see the Heineken house stables up close. The Heineken home isn’t the only home worth visiting in Amsterdam.

While I did visit to the Frank House back in 2007, I knew I had to get another look into the life of the young Holocaust victim. The Anne Frank House is always packed, so chances are you will be waiting for 30 to 90 minutes to get your hands on a ticket. However, the Anne Frank House is worth the wait, so I suggest biting the bullet, grabbing some friends and waiting in the long line.

The heart-wrenching walking tour takes you through the attic that hid the Frank family during the Holocaust. German born Anne Frank, kept a daily journal while in hiding, which was published after the war by her father Otto, who was the only survivor of her family. Direct quotes from Anne Frank cover the white walls with journal clippings sitting beneath them in glass cases. While walking up creaking staircases and ducking under crawl spaces, you feel transported back in time to when the Frank’s resided in the attic. The rooms are kept empty in memory of the victims, but tourists are still provided informational movies about the lives’ of the Franks as well as replicas of what the rooms actually looked like at the time. My friends and I walked in silence (something which rarely happens) as all of us were touched by the old house. Seeing the Anne Frank House as a preteen opposed to now is a completely different experience, and one I was not prepared for. As a teen I could care less about history. But now as a worldly adult and history buff, I could not help but be moved to tears as I crawled through the Anne Frank House that day.

This trip changed how I view the city of Amsterdam in the best of ways. I was able to see the canals, the cyclists, the people and the aura of the city in a different perspective. As a mature adult I could appreciate the history and architecture of the city in more ways than before. Make sure you bring your walking shoes and touch up on your Heineken history before visiting one of the most beautiful, storybook-esque cities in the world.