Just a 30-minute walk from Central Station - or a 15-minute ride on tram 9 - is a leafy district whose name translates to "Plantation", and which started off in the 17th century as a residential zone where no one wanted to live. But that didn't mean that no one wanted to spend time there; rather, it became a fashionable entertainment district that reached its peak before the Second World War. Nowadays, the district is associated with nature, history and culture, not to mention plenty of family-focused fun. Read more about the Plantage neighborhood in Amsterdam.

Just east of Amsterdam Central Station, the Eastern Docklands spread out over several interconnected islands of various shapes and sizes, each of which have their own special attractions. Family-oriented museums, spectacular city views, iconic architecture and more await visitors who make their way to this northeastern nook of the city. Read more about Amsterdam's Eastern Docklands.

Far and wide, the most popular question I've received from prospective visitors in the past year has been about the hot-button issue of whether the Netherlands has adopted a "weed pass" that bars anyone who isn't a Dutch resident from the country's cannabis coffeeshops. The answer, in short, is no (or rather, not yet): tourists are still welcome in coffeeshops nationwide - Amsterdam included - with the exception of the southwestern city of Maastricht. Even if the "weed pass" is approved, tourists can still visit Amsterdam's coffeeshops until at least 2013. Read more about the prospective weed pass and the controversy around it.

Many tourists who visit Amsterdam soon realize that there's much more to the city than the historic center and, moreover, that much of it takes only a few short minutes by foot or bike to reach. The Jordaan is one such neck of the woods: located just outside the Western Canal Belt, this artsy enclave appeals with its quaint, canal-side streets, abundant artists' studios, irresistible restaurants and more. Learn more about the Jordaan in Amsterdam.