#352: Big Sky (pg 656, 2nd Ed pg 819)

 

August 3, 2025

Big Sky!  This has been on my list for a long time, so I was so happy to finally go!

Since we were in Big Sky on a Sunday, we decided to start the day out by going to church.  And what a Big Sky/Montana experience it was!  A man from the small congregation got up and spoke and referenced the Lord's hand in preserving his life during the bear attack (!! 😳). I went up to him after the meeting and asked him about the bear attack.  His name was Rudy and he told me that two years ago, he was attacked by a Grizzly bear who charged him and literally bit his face and picked him up by the head and clawed at him.  There were two other people with Rudy and they both yelled and screamed and threw rocks at the bear until the bear dropped Rudy and ran off.  Miraculously, Rudy survived this attack, but was literally missing the bottom part of his face.  He showed me all of his scars from his legs and arms where they took skin and tissue to re-create a mandible and chin.  Amazing.

Rudy recommended this hike, so we took his recommendation.... with bear spray in hand!

Great hike and great recommendation!  Thanks, Rudy!

Verdict:  Big Sky was great!  It was beautiful and there are a ton of outdoorsy things to do.  And is in close proximity to Yellowstone.  I know Big Sky is famous for its ski slopes, so if skiing is your jam, then Winter is obviously the time to visit, but there are lots of fun outdoorsy things to do in the summer as well!  Fly fishing is really big here as well.  Having said all that, while a lovely place to visit, it's not a "must do before you die".  But you know what is?  Yellowstone!  And this is just an hour north of the North entrance.  So go to Yellowstone and then visit Big Sky on your way to/from (like we did).  So while not necessarily a must do on its own, it's a great "add on" to a nearby "must do"!

#351: Cafe Society (pg 240)

 

July 12, 2025

Cafe 't Smalle

"A favored watering hole since it first opened in 1786."

A flavor of the inside.

But on a day like today and with a view like this, the outside is where you want to be!

Verdict:  No, this isn't something you need to do before you die.  In fact, it was taken out of the 2nd edition and rightfully so.  Enjoy Amsterdam's eating and drinking scene and find a place along the canal on a nice afternoon or evening, but it doesn't necessarily need to be in a "brown cafe" (which name derives from a combination of the wood-paneling which is beautiful and it's tobacco stains from years of pub living, which is, well.... less beautiful).  

#350: Pulitzer Hotel (pg 242)

 

July 12, 2025

The Pulitzer hotel is located along a gorgeous canal in the Jordaan District just a short walk from the Anne Frank house.

It has two very nice restaurants with beautiful outdoor seating options.

And a lovely lobby with some "Pulitzer-prize" winning books.

One of the lovely courtyards that make you just want to stay here instead of venturing out into the city.

Verdict:  No, this isn't a must do.  In fact, it was taken out of the 2nd Edition of the 1000 Places book and rightfully so.  It's a lovely place to stay if you can afford to do so (rooms typically range between $500-$700/night) but it's not something you have to see before you die.  So, while this magical courtyard and historical elegance may draw you in, unless money is no object, I'd stay in a less expensive place and spend your time and money exploring this must-see city!

#349: Anne Frank House (pg 239)

 

July 12, 2025

Posing here with my sister Lindsay in front of the building which housed Anne Frank and her family, along with 4 other people for 25 months before they were discovered. 

As you can see here,  they stayed in the back upper floors of a business.  They were able to stay hidden as long as they did because most of the Nazis were searching in people's homes, not in businesses.  

Verdict:  Yes!!  This is an absolute must do.  The whole experience exceeded my expectations.  It's obviously very sobering, but it's very well done.  The area is bigger than I imagined.  You are not allowed to take pictures inside the house, which is why my only pictures here are of the outside.  But when you tour the inside, you go inside the business building area and then you go behind a bookshelf and up the stairs to where they lived for 25 months.  It consisted of 3 small bedrooms plus a larger kitchen/living area room (which also doubled as a bedroom) and a bathroom.  After touring the building and living area, there is a gift shop and small museum display of Anne's actual diary and other writings.

Also, this was taken out in the 2nd Edition of 1000 Places as its own entry and just added as a subtext under "Amsterdam."  While I agree with the book's doing that with many of the other Amsterdam sights (Cafe Society, Oude Kerk, Pulitzer Hotel, Van Gogh Museum, etc), I think this one should have been kept as it's own entry.  It's definitely worthy of it. 

Cost:  16 euros

Tip:  Makes sure to book these tickets well ahead of time as they sell out very quickly.  Every Tuesday at 10am, they release more tickets and you can book out as far as 6 weeks in advance.   And I definitely recommend booking 6 weeks in advance as soon as they go on sale (I set an alert on my phone to make sure I got these) especially if you are going during  peak season. 

#348: Red Light District (pg 243)

 

July 12, 2025

I honestly wasn't quite sure how to document this one!  As you can see in the windows here, there are "no camera" signs everywhere.  In fact Rick Steves Amsterdam guidebook suggests "leaving your phone or camera in your bag. Don't take photos of women in windows or a snarly bouncer may appear from out of nowhere to forcibly rip it from your hands. In this district, taking even seemingly harmless photos of ordinary people is frowned upon by privacy-loving locals."  So, needless to say, this is the only photo I dared to take. 

The Red Light District is Amsterdam's oldest neighborhood and prostitution has been practiced here since the Middle Ages.  

Verdict:  My normal bar for what I decide to put as "yes" is "Is this something you can't see or do anywhere else?  Is it uniquely interesting?"  etc.  So, if I'm going by those standards, then this deserves a "Yes."  Walking through during the afternoon, I found the whole area absolutely fascinating -it's certainly not anything I've ever seen before!   Window after window with scantily-clad women "for sale."  But certainly, there's also the feeling of sadness in terms of what got these women here in the first place and the whole seediness of it all.  So, I guess I'd say this..... If you do decide to go, I recommend going during the day and just doing a walk-through to get an idea of the place and avoid going after dark, where the whole area turns to complete debauchery.