My husband and I recently visited Amsterdam with our two kids, ages 8 and 11, and asked a cousin of mine what to see. When he suggested the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo, I was skeptical. Why use our precious time seeing something we could easily see in the US? But after hearing him describe the zoo and its old world charm, I changed my mind -- and am glad I did!
The zoo offers a wonderful trip back through time, to an era when zoos were smaller and more intimate. Many exhibits let you get close to the animals -- and in some cases, to touch them. The iron cages and beautiful gardens add to the zoo's 19th century aura. I would have enjoyed visiting the zoo on its own merit, without my kids -- but seeing the delight in their faces made it even more magical.
The zoo offers a fabulous play area next to a restaurant and coffee shop, which can provide a great break for kids and parents alike. We entered the zoo only 90 minutes before its closing time, but were able to cover all the main sights with a little time to play afterwards. I'm so glad we visited the zoo and encourage other parents -- and poets and history lovers, too -- to do the same.