early arrival in Amsterdam

Definitely Van Gogh. The Rijksmuseum is worth it also, I enjoyed my visit there. You might consider the iAmsterdam pass (museums, transit) - you can buy it online and pick up at the Schiphol airport TI. It includes Van Gogh and Rijks, plus I went to several of the sites covered by the pass that I wouldn't have otherwise - one included a really cool international photography exhibit. I also loved the Begijnhof courtyard area - very quiet and serene spot in the middle of the city.

I, too, took that tour in 2001. Something I learned later that I want to pass along to you if you do not already do it anyway. I took SO many pictures during the tour (my first trip to Europe) and did not keep some kind of journal to identify where the pictures were taken, that then I arrived home, I had a really impossible task of trying to figure it out. On the next 7 tours, I take a picture of the tour guides' daily schedule that they post in the place where we stay. That way at least I have a clue to where the pictures were taken without having to make an entry into a journal for every picture or so. That tour is still my favorite.

Yes - the best jet lag cure I can recommend. Rent a bike for a day and get into the countryside north of Amsterdam - you take a ferry across the river from near the train station. The countryside is beautiful and the bike lanes in and out of town are very good.

The bikes are easy to ride, the countryside is flat and you'll see amazing scenery. And then you'll have a great night's sleep and your body will have adjusted to European time much sooner.

Is the Anne Frank house in the tour? If not, that's a definite "must see."

I like Doug's idea of a bike ride somewhere. It's just the thing to get the blood flowing and keep you awake until a normal bedtime.

If the weather is horrible, I would still walk the canals to keep moving.

I liked the canal tour but my kids were out for most of it - so probably not the best plan for your first day on the ground.

I took a look at the Amsterdam itinerary of the tour, and these are the top attractions you should consider:

1. The brand new Hermitage Museum. Now the city's largest art museum.

2. WWII resistance museum. Excellent companion to the Anne Frank house.

3. Tropical Museum. Beautiful exhibits about third world countries and cultures.

4. There are excellent temporary exhibits at the Old and New Chruches. During the summer the New Church hosts the annual World Press Photo show. This is the hot ticket every summer and displays the best photos from the past twelve months.

I took the tour a few years ago; you'll have a great time! Don't see the Rijksmuseum before the tour starts since you'll go there on the tour. Also don't see the Van Gogh since (unless things have changed a lot) you'll have free time after the Rijksmuseum tour and its right next door; just go on your own then.

What I suggest are doing things that take more than a few hours, like a trip out of town. The bike suggestion was excellent. And in Ricks book he gives details of day trips to Delft and The Hague. We've done that as a day trip on a separate visit to Amsterdam; well worth doing. You could also put a day together with some museums/sites that aren't on the tour, such as the Heineken Brewery, the Resistance museum someone already mentioned, walking thru Vondelpark, etc.

Given jetlag from the west coast, try not to overschedule; or at least make your plans flexible. Some time sipping a beer in Leidseplein and people watching is nice. So is the Boom Chicago comedy show at the Leidseplein theater; you get a discount with the RS book.

BTW to follow up on what Charlie said, there was an excellent suggestion on the forum a while back to photograph the signs of places you visit; churches, museums, etc. It's digital so it doesn't cost anything, but will let you caption your pics later.