The Amber Museum is located in the house, built by a German who was in the sugar industry, not tobacco.
I wrote about the history of this family in my blog
http://www.dr1.com/blogs/entry.php?u=carina&e_id=79
As for beaches, I agree with the previous poster, although I would add Bergantine, next beach after Playa Dorada. Less people, nice small restaurants along the playa...a small fishermans village. If you walk from Playa Dorada it is a 20 min beach walk. Have lunch there, fresh fish or chicken... order it when you come.. it will take a few hours before ready..
The restaurant owners will come and tell you when your fish is done, and you can pick your own fish!
As Nal0whs said, the center of Puerto Plata is the historical part of the city, the oldest houses dates back to 1863, when much of what was in the city was destroyed by an earthquake.
Around Central Park you?ll see several of the old buildings, such as the glorieta, the commercial club, the house of culture etc.
Interesting is that the architecht of Central Park, and the glorieta, Artur Roderick, still has a son alive and living in the city. If you go and visit the fort at the end of the Malecon ( the ocean boulevard ) you will find him, over 90 years old, working as a guide at the fort!
Daily life for getting the athosmphere of a Caribbean town is all over the city.
Go to central park, have a snowcone or a juice from any of the vendors, buy a lottery ticket from any of the men sitting on their chairs in the park, or get some work done from the shoeshine boys..
Or have an Italian icecream at the nearby Heladeria, Mariposa...
Go in to Sams, located at Hotel Castilla, the oldest running hotel in town and the first one in Puerto Plata, from 1890, and have a cold one.. before walking down to the Malecon and the fort..
You will pass many old Victorian houses, painted in Caribbean colors, some well maintained, some not...
If you deside to visit Villa Bentz, where the Amber Museum is located today, you are very close to the market. A lively place, a mix of souvenirs, paintings, live chickens, fruit and veggies...
Go for some shopping, clothes and shoes you?ll find at Nemo or Tienda Jimenez, or maybe you?ll visit the only department store in town, Casa Nelson. It operates since the 60th, and is named after Nelson, a son of the owner.
Have an afternoon break and listen to some jazzmusic at restaurant La Eskina, right downtown by the postoffice. Grill and steaks prepared in the open air by a great chef.. or just have another cold one..
All the small kioskos you?ll see on the Malecon are actually small bars, that?s why you?ll see so many people sitting around them... the fresh air, by the ocean and a Presidente... many people relaxes that way, talk and chat..
they even bring chairs and their loved domino ( yes, including the domino tables!!! ) to the sidewalk!
There is a lot to see and do if you keep your eyes and mind open, just go with the flow, don?t be afraid to ask people or look in all the small shops, or craftmen working in their small facilities, making furniture, or fixing something that we would through away and not fix in our countries of orgin..
Playa Dorada is a tourist area consisting of 15 hotels, golf club, plaza...
14 of the hotels are all-inclusive.
Here you?ll also find the hip nightlife at Hemingways, Mangu, Roadway...
also casino..
If you want to stay in the city, there are other hotels, a little or much less fancy, and also cheaper.
In Playa Dorada you can also buy any excursions you might want, from
jeep safaris, catamarans, diving, bustrips to Samana, Playa Grande, Ocean World and more..
Have a great trip!