The Taj Mahal: A Monument to Love

Thursday September 2, 2010

The Taj Mahal is considered the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, but some find it to be nothing less than the most beautiful building in the world. If you've never seen it with your own eyes, it might be worth planning a trip to Agra, India to experience the ultimate expression of love and loss. The Taj Mahal was built between 1632 and 1653 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631. Its white domed mausoleum, gardens, and integrated complex of mosques and other buildings are especially striking due to a combination of Islamic, Indian, and Persian architectural styles, and visitors can easily spend hours scrutinizing the detailed artwork and wandering the landscaped paths. Guided tours are available that point out the most notable features while relaying the story of its creation, which employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen who created one of the most inspiring building ever created. The Taj Mahal is just minutes from the ITC Mughal, Agra, a Luxury Collection property.

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seattlenight.jpgSometimes you just can't get to sleep. Unfortunately, Seattle doesn't have many options for insomniacs, especially downtown. But there are a couple places near the W Seattle and the Sheraton Seattle Hotel if you know where to look.

Kooky Cyber-Dogs is only open until midnight, but it's a great spot for a snack. The eccentric Tatiana is the entertaining owner, preparing an eclectic menu of sausages and vegan veggie dogs.

For a classy nightcap, Vessel is your destination. The sleek bar is a scene on the weekends, but on weeknights it's a quiet respite with inventive, expertly crafted cocktails and a small but tasteful food menu. It's open 'til 2 a.m., as is the Alibi Room down in the lower levels of Pike Place Market, where you can get a more substantial meal and a locally brewed beer.

For those who really can't sleep, there's The Night Kitchen. A haven for insomniacs, third-shifters and the after-bar crowd, the doors open at 6 p.m. and don't close until 9 a.m. Get a gourmet burger, eggs benedict or just coffee by the hour. (Not that you need more help staying up.)

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blackberry_image.jpgIt's a wireless world, where staying connected is as easy as picking up your smartphone. With the release of the all-new SPG® app for BlackBerry®, Starwood Preferred Guest® members can manage their travels on-the-go. The new app enables members to search more than 1,000 hotels and resorts across nine brands, including Sheraton®, Westin®, W®, Aloft(SM) and more. Members can access their accounts, book stays, check reservations, get directions, view maps and more. Suppose you're relaxing in the gorgeous lobby lounge of Le Méridien King Edward in Toronto when you get the urge for a serious change in latitude. With just a few clicks, you can search and book a stay at the Westin Maui. And if you're suddenly inspired to visit Tokyo as you're sipping a poolside cocktail, you can use your free hand to search and book a stay at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel. How's that for convenient?

And to celebrate the new launch, members who download the app from BlackBerry App World™ and log-in using their SPG.com username and passcode by September 30, 2010 will be entered to win 100,000 Starpoints®! Two winners will be drawn at random. Official rules can be found at spg.com/BBsweepsterms.

No BlackBerry? Discover all the ways to stay connected with SPG at spg.com/stayconnected.

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One of the most salient aspects of the Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden is that it basks in a balmy Mediterranean climate. Cool mild winters and warm dry summers permit the cultivation of both native species and hundreds of exotic ones from around the globe. Whether hailing from the South African Cape, Chile, Australia, or the Mediterranean region itself, year-round, there is always something of particular interest. An entire horticultural world beckons within the 127 acres of the gardens. Collections are roughly grouped by The Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia, and encompass bamboos, palms, tropical rarities, desert species, herbs of the world, rose gardens and citrus groves. The Arboretum's famous peacock (see video) adds moving color to the landscapes while keeping the snail population under control. Water features like Baldwin Lake host migrating bird species and offer refreshing coolness. Plant society sales and meetings occur all through the year, offering rare specimens not easily found at most nurseries. It's a great resource for anyone who has the desire to delve deeper into the cultivation of particular species, whether it be orchids, chrysanthemums, ferns, daylilies, or into the precise arts of bonsai and ikebana. Increasingly, the Arboretum is focusing on the unique challenges of gardening and landscaping in a dry climate, with demonstration gardens and opportunities to learn about green living, water conservation, and organic gardening. These valuable lessons can be taken home and put into practice on even the smallest piece of Eden. Visits to the Arboretum can be planned from any of Starwood's 23 Los Angeles area hotels, including the nearby Westin Pasadena or the Sheraton Pasadena.

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Rule New York City, by Bike

Thursday September 2, 2010

You may want a gel seat for this one. The country's only all-urban 100-mile bike ride takes over NYC on September 12, 2010, giving you a rare opportunity to bike through Central Park, across bridges, through Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Harlem - surrounded not by cabbies and slow-moving tourists, but by other bicycle enthusiasts.

If you didn't get the Lance Armstrong gene, don't fret: The NYC Century Bike Tour has 15-, 35-, 55-, 75-, and 100-mile options, all of which feature stellar views, stocked rest stops, and safety marshals. The inaugural ride, in 1990, attracted 200 cyclists; today, some 6,000 show up. Proceeds benefit the biking advocacy of Transportation Alternatives, meaning that by riding in New York City, you're helping to make New York City ... safer for bikers the other 364 days a year. And because the ride is an effort to promote the idea that bikers can traverse NYC soundly on two wheels - and deserve to - there are no street closings: You'll ride along city streets and obey all traffic laws. You pick the location that's more convenient for you - either in Prospect Park or on the north side of Central Park, easily accessible from Le Parker Meridien New York, which skirts the park's south end. Don't want to lug a bike there? No worries: There are rental options.

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Starwood Preferred Guests can now stay updated on the latest travel trends. A core group of experts – including Starwood employees and SPG members – provide updates on unique and noteworthy travel experiences around the world. Get a behind-the-scenes look at exciting Starwood travel destinations and receive daily articles using TheLobby.com widget for your blog, desktop or web page.
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