Abu Dhabi is very much a 21st century city, with futuristic glass office towers and a forest of neon signs, but it was a very different place before oil was discovered in 1958. Bedouins made their living fishing, farming, hunting, and trading, working hard to survive off the meager resources of the frequently parched land. Today, visitors hoping for a glimpse of pre-boom Abu Dhabi need only stop by Emirates Heritage Village, an ethnographic museum dedicated to preserving the traditional lifestyle of Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates. Located at the Breakwater of Abu Dhabi City, the village contains a variety of structures and artifacts common to Bedouin communities, ranging from mud-brick houses and Bedouin tents to a mosque and central market where life's essentials were bought and sold. Wander into the metalworking shop, where artisans create pots, pans, and gardening implements using the most basic tools, or try your hand at pottery and weaving. Enjoy the aroma of the spice shop, where flavors from around the world were traded. Stop by the museum, with its rich display of Emirate jewelry, weaponry, and art. But don't leave without visiting the Hili Gardens, a collection of thousand year old tombs lined with palm trees, grasses, and flowers. As impressive as Abu Dhabi is today, it's not hard to see the beauty in its past as well. Starwood has five properties in Abu Dhabi, including the impressive new Aloft Abu Dhabi.

[image via Visit Abu Dhabi]