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Sunny skies and a hip southern vibe. An afternoon spent among the colorful cafes, bars, and shops of Austin's South Congress Street, is a fun way to get acquainted with one of America's coolest towns. Known as the SoCo Shopping District, this vibrant region is just a short drive from the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol and the brand new Westin Austin at The Domain and Aloft Austin at The Domain. Spanning from Lady Bird Lake to Oltorf Street, the one and a half mile stretch is lined with funky spots brimming with character. Grab a coffee at Jo's (No. 1300) and soak up the ambience from one of the vintage lawn chairs, then head over to Service Menswear a block down. Well stocked with Levi's, Fred Perry, Original Penguin, and Jack Spade Apparel, this chic boutique for the boys earned a spot on GQ's list of the top 100 men's stores. Continue on a few blocks to Off the Wall (No. 1704). A fantastic assortment of antiques fills this eclectic store, constructed of bricks salvaged from an old smokestack. Pick up an old 35 mm camera, a kitschy figurine, or a comfortably broken in pair of cowboy boots. Is it lunchtime yet? Chow down on burgers and fries at Fran's Hamburgers (No. 1822), or salads and sandwiches at Magnolia Cafe South (No. 1920). You'll be all fuelled up for part two of your South Congress excursion. The strip's vintage clothing stores, art galleries, and sneaker shops await. Oh and if you're a knitter, be sure to stop in at Hill Country Weavers (No. 1701) for the best selection of yarns in the city. Got a favorite spot on South Congress? Let us know.

Over the past two decades, Austin has become better known as a capital of live music than the capital of the state of Texas. If you're more familiar with Austin's famed music venues than its political landmarks, make your way over to the Texas State Capitol, where free guided and self-guided tours will teach you everything you need to know about the Lone Star State's majestic seat of government. For one thing, it's absolutely enormous. Built on the city's highest point, the 1888 red-granite Renaissance Revival building towers 94 meters into the desert sky, providing panoramic views and giving the city a dramatic silhouette. In fact, it's the largest in gross square footage of all the state capitols and is second in total size only to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C. Tours take visitors to various landmarks, including the Capitol Rotunda and Dome - which is filled with portraits of everybody who has ever served as governor or president of Texas - and the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers, the latter being the building's largest room. Legal buffs will appreciate the Supreme Court Courtroom, which served as the core of the Texas judicial system from 1888 to 1959, while the Legislative Reference Library is filled with books and artifacts. If you're still up for more walking after seeing the inside of the Capitol, continue the adventure with a tour of the 22 acres of Capitol Grounds, which are gorgeously landscaped and dotted with lush lawns, trees, shrubs, and flowers. It's a beautiful way to learn about one of the country's most inspiring cities. Starwood has three Austin hotels, including the nearby Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol.

[image via tspb.state.tx.us]

Henri Matisse was one of the most important artists of the 20th century, a master of color who brought classical French painting into the modern era. His work can be seen in museums and galleries around the world, but it might best be appreciated in Nice, the city he called home from 1918 to 1954. The Matisse Museum is located on the hill of Cimiez, near the ruins of Cemenelum, and it matches its beautiful setting with one of the most impressive art collections in all of Europe. Established in 1963 as a gift from the artist and his heirs to the people of Nice, the spacious museum features dozens of works by Matisse throughout his long, prolific career, from his 1898 painting Maisons a Fenouillet, a loving depiction of a rustic home, to his 1909 bronze sculpture Le Serpentine, featuring a woman in deep contemplation. There are some of his personal items on display as well, such as his table of paints and paintbrushes, along with the work of other French artists such as Auguste Rodin, who predated Matisse in France by just one generation. But perhaps the most striking work is the 1919 painting Tempête à Nice (pictured), which depicts a rainy day on the French Riviera. He manages to convey more about the city in a few brush strokes than a camera ever could. Starwood has three hotels in the Nice area, including Le Méridien Nice.

[image via musee-matisse-nice.org]

If you're looking for cutting edge art in the city of London - and you've already visited the Tate Modern - set aside an hour or two for a tour of the Saatchi Gallery. A gift to the city of London from collector Charles Saatchi (the founder, with his brother, of the ad agency that bears his name), it has 70,000 square feet of floor space dedicated to the very best contemporary art. Located on King's Road in Chelsea, the gallery boasts high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and a collection that runs the gamut from traditional portraiture to works that cause a stir around the world, such as Damien Hirst's The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, in which a shark is suspended in a formaldehyde solution. It's currently showing an exhibition entitled The Empire Strikes Back: Indian Art Today, which features colorful neon, tumbleweed, and aluminum sculptures by Shezad Dawood; mind-bending comic panels from Chitra Ganesh, and selected works by Yamini Nayar that blend sculpture, photography, and architecture in ways that defy categorization. Drop by this dynamic art space and see what you can make of it all. Starwood has hotels throughout London, including The Lanesborough, a St. Regis Hotel.

[image via Saatchi Gallery]

When it comes to accumulating wealth and prestige in Renaissance Europe, it's hard to top the Medicis. From the 14th to the 18th centuries, the prominent Florentine family and political dynasty acquired some of the greatest works of art of all time, inspiring scores of artists and altering the landscape of European culture for generations to come. To get an idea of just how influential the Medicis and their associates were, pay a visit to the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Located along the banks of the River Arno, the vast palace was purchased by the Medici family in 1549 and later was the home of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Napolean even used it as a headquarters in the late 18th century, but by the early 20th century, King Victor Emmanuel III decided to donate it to the people as a massive art museum. Today, anybody can gaze upon the endless masterpieces that were once reserved for the elite, from the works of Raphael and Rubens in the Palatine Gallery to the Medici portraits in the Royal Apartments, a 14-room suite used by the family that had every conceivable luxury. Of particular interest is the Porcelain Museum. Located in the Casino del Cavaliere (pictured), the Grand Duke's former retreat, it contains works from some of the most renowned porcelain factories in Europe, including daily items from the Doccia factory near Florence, and several large dining services from Vincennes, a Parisien factory. Be careful not to bump into anything, as it's all rather pricey. Starwood has three properties in Florence, including the luxurious Westin Excelsior, Florence.

[image via museumsinflorence.com]

Just minutes from the sizzling scene at South Beach is one of Florida's most pristine tropical sanctuaries, where you can find a peaceful respite from the nonstop action on the strip. Biscayne National Park is a 700 square kilometer nature preserve that's comprised almost entirely of water, and its best attractions are viewed with a mask, fins, and snorkel. Of course, not everybody has access to a boat, so land-based travelers should make their way to Convoy Point, where the Dante Fascell Visitor Center provides an excellent jumping-off point for all sorts of tropical adventures. Visit an extensive museum that offers a virtual journey through the park's four ecosystems, peruse a gallery that highlights the work of local artists who find inspiration in the park, or browse a bookstore filled with educational materials. But if you're itching to get close to nature, book a trip on a glass-bottom boat or rent a canoe or kayak for some individual exploration. The park is filled with rare and beautiful wildlife, from sea turtles and spiny lobsters to the Schaus' swallowtail butterfly (pictured), an endangered species that lives only in Biscayne National Park and northern Key Largo. Speaking of the Keys, the park is notable for being the home of Elliott Key, the first island in the Florida Keys chain that extends all the way to Key West. That's a bit too far for a kayak, so don't get any crazy ideas. Starwood has hotels throughout the Miami area, including the stylish new W South Beach.

[image via nps.gov]

Hong Kong is a high-energy city, pulsating with activity at all hours, but if you want to learn the secrets behind what powers this modern metropolis, make your way to the Tsim Sha Tsui East neighborhood. There, the Hong Kong Science Museum will help you unravel the mysteries of energy, aviation, robotics, computers, and dozens of other fields of exploration. The museum is filled with about 500 exhibits related to science and technology, and it's a great place to spend a relaxing and educational afternoon learning about the forces that control the world. An interactive Virtual Reality exhibit, for example, will amaze you with just how realistic a computer-generated world can be. An exhibit on biodiversity in China, meanwhile, illustrates the amazing depth and breadth of nature in the world's most populous country. But the biggest star of the museum is energy itself. The museum's 22-meter-high twin-tower energy machine can be triggered to come alive and produce a series of fantastical effects that illustrate the various forms of energy, how they are created, and how they can be transformed. It's a metaphor for Hong Kong itself. Starwood has three hotels in Hong Kong: the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, Le Méridien Cyberport, and the stylish W Hong Kong.

[image via lcsd.gov.hk]

Sipping on history has never tasted so good: The Four Points by Sheraton Lexington is just a short drive from three of the six spots on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and a trip to Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, and Four Roses distilleries will give you a first-hand look (and taste) at what Kentucky distillers have been expertly crafting since the 1700s.

Start your journey farthest from where you'll lay your head, at the Four Roses Distillery--and start early. You'll want to allot yourself at least an hour and half at each stop along the way. Though Four Roses may sound sweetly Southern, with Spanish Mission style grounds boasting plenty of red roses, what's inside is just as fragrant. In addition to sampling the goods on this tour, you'll learn about the distillery's five proprietary yeast strains, which combine specific grain mixtures (called mashbills) to produce 10 distinct bourbons. It's just eight miles from Four Roses to Wild Turkey, which lays claim to one of the best-selling premium whiskeys in the world. Started by the Ripy family in 1869, in 1893 bourbon made by the Ripy brothers was chosen from more than 400 selections to represent Kentucky in the World's Fair. To sample it, you'll unfortunately (or fortunately!) have to buy some, as this is the only tour that doesn't include a tasting. Another 17.5 miles from Wild Turkey gets you to Woodford Reserve, the oldest and smallest distillery in the state, which crafts the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. Take your pick from a variety of tours, including the Corn to Cork Tour, a more in-depth look at the mechanical, chemical, technical, and sensory aspects of producing bourbon.

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula contains some of the oldest and most well-preserved Mayan ruins in all of Latin America, and visitors to the area are spoiled with choices if they want to see what life was like prior to the arrival of the Conquistadores. Oxkintok, for example, is an extensive former Mayan city that dates back nearly 2000 years. With masonry buildings, a Mesoamerican ball court (where a violent ballgame was played), and anthropomorphic columns that represent the most fearsome warriors of the time. But the highlight of Oxkintok is a structure called Tzat Tun Tzat, a three-level labyrinth with a maze of rooms, passageways, and gates that may have represented the three levels of the Mayan worldview. Wander the ruins by yourself, or hire a guide who can explain the history of the Mayan people and their fascinating way of life. If you get there early enough, you'll have time left over to explore the nearby Calcehtok Caves, a system of natural caverns that once served as shelter for the Mayans during the Caste Wars. A guide is essential here, but many are available for hire, and they'll keep you on the right path while explaining the natural features of the cave and how the early war refugees used them to their advantage. Oxkintok and the Calcehtok Caves are about an hour's drive from Hacienda Santa Rosa, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

[image via Yucatan Today]

As the Beastie Boys famously said, "No sleep till Brooklyn." And while you should have little trouble sleeping in your room at the Sheraton Brooklyn New York, the hip neighborhoods of Brooklyn will give you plenty of reasons to stay up late.

For sheer variety, it's hard to beat Southpaw, a venue for everyone from old-school rapper KRS-One to folkie Dar Williams to Spanish rockers The Right Ons. Pete's Candy Store brings an eclectic selection to its intimate stage, too, including a regular spelling bee. Public Assembly is a great place to dance to a proper DJ set.

On the other end of the musical spectrum, the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music's series of jazz, orchestral and choral concerts are extremely popular for their quality and affordability. BAM showcases up-and-coming acts of all sorts in its BAMcafé in addition to its full schedule of indie and international film. And if your visiting Brooklyn this summer, keep your eye on BKLYN Yard and the Williamsburg Waterfront shows page for some great outdoor concerts.