Begin your grand Carnival experience with hot chocolate and sweets in the Hotel Danieli's elegant lounge, then cap off the evening with dinner and minuet dancing beneath the Murano glass chandeliers of the hotel's lavish ballroom. "Le Rois Dansent" is an opulent party modeled after one of Louis XIV's own extravagant affairs, while "Casanova's Ball" promises an evening of glittering seduction in candlelit gardens and palace ballrooms. Concerts, cocktail parties, historic parades, festivals of period costume, gondola tours, and dozens of costume balls round out the Venice Carnival's rich program. You'll be swirling with delight from morning's Baroque brunches, through the day's dizzying array of activities, until you collapse upon your regal bed at the marvelous Hotel Danieli, a 14th century palazzo outfitted for a legendary noble like the Sun King himself. Just remember to pack a costume and mask to match the extravagance of it all, or contact the hotel for advice on where to rent them. Venice Carnival is one of the world's oldest and most beloved traditions. Ever been? Share your stories.

[image via Churchill Museum]

At Sushi Sasabune, you can order off the menu only at a table: the bar is reserved for those willing to let chef-owner Seiji Kumagawa decide what to feed them. And those who do are rewarded handsomely. Possible dishes include squid stuffed with crab, baked oysters, blue shrimp and some of the finest toro available. Be prepared to spend $300 for two, however.

Mitch's Fish Market & Sushi Bar is mostly a fish market, run by South African expats. But don't discount it for its low-budget looks — just head to the sushi bar (stopping beforehand to pick up some drinks; it's BYOB) and put yourself in the chefs' capable hands for some of the best sashimi you'll ever taste. The specialty of the house is live lobster sashimi, expertly sliced and accompanied by a miso soup made with the rest of the lobster.

If you're looking for more style with your rolls, head to Doraku, which gives sushi a "hipster vibe" despite its shopping mall locale.

Visitors to Tianjin now have a choice of Sheraton Tianjin Hotel or the brand new Westin Tianjin. The new Westin Tianjin is located in the Wue Da Dao area, an old British Concession area. The hotel forms part of a mixed use development on Nanjing Road in the center of the city with The Emperor Place retail shopping mall and corporate offices. The lobby features a 16 meter high ceiling while the 275 guest rooms and suites provide the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. Rooms feature Westin's signature Heavenly Beds, Herman Miller furnishings, giant LCD TV's and iPod docking stations. Look towards the heavens through a glass roof over the indoor 25 meter heated swimming pool.

While it may not be a household name, the city of Tianjin is the sixth largest in the People's Republic of China and was the host of the football portion of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.  The 120 kilometer journey from Beijing takes just 29 minutes at speeds up to 350KM/HR on the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway at a cost of just RMB58 each way (approximately $9 US). The city is a key manufacturing hub for China and home to many multi-national companies and is one of the biggest sea ports in the world.  Besides being an industrial city, Tianjin has many old concession areas.

My tip: be sure to visit the Tianjin Eye, a 120 meter high Ferris Wheel, uniquely built over the Chihai Bridge. It's a spectacular way to view this exciting Chinese destination.

Gamma Player would be a great stop along a Wicker Park shopping tour, an area that's great for those who love the intersection of music and style. Stay at W Chicago - Lakeshore and you'll be within an easy distance to enjoy this fun and funky neighborhood. What are your favorite shops that integrate the arts?

[Image by Stephen J. Serio/chicagobusiness.com]

[image via BVH]

The Blue Water Cafe makes the most of Vancouver's seafood bounty, with mounds of fresh raw oysters, uni and glistening sashimi at the raw bar, and perfectly cooked salmon and other fish straight from the piers. Demand is high for this high-profile restaurant, so they've set up a special Olympics reservation page.

For a more relaxed atmosphere, Pourhouse may appeal. Its focus surrounds its 1920's bar and some excellent drinks, but the food is recommended too.

Vancouver's Chinese food is among the best in the world, and the best of the city is at Lin Chinese Cuisine. Locals praise the xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, but there's plenty else on the menu worth exploring. Best of all, it's a great value, with entree prices topping out at C$12.99 except for a handful of specialties.

[image via artplein-spui.nl]

Stretching from the ferry landing to Siming Street, the pedestrian part of Zhongshan Road is a clean, modern expanse where a few remaining elements of traditional Chinese architecture mingle with contemporary European building style. A hundred years ago, Chinese merchants set up their stalls here, planting the seeds for the commercial buzz that quickly grew. Today, major department stores like the popular Laiya, share the scene with small shops selling a variety of local treasures. Keep an eye out for traditional costume boutiques, jewelry stores specializing in South Seas pearls and gold, and art galleries where landscapes depicting nearby islands cover the walls. Pick up Chinese magazines at bookstores like O2 and Xin Hua and peruse their cheerful, glossy images over a steaming cup of oolong at Xiangfu Spring Teashop (Number 50). The peanut soup at Huangzehe (Number 24) is known as the area's tastiest. Fill up on a bowl before setting out in search of a truly special item, a classical Chinese instrument from the 87-year-old shop Huacheng Piano (Number 123). Ever visited Zhongshan Lu shopping street? What were your favorite discoveries?

The key to unlocking this melodic adventure? Stay at the Le Méridien Xiamen and you'll be within convenient striking distance of the Gulangyu Piano Museum. And if you haven't had enough music after visiting, you can always hit the Gulangyu Organ Museum! Founded in 2005 by Piano Museum founder Hu Youyi, the Organ Museum houses beautiful pipe organs, reed organs, accordions, and pianicas. Whether you're a player or just appreciate the intricacy of their design, there's something to tickle your fancy here on Gulangyu. Have you encountered any great music museums along your travels?

[Image via yam.com]

Part of the reason the pizza at The House gets the attention, though, is that Xiamen is a bit pizza crazy. There are Pizza Huts all over the place, and Poppa John's is moving in. AFD Western Bakery, a pastry shop and restaurant run by a Hungarian-Australian, is praised for its pizzas over almost anything else. For a great view with your pie, look no further than the posh Pizza Hut on the 24th floor of a tower near the harbor (here's a map from the hotel). The view is great, and the food and ambiance are better than you're probably imagining.

Xiamen, China