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The waterfalls have arrived in New York City, and they're a sight to behold. This summer the artist Olafur Eliasson is using the city's abundant water resources as a canvas for a project called The New York City Waterfalls, which involves the creation of four enormous waterfalls strategically positioned along the East River and New York Harbor. Powerful yet environmentally-advanced pumps unleash a torrent of water from more than 100 feet in the air, which crashes into the river and harbor in a spectacle of sight and sound. Visitors can enjoy great views of the waterfalls from both Brooklyn and Manhattan, but the best vantage point might be right in between the two. That's right, take a stroll across the pedestrian promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge and take in the falls and the city in all its artistry. The New York experience just doesn't get any better than that. The waterfalls are in operation from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. through October 13. Starwood has hotels throughout the city, including the W New York - Union Square, the St. Regis New York, and the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers.

Geneva is gorgeous in the summertime, but it does have a tendency to get hot during the dog days. So if exploring the Gothic and Romanesque Cathedrale Saint-Pierre de Geneve and walking around the historic Place Neuve (town square) has got you feeling a wee bit overheated, do as the locals do and hit the beach. Bains Des Paquis beach, a popular lido on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), is a perfect place to go swimming, relax in the sunshine, and grab a bite to eat. You'll find everything you need to enjoy a day at the beach, including spacious changing areas and showers and lockers to stash your stuff. There are several different swimming areas, ranging from shallow kid's areas - perfect for splashing around and playing Marco Polo - to open water for serious Olympic-style swimmers. Of course, swimming is an excellent workout and a lot of fun, but if you overdo it just a bit and wind up with sore muscles, relief is just seconds away. A few minutes in the nearby Hammam (Turkish bath) or a massage treatment at the spa will have you feeling loose as a goose as you soak in views of one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world. Top off the evening with a salad, fondue, or meat dish at an alfresco restaurant and raise a toast to the Swiss, because they sure know how to live. Bains Des Paquis is just minutes from the Hotel President Wilson, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

China is bursting with history at every turn, but to truly appreciate how it all fits together, it helps to have a basic knowledge of its art and culture throughout the ages. There are few better places to learn about Chinese history than the Shanghai Museum, located on the People's Square. With a collection of more than 120,000 pieces ranging from jade, bronze, and ceramic to calligraphy and coins, it tells the fascinating story of the Middle Kingdom, from the earliest household items of 5,000 years ago to the sophisticated oil paintings and sculptures of the early twentieth century. The Gallery of Ancient Sculpture, for example, contains the pottery and terracotta of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Qin stone sculptures, and earthenware figurines from the Han dynasty. An especially impressive collection of sculptures of the Tang dynasty (618-907) represents the brilliant realism of the era, with human forms and Buddhist sculpture designed to bridge worldly and spiritual thought. It's an interesting perspective to have with you as you explore a city that's at once ancient and modern. Starwood has eight Shanghai properties, including the elegant Le Royal Méridien Shanghai.

Portland is a great example of a big city that blends beautifully into its natural surroundings, with more than 10,000 acres of parks and green spaces within the city limits. And with such an impressive urban forest environment, you might like to know a little bit more about the trees you're looking at, which is where the World Forestry Center comes in. Located in beautiful Washington Park, the center contains a forestry museum, two off-site tree farms, and the World Forestry Institute, all designed to improve public knowledge of forests and their importance in the ecosystem. The 20,000-square-foot Discovery Museum, for example, has hands-on, interactive exhibits on the forests of the Pacific Northwest and around the world, as well as People and Forests, an overview of man's interrelationships with forests. Those who aren't afraid of heights can enjoy a rare glimpse at what life is like at the top of some of these great trees, as the Take Me to the Top Canopy Lift bring visitors to a Canopy Bridge on the top of the museum, high above the forest floor and into the branches of the great trees. Don't look down. The World Forestry Center is less than three miles from the Westin Portland.

In centuries past, the Emperor of China had many responsibilities. One of the most important was ensuring a good harvest. Twice a year, he ventured from the Imperial Palace, in the Forbidden City, to the Temple of Heaven for an elaborate ceremony that included fasting, the sacrifice of a calf, heavy prayer, music, and dancing. He was escorted by princes, soldiers, musicians, and others of royal rank, but commoners were forbidden to witness the procession, or enter the temple.

Today, the magnificent structure, which lies a mile and a half from the St. Regis Beijing, is open to all, and a visit to the city is not complete without a journey up to the Altar to Heaven, through the Imperial Vault, past the Echo Wall, along the 360-meter long passage, to the glorious Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Completed in 1420, the hall was constructed of wood without the use of a single nail. It burned down in 1889, was quickly reconstructed, and recently underwent a multi-million dollar facelift in preparation for this year's Olympic Games. Its three circular tiers are supported by twenty-eight pillars, each adorned with elaborate designs, and created from a single tree trunk. This majestic chamber inspires serenity with its vividly painted walls, and design based on the principles of numerology. But outside the hall, the atmosphere is just as enchanting. Lush parklands surround the temple enhancing the notion of "heaven on earth." Most every day the people of Beijing gather here to practice Tai Chi, play a graceful, dance-like game with paddles, or simply sit in the soft grass and sing the transporting folk songs of this ancient land.

The Daintree Rainforest in the north-eastern Australian state of Queensland is an ecological masterpiece, representing more than 135 million uninterrupted years of natural growth. Home to the largest range of plants and animals on earth, it's a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts from across Australia and around the world who come to see one of the most unique rain forests in the southern hemisphere. Start with a visit to the Daintree Rainforest Discovery Centre, which has exhibits on the flora and fauna of the park, a theater, an aerial walkway and a canopy tower that affords spectacular 360-degree views of the forest and surrounding mountains. With 20% of Australian bird species living in the park, you've got a good chance of spotting a sacred kingfisher, wompoo fruit dove, or royal spoonbill. Once you've gotten your bearings, explore some of the park's 1,200 square kilometers. Adventurous types can choose from all sorts of outdoor activities, from hiking and cycling to kayaking, horseback riding, and fishing. It's a wild and memorable way to explore one of Australia's most beautiful natural areas. Daintree is a short drive from the luxurious Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort.

Detroit has been one of the industrial capitals of the United States for more than a century, so it's only fitting that it should have a world-class science center to help people make sense of all the processes that keep the city humming. Located in the city's revitalized downtown area, the Detroit Science Center has exhibits dedicated to physical science, energy, and even the esoteric concepts of waves and vibrations. But practical applications of science are on display everywhere, from a miniature reproduction of the mighty Mackinac Bridge to the United States Steel Fun Factory, where visitors learn how steel is made, from mining the ore to refining the finished products. But perhaps most impressive is the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium, whose 50-foot wide, three-story high dome provides a canvas for planets, galaxies, and more than 9,000 stars emanating from a state-of-the-art Digistar II projection system. With the powerful audio of its 13,000-watt digital surround sound system, you can be forgiven for thinking you're on a space mission of your own. The center is just minutes from the Sheraton Detroit Riverside Hotel.

In 1974, a group of peasant farmers in the Silk Road town of Xian, China made a most unique discovery while digging for a well. Instead of striking water, they unearthed what turned out to be the one of the most amazing archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, an entire army of terracotta warriors. Archaeologists and historians soon descended on Xian, realizing to their surprise that the discovery was a vast memorial to Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 B.C. - 210 B.C.), the first emperor of a unified China and the man who commissioned the building of the Great Wall. Today, visitors flock to the Museum of Qin to gaze at this amazing spectacle of seemingly endless battalions of terracotta troops, which were designed to defend the emperor in the afterlife. So far, over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and weapons have been recovered from the pits, but this is a working archaeological site, so who knows what still might turn up. Guests at the nearby Sheraton Xian Hotel won't want to miss this amazing window into ancient China.

Visitors to Monaco quickly grow accustomed to dramatic views of the yacht-filled harbor and pristine old town, but to get a sense of the cultural depth of the principality, pay a visit to the Salle Garnier. Home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, this 19th century opera house represents not only the beauty of this gilded era, but nearly flawless acoustics as well. Completed in 1879, the hall has welcomed opera legends like tenors Enrico Caruso, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti to perform works by Bizet, Massenet, and other composers. Highlights of the 2008-2009 season include Wagner's the Flying Dutchman, Haydn's Deceit Outwitted, and Tchaikovsky's the Queen of Spades. In addition to opera, the hall also hosts dance, music, and drama, and an evening at this historic hall is sure to evoke the glamor and sophistication that Monaco is known for. Guests at Le Méridien Beach Plaza might enjoy a performance that spans the ages in this magical destination.

I love big cities, especially when they incorporate welcoming green spaces into their urban cores. Such is the case with Casablanca, whose majestic Parc de la Ligue Arabe is a natural oasis amid the controlled chaos of the city. Casablanca's biggest park dates back to 1918, when the city decided a park open for all residents would provide a place for a hard-working population to rest and appreciate the toils of their labor in lush natural surroundings. It was a huge success, and now, 90 years later, it's still one of the best places in the city to retreat into a verdant world of palm trees, flowers, and fountains. It's easy to spend the better part of an afternoon meandering among the French-style gardens, jogging on nature trails, or taking a spin on carnival rides. But perhaps it's best to do what the locals do and simply have a seat at a charming outdoor cafe, order a cup of tea and a few sweet morsels, and enjoy the calming breezes of this pristine desert paradise by the sea. Starwood has two hotels in Casablanca: the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers and Le Royal Mansour Méridien.