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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.

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.

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.