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Tennessee is a state dedicated to tourism, so it’s no surprise that it boasts some fantastic hotels. From countryside retreats and boutique stays to historic properties and family-friendly escapes, there’s something here for every type of traveler. Prepare yourself for Southern hospitality at its finest.

Holland may be synonymous with beer, and brewpubs certainly abound along Amsterdam’s canals—but travelers shouldn’t miss a taste of the local spirit, genever, as well as the chance to sample some of the craft cocktails around town. Proost!

Stockholm’s ubiquitous bakeries offer the traveler much in the way of sweet delights. Head to these spots to sample some of the city’s best baked goods—marzipan pastries and princess cakes, cardamom buns and cinnamon rolls—to go with that all-important cup of coffee.

The foods of Israel—from falafel on the street, to fish just caught from the Mediterranean, to a meal made by an internationally known chef—has one thing in common: Freshness. Israeli cuisine reflects its surroundings (date syrup-infused tahini, for instance). Rare is the traveler who returns home from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem lukewarm about the food.

Somewhere between a hip designer’s loft and a rock star’s party pad, the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles is located in the Spanish Gothic–style United Artists building built in 1927 for actor and producer Mary Pickford and her team of silver screen stars. The hotel was painstakingly designed to showcase both historic and contemporary artistry, from Noguchi lamps and Pendleton blankets in loftlike rooms to original art deco floors and hand-drawn portraits of famous Angelenos on the restaurant’s walls.

What we love: A true five-star stay in the heart of a booming city

The Highlights:
- Diverse on-site dining options
- Spacious rooms with thoughtful details like sink-side ring holders
- The best hotel spa in town

The Review:
Thank Tilman Fertitta—the billionaire visionary behind the Landry’s Inc. restaurant group, the Houston Rockets, and numerous entertainment and hospitality ventures—for Houston’s only AAA Five Diamond hotel. Determined to give his booming hometown the luxury hotel “it deserves,” Fertitta oversaw every detail of The Post Oak’s creation, from choosing the art (you’ll find pieces by Frank Stella, Robert Motherwell, Donald Sultan and others, many from Fertitta’s own collection) to working with the designers and adding useful touches to the rooms (like sink-side ring holders and shaving mirrors in the showers). The 250 rooms and 20 residences are spacious and sophisticated, crafted with top-quality materials and furnishings (Fertitta estimates that about $1.5 million was spent per room, and it shows). All have showers and tubs, tablet control systems, and original photography on the walls; residences have full kitchens and dining rooms. For added perks, book a room on the Concierge Level and gain access to a food-and-drink-stocked lounge that overlooks the surrounding Uptown neighborhood.

As befits a restaurateur of Fertitta’s level, there are several drinking and dining options on site, including the locally inspired Bloom & Bee, Mastro’s Steakhouse, Willie G’s Seafood, H-Bar, Craft F&B for wood-fired pizza and pub grub, and Bouchee Patisserie for homemade sweets. When you’ve inevitably indulged in a meal or two, work it off on the hotel’s 20,000-square-foot wellness level, which includes a state-of-the-art gym and a spa with treatments both decadent (like pampering two-hour rituals) and high-tech (facials performed using the latest machines). If you really want to visit like a VIP, know that the hotel also features a helipad on top of the building, a pet salon, a 30,000-bottle-strong wine cellar that hosts private dinners, and a two-story auto showroom lined with Roll-Royces.

There’s plenty to do in Shanghai, but if you’re pressed for time, prioritize those experiences that will give you a well-rounded perspective on the city. From an early morning stroll around Jing’an Park to an acrobat show to seeing the Bund by night, even taking a day trip to a water village, here’s an ideal itinerary for Shanghai.

Raman Patel knows a lot about silk. He works at Kala Niketan, a Mumbai-based fabric warehouse that started in the south of the city and now has four retail outlets plus exporting offshoots. The company supplies many local fashion designers, who make elaborate saris from the regional silks. While handwoven fabrics have been largely replaced by machine varieties in Mumbai (shown here), the store’s Juhu branch showcases the handmade specialties of other regions—from the royal flower and animal embroideries of Rajasthan to the tightly woven woolen patterns of Kashmir. Raman can tell you all about the differences. Navyug, J.V.P.D. Scheme, V.M. Road, Vile Parle, Mumbai, kalaniketangroup.com

Explore Catalonia’s largest lake in Banyoles. Walk or jog around the rim, snap shots of friendly waterfowl, or jump in for a swim. Visitors can also kayo, canoe,or fish. Afterwards, dry off and take a turn around the city’s charming old town.

Banff and Jasper are top of mind when it comes to Alberta‘s Great Outdoors. Travelers flock to Moraine Lake by the busload for postcard-perfect snaps and zip through the province’s northern parks on the trail of grizzlies, elk, and moose. Waterton Lakes manages to fly just far enough under the radar that it never feels crowded or bustling, even on a wild Canada Day long weekend, which makes it a wonderful alternative for the “been there, done that” crowd. For an iconic view of Waterton Village and Upper Waterton Lake, test your mettle against the Bear’s Hump, a mile-long trek that begins at the Waterton Visitor Resource Center. The trail opens to a grand rocky plateau atop what was once called Bear Mountain by the Blackfoot people. Begin your trek early in the morning or late in the afternoon to have the mountain to yourself, but be warned that the wind atop the Hump can be ferocious. Knock your hat off and dump you off the mountain ferocious. Still, the views of Waterton Valley and Mount Cleveland are worth the challenge. [Flash traveled to Alberta courtesy of Travel Alberta.]

There’s a reason that designers, chefs, and travelers love to dive into the boutiques, malls, markets, and designer shops of Seoul and that Gangnum Style was such a sensation back in 2012. It’s no secret: Seoul loves to shop.

Travelers looking for bucolic country inns, historic hotels, and resorts that stay true to their cultural and natural roots should look no further than Virginia. Sleep under roofs that have hosted celebrities, royalty, and U.S. presidents, wander the campuses of old university towns, and tuck into tasting menus at some of the country’s finest restaurants. Virginia hotels also make the most of their surroundings, with myriad outdoor activities from world-class golf to old-fashioned lawn bowling.

Shanghai is an adventurous shopper’s wonderland—here you’ll find everything from vintage Communist propaganda to ceramic paperweights shaped like dim sum. Bargain hunters and fashion-forward travelers will be in their element, too: You can grab expertly tailored suits and trendy Feiyue sneakers for scary cheap prices. No matter what you’re into, here’s where to shop.

Venture a little off the beaten path for big rewards—tlayudas and parrilladas with a view, samples of organic mezcal, and abundant archaeological treasures.

San Antonio caters to every traveler with a wide range of accommodations, from a design hotel in the Pearl Brewery district to a Hill Country resort with impressive amenities. Many offer award-winning restaurants or spas, while others put you in close proximity to the River Walk with its Tex-Mex restaurants and live music venues.