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Since inventing the Five-Star rating system nearly a half-century ago, Mobil Travel Guide has provided travelers
with the most objective ratings for hotels, restaurants and spas in the U.S. and Canada. The process involves consideration
of hundreds of criteria -- our goal is to provide ratings and recommendations that you can trust to make the best possible travel
decisions.
With floor-to-ceiling windows and an impressive art and sculpture collection, Four Seasons San Francisco is a stunning showpiece of contemporary design. Conveniently located near Union Square and the Museum of Modern Art.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Breakers Palm Beach is a legendary Italian Renaissance-style resort that resides on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach.
Presidents and celebrities alike have stayed in this landmark downtown Portland hotel, built in 1912. The striking wood-paneled lobby features Austrian chandeliers and an Italian marble staircase.
Recently-remodeled, The Best Western Cabrillo Garden Inn is a charming Spanish style Inn located in the heart of downtown San Diego, close to major attractions and the city’s business center.
Country Inn by Carlson Holland, in Holland, Michigan is five minutes from Lake Michigan and near outlet mall shopping and the Dutch Village. The lobby's fireplace and cozy furnishings create a welcoming and comfortable country inn atmosphere.
Chef Thomas Keller dazzles guests with exquisite French fare in this circa-1900 river rock and timber cottage, once a French steam laundry. The 9-course Chef's Tasting Menu and the 9-course Vegetable Tasting Menu showcase the best seasonal products available.
The Mansion on Turtle Creek features spirited Southwestern cuisine from chef/owner Dean Fearing; menus brazenly (and brilliantly) combine Southern, Southwestern, and Texas influences, with the occasional nod to Asia and beyond.
The minimalist chic Blackbird fuses style with substance. Chef Paul Kahan's French-influenced cooking is spare, hitting just the right contemporary notes without drowning in too many flavors.
From Jason and Joe Denton, `inoteca is a rustic, wood-beamed Italian wine bar in the super-hip Lower East Side. The wine list is all Italian, and the simply delicious menu of Italian snacks includes platters of cured meats and cheeses, panini, antipasti, and the house signature-- truffled egg toast.
Filling an Eastern European cuisine void in San Francisco, Katia's is a friendly Richmond District eatery that serves traditional Russian fare--salmon, caviar, beef stroganoff, piroshki, and vodka.
Among an elite group of Mobil Five-Star spas, Spa at Mandarin Oriental New York combines Asian sensibilities and New York panache in this 14,500-square-foot spa. Bamboo and natural stone throughout create a temple of calm and serenity. Chinese, Ayurvedic, Balinese, and Thai healing therapies are highlight of the treatment menu.
With its gorgeous Spanish architecture and picture-perfect location across the hills from Santa Barbara, Spa Ojai is a sophisticated 31,000-square-foot sanctuary of health and well-being. Signature treatments includes Kuyam, which combines the therapeutic effects of cleansing mud, dry heat, inhalation therapy, and guided meditation.
The Kohler Waters Spa at the plush American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, is a 24,000-square-foot spa with signature water-themed rooms, along with four unique bathing therapies. Other bathing services at the Kohler Waters Spa feature custom sugar scrubs, meditation, pressure point massage, and foot reflexology.
City Guides at Howstuffworks: In-Depth Travel Info
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, known for its Southern charm, is a big city without the big-city attitude. Newcomers and visitors often note how friendly and helpful the citizens are. Popular attractions in this premier city of the South include the High Museum of Art, the Georgia Aquarium and Chastain Park.
Austin, Texas
Locals and out-of-towners alike often compare Austin's terrain to Colorado - its anything but flat. Stunning Hill Country vistas, wildflowers in bloom, and an active outdoor lifestyle have made Austin one of the more popular cities in Texas.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston's compact size, quaint architecture, and acres of green open space give the city an almost European feel. Boston is not so much old provincial capital, but a cosmopolitan city with a decidedly New England charm.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston has exquisitely preserved architecture in an extraordinary setting that exudes Southern charm and grace. This genteel town is as much about its people as it is about history and the sights to see.
Chicago, Illinois
As the cultural and commercial center of the Midwest, Chicago attracts both leisure and business travelers, and has attractions to fit pretty much any interest, from families in search of a thrill at the Navy Pier Ferris wheel to couples strolling hand-in-hand along Oak Street Beach.
Dallas, Texas
Everything's bigger in the Lone Star State. This is one reason the "Big D" holds a special place in the hearts of many Texans. Surrounded by a Metroplex that covers 12 counties and spans nearly 9,000 square miles, Dallas lives up to its new tourism slogan: "Live Large. Think Big."
Denver, Colorado
A cosmopolitan city saddled in historic Western roots, Denver's where skyscrapers line the bustling downtown streets, their facades framed by the magnificent Rocky Mountains looming in the distance. And with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the city's 20,000 acres of parkland are packed with outdoor enthusiasts, even in winter.
Houston, Texas
Houston has struck a comfortable balance of big city opportunities and small town ideals. While a jaunt to Johnson Space Center is a must for a first-timer, a trip to the historic Houston Heights and its charming Victorian homes and unique shops shows the flip side of this metropolis.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Whether coming for a well-earned vacation or planning around your convention schedule, you'll want to make the most of every minute you spend in this bright city. Many visitors leave feeling they only sampled a small amount of all Las Vegas has to offer, so be in the know before you go to get the most out of your visit to Las Vegas.
Los Angeles, California
Home to one the world's most popular amusement parks (Disneyland), Los Angeles provides numerous activities and attractions--you can hike in the nearby mountains and hills, visit top-notch galleries and museums, check out bands, watch obscure films that no one else in the country gets to see, shop at cool local boutiques, and eat delicious, healthy food.
Miami, Florida
Miami is known for its steamy weather, cool, blue-wave beaches, a thriving fashion scene and flashy nightclubs. But there's another side to this cosmopolitan beach town--neighborhood Cuban restaurants, beach bums basking in the sun, and a world-class art scene.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal has year-round activities and attractions that make it a great city to visit--Mont Royal Park, Saint Joseph's Oratory, Old Port at Chateau Ramezay, Bonsecours Market, Notre Dame Basilica, and Montreal Botanical Garden to name a few.
Nashville, Tennessee
The "Nashville Sound" is heard all over the world, and visitors to Music City USA are among its most loyal audience. Besides the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville's popular attractions include the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center or the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
New York, New York
New York's most famous attractions draw hordes of tourists every year, but the heart of New York lies elsewhere -- in the neighborhood hangouts, ethnic restaurants, offbeat museums, Off-Off-Broadway theaters, underground nightspots, and much more.
Orlando, Florida
Simply put, Orlando is the world's top tourist destination. You can enjoy year-round sunshine at world-class resorts, theme parks, and attractions, but there's so much more to see and do. Greater Orlando has many fine museums and galleries, wonderful parks, and many places to see spectacular wildlife.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
History does drive tourism in Philadelphia, but it's only the backdrop for this diverse, fast-moving city. People visit for the historic attractions, but they come back for the extraordinary restaurants, award-winning visual and performing arts, and those very special features that exist nowhere else in the world.
Phoenix, Arizona
"The Valley of the Sun" as Phoenix is popularly known, or simply "the Valley", boasts more than 325 days of sunshine each year. Azure skies, warm temperatures, rugged mountains, endless outdoor activities, world-class golf, fine dining, and numerous Five-Star resorts lure 13 million travelers to the Valley annually.
Portland, Oregon
Portland's many bridges, with their oft-confusing cat's cradle of on-ramps and off-ramps, may be a challenge to visitors, but they link the east to the west, providing easy access to the diverse neighborhoods' parks, recreation, shopping, and culture.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City boasts 11,000-foot alpine peaks that tower over the skyline, and smooth saline waters that make up the city's namesake inland sea. For many, it's a jumping off point for nearby winter sports -- nearby resorts include Alta, Deer Valley, Snowbird, and Sundance.
San Diego, California
Everyone already knows a few things about San Diego -- the picture-perfect beaches, surfing, savory Mexican food, and Shamu the killer whale. San Diegans appreciate sun bathing, long boards, and a good fish taco, but a visit to this Pacific Coast metropolis is more than just a day at the beach.
San Francisco, California
The beauty of San Francisco is that each neighborhood has a unique personality and charm, and together they make this city one of the best places to wander around for an afternoon. Since San Francisco is a relatively small city (only about seven square miles) it can easily explored in a few days.
Seattle, Washington
While Seattle skies are indeed gray for much of the year, when the skies are clear, you can look westward across the harbor, speckled with sailboats and container ships, to the saw-toothed Olympic Mountains. To the north rises the fabled Space Needle; to the south, you'll find majestic and perennially snowcapped Mount Rainier.
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto has four professional sports teams, a full slate of cultural attractions and green space galore, plus an idyllic group of islands just a short ferry ride away from downtown.
More than anything, however, Toronto is a city of neighborhoods, each one with its own unique character, and many with a distinct ethnic flavor.
Vancouver, British Columbia
You've heard that Vancouver is gorgeous -- nestled into a fjord-like setting between ocean, mountains, and mighty river. Formally established in 1886 in a coastal rainforest, Vancouver has morphed into a lively, cosmopolitan metropolis. Of course the region's natural beauty remains a big draw, making this an ideal destination in which to combine urban pleasures with outdoor recreation.
Washington, District of Columbia
From its monuments and landmarks to its diverse neighborhoods, the nation's capital attracts more than 20 million international and domestic visitors each year. The famous sights and museums, many of which have free admission, and a year-round calendar of special events make Washington, DC, one of the world's top tourist destinations.
