InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

If you only have a weekend in Houston, Texas, never fear. Whether for business or pleasure, there are plenty of exciting things to do that fit in a tight schedule. Here are just a few:

St. Arnold Brewing Co.
Take a tour of Texas’ oldest microbrewery. You’ll get a firsthand look at the process of creating beer, and sample a few of their choice brews.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Take a fascinating stroll through the natural surroundings of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. This 155 acre features hiking trails and an up-close view of local flora and fauna.

Minute Maid Field
Take in the excitement of baseball with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Widely known to “not contain a single ‘bad’ seat,” visitors can purchase tickets at man price ranges. Also, when baseball season is out, the hour-long tour of the field is well worth it.

HADA Antiques Show and Sale
If antiques are your thing, visit Houston in March for the Houston Antiques Dealer Association’s antique show and sale, where you’ll find everything from Limoges to Stickley.

Luling City Market Barbecue
Prepare for a messy feast at Luling City Market Barbecue. Serving only the freshest cuts, their menu features authentic smoked ribs, brisket, pork, and chicken— all slathered in their famous Texas barbecue sauce.

Looking for an intro to Swiss culture? Geneva’s museums are a great place to start. Here are our top picks for a thorough overview:

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
Head over to MAMCO (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) for a fascinating look at art since the 1960s. Also, admission is free every first Sunday and Wednesday of the month, from 11 a.m. to 6 pm.

Maison Tavel
Visitors to the Tavel House will gain a vast understanding of life in Geneva throughout history— from the middle ages to the present. As another interesting sight, the house’s basement is inscribed with medieval graffiti.

Patek Phillipe Museum
The Swiss are, of course, famous for their intricate and trusted timepieces. Now you can see some wonderful examples of these engineering marvels— from the rare and antique, to the current and beyond.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
Learn the interesting history of the world’s first humanitarian organization. From engaging multimedia presentations to traditional museum offerings, visitors leave with a full understanding of how the Red Cross truly did change the world.

Prepare for a thrilling retail experience when visiting Rome. Here are a few of the spots you should be sure to check out:

Mado Vintage
At Mado, you’ll find a wide and unique selection of “early” vintage pieces, such as circle skirts from the 50s, the sweeping necklines of the 20s, and the trim, figure cutting waistlines of the 40s.

Josephine de Huertas Boutique
At Josephine de Huertas, you’ll find all of your fashion-forward favourites and more. Try on a pair of Citizens of Humanity denim trousers, a frilly See by Chloe frock, or a quirky Paul Smith scarf.

Saldi
In early Spring, often from January to April at the latest, all of Italy goes on sale. Big ticket items, such as designer Italian handbags and shoes, are marked down to some of the lowest prices in the world.

Via Condotti
International luxury brands in their home environment— Via Condotti, the famous shopping street in Rome. Find all of your favorite Italian designs by Prada and Miu Miu, Modigliani, Gucci, Valentino.

Ixtapa, Mexico is the perfect beach town for the vacationer who values more peace and less party. Here are a few of the activities you’ll find:

Fly Fishing
Fishermen young and old, novice and expert flock to the Ixtapa beaches for year-round catches.

Villa De La Selva Fine Dining Restaurant
More than a meal, Villa De La Selva is an experience. Wonderful for anniversaries or dates, the dining room romantically is placed cliff-side in a lovely tropical setting. The food is equally as stunning as the views. For a special treat, try their crab taco appetizer— light, flaky pastry filled with tender crab topped with a French sauce.

Diving
Whether you’re working toward your license or a seasoned underwater veteran, Ixtapa’s crystal-blue waters are enticing. From colorful coral to friendly fishes, you’ll explore an entirely new and exciting world.

El Galeón Restaurant
Climb aboard a real wooden old-style galleon ship for a delicious and eclectic meal. El Galeón’s menu features an international flare— from Italian pastas and appetizers to seafood dishes with an Indian twist.

Lusaka, Zambia is quickly becoming a hot-spot for visitors interesting in Africa. Whether taking a safari or just taking it easy, this bustling town will pleasantly surprise even the most seasoned traveller.

Victoria Falls
Visit Victoria Falls for a myriad of adventures, from bungee jumping to a leisurely swim in the natural pools below. At an impressive height of 108 metres and a width of 2 kilometres, Victoria Falls is nearly twice as high and powerful as North America’s Niagara Falls. For a convenient visit, try booking a tour.

Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage
Get up close and personal with everyone’s favourite clown— the chimpanzee. Founded in 1983, with one stray chimp, the Chimfunshi Orphanage now houses 5 separate, free-roaming family groups.

Zambia Open Golf Tournament
If you are in town, be sure to buy tickets to the Zambia Open Golf Tournament. Added to the Sunshine Tour in 1996, this tournament is a must-stop for pro golfers from around the world.

The Arcades Market
At the Arcades shopping market, you’ll find Zambian shops and boutiques selling local wares. It’s a convenient, one-stop-shop experience for picking up your souvenirs and gifts. Also, stop into one of its small restaurants for some surprisingly tasty fare.

Shanghai is a city full of antique elegance and futuristic dreams. Its obsession with style makes it the perfect destination for a shopping extravaganza.

For a fashion fix, head to the number one commercial street in China, Nanjing Road. You’ll find several malls, a plethora of department stores including the world’s second largest, and designer shops such as housed in Three on the Bund. Renowned for its luxurious shops, Huai Hai Road is home to Maison Mode, and the elegant twin villas of Dunhill and Vacheron Constantin. And after you’ve amassed a fabulous new wardrobe, make it fit perfectly with custom alterations by Dave, one of the most renowned tailors in the world.

If you’re looking for a more traditional Chinese shopping experience, wander through Yuyuan Bazaar, where you can sample tea, snacks, and local handicrafts, and it is colorfully lit up at night. The place to go for a vibrant day of antique hunting is Fuyou Antique Market
though if you prefer a quieter atmosphere, Shanghai Guxuan Art Co. is renowned for its showroom, and will help ship your treasures home.

Other venues for traditional Chinese goods include the Arts & Crafts Research Institute, which showcases Chinese arts, such as jade carving and embroidery, being practiced by local artisans. For an education in the finer things, the Shanghai Museum is worth a visit for the world-renowned exhibits along with the exquisite reproductions of bronze, ceramic, porcelain and cloth art available in the museum shop.

What treasure-hunting trip would be complete without silk and pearls? Angel Pearls has an exquisite and abundant assortment of pearl jewelry. Silk King has several outlets, and is a favorite destination for visiting heads of state and other VIPs.

And if you feel you are being Shanghai’d by the sheer enormity of choice, let an expert local guide you through the city with a personalized shopping tour designed to cater to every wish on your list.

Be among the first to visit a world heritage site and the newly opened Acropolis Museum. Over the course of your stay with us at the InterContinental Athenaeum Athens, you’ll receive 2 tickets to the expansive 4-hour guided tour and discover the secrets of this ancient wonder.

Have a few days to spend in Canada’s largest city? Even in winter, Toronto is a wealth of culture, shopping, and entertainment – here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Warm up with a hot chocolate at Soma Chocolatemakers in The Distillery District, Toronto’s hippest address. Or try a steaming cup of coffee in Kensington Market, an eclectic neighborhood perfect for people watching. Local favorites include Moonbeam and I Deal Coffee. Stop by the Canadian favorite Tim Horton’s for one of their famous fresh donuts with a classic cup of joe. Craving something more substantial than pastries? Cozy up to a weekend brunch and a game of billiards at The Academy of Spherical Arts, with complimentary demonstrations from master players. Continue your education with a tour of the Steam Whistle Brewery.

Still to cold to venture out? No need - the the world’s largest underground shopping complex conveniently connects Toronto’s downtown with the business district. There are 27 kilometres of stores, food courts and places to hang out. There’s plenty of magic indoors at Casa Loma, Toronto’s castle on top of the hill. Seasonal events include musical performances, magic shows, and even archery workshops. Feeling uninspired by the weather? Head to the Museum of Inuit Art for a stunning collection of indigenous art exhibited in a space designed to evoke the Canadian Arctic.

Once you feel fortified against the elements, head to the Toronto Zoo for an up-close look at arctic creatures in their natural habitat. Feel like a graceful creature of winter yourself by strapping some ice skates to your feet at Nathan Phillips Square, or any of the other 48 outdoor rinks in the city.

Phnom Penh, is a pulsing metropolis – but still maintains a serenity that travellers so yearn to find. Explore the wonders of Cambodia while searching for inner peace – in Phnom Penh, there is an abundance of both.

Detox from your high-stress life at one of the many meditation and yoga centers. Kundalini Yoga Cambodia has internationally certified teachers, and offers classes suitable for beginners and advanced students. They specialize in trauma and stress relief, as well as yoga for special groups such as pregnant women, seniors, and those with special physical needs. NataRaj is the oldest yoga studio in Cambodia, and was listed as one of the top 25 yoga studios in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine. Western-style classes, such as Pilates, are also available, as well as private instruction.

The city offers a multitude of serene outdoor venues perfect for quiet contemplation. The gardens of the National Museum are dotted with fountains, floating lily pads, and statues of the Leopard King, and the corridors are quiet and often filled with orange-robed monks and the scent of jasmine offerings to the ancient statues. Next door is the Royal Palace, with over 174,000 square meters of immaculately manicured gardens.

The Khmer word for temple is “wat”, and there are half a dozen in Phnom Penh, with many more a day’s ride away. Wat Phnom, after which the city is named, is built atop an artificial hill and offers peaceful views of the city and the Tonle Sap River near Sisowath Quay.

While Sydney might be best known for street parties that raucously ring in the new year, it is also a prime destination for family fun. Bring the sunscreen and let the city’s charms mesmerize you, no matter what your age.

Likely, if you are escaping the northern hemisphere, you’ll head straight to the shore for some fresh air and sunshine. Manly Beach, on the north side of Sydney Harbor, is a top destination for families, not only because of its quieter vibe, but also the nearby water park, should the kids demand something more stimulating than sand between their toes.

Aquatic atmosphere on the agenda? Don’t miss the world-renowned Sydney Aquarium, with special exhibits designed to inspire the kid in all of us. Across the harbor is Oceanworld, another nice detour from the beach, where the kids can spend the morning as a “Junior Ranger.” If you’re looking for creatures of a more terrestrial kind, you’ll find them creepy and cuddly at the Taronga Zoo. Ooh and ahh over the “new arrivals”, baby animals both native to Australia and those from other exotic corners of the world.

And if you or the kids still have energy to burn, head over to the Olympic Park. Built for the millennial 2000 Summer Games, the park calls itself Sydney’s biggest playground – and with a flying trapeze, rocket balloons, an outdoor cinema, and lessons in everything from kung-fu to writing your own mystery novel, you are sure to find something for everyone in the family.