2. Bat-tastic Viewing—Your kids will be awed by the spectacle of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats swooping out from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge. Families can watch the winged wonders from the shore, or try a bat-watching kayak tour.

3. The Hills are Alive—What kid hasn’t wished to swing from the trees and frolic in the hills like the von Trapp children in The Sound of Music? Now your children can, thanks to Zilker Theatre Productions’ presentation of this classic musical July 6 through August 11 at the Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater, where rolling green hills and gnarled trees perfect for climbing compete with the stage for children’s attention.

4. Quirky and Quacky Fun—When it comes to fun, get quackin’ with Austin Duck Adventures’ quirky downtown tour. Venture off on an amphibious vehicle that can traverse land or sea (or rather, lake), and hit all the hot spots, like Sixth Street, the State Capitol, Bob Bullock State History Museum, the Governor’s Mansion and Lake Austin as an informative guide provides historic and titillating titbits. Perhaps the most fun part for pint-size tour guests? The captain’s occasional call for quacking at locals along the way!

5. Family Bonding at Mount Bonnell—After enjoying all that mouth-watering Tex-Mex and barbecue, a little exercise is likely in order. Embark on a “hike” to the highest point within Austin’s city limits: Mount Bonnell. An easy jaunt for most ages and athletic abilities—the trail to the top is just under a third of a mile, with an elevation gain of 190 feet—kids will thrill to the task of counting exactly how many stairs it takes to get to the top (99 is the going number). At the end of the staircase, children will enjoy scrambling on the many boulders while adults are rewarded with spectacular views of Lake Austin and the downtown skyline.

6. I Scream, You Scream—During the summer, there’s nothing better than a big scoop of ice cream, and here in Texas, no brand is more beloved than Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, Texas (approximately a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Austin). On weekdays, visitors can arrange to take a guided tour of the factory and learn how ice cream is made and packaged—but the real fun comes at the tour’s end when when you receive a giant scoop of one of their famous flavours. (Still hungry? Additional scoops are just $1 each!)

7. Explore Inner Space—Discovered by construction workers building the I-35 freeway in Georgetown, Inner Space Cavern is a natural underground cavern featuring spectacular stalagmites and stalactites, giant columns and animal fossils that date back to the Ice Age. Choose from three levels of guided tourse—from about one hour to four hours long—to experience the fascinating story of the cave’s history and discovery.

8. Coffee and a Kids’ Show—Every Sunday morning at Ruta Maya Café, a popular South Austin coffee shop, family-friendly entertainers amuse tots with tricks ranging from a talking parrot and giant bubbles to unicycles and yo-yos while parents savour tall lattes or cups of coffee.

9. We Visited a Zoo—Make faces at a monkey and feed deer, goats and llamas at the Austin Zoo, a sanctuary for rescued animals just outside the city limits. Home to more than 300 animals of 100 different species, the Zoo offers kid-friendly fun in the form of a petting zoo, train rides on the Rawhide Rocket, a butterfly garden, a picnic grove and more.

10. The Story of Texas—Committed to making history come alive for every generation, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum offers three storeys of eye-popping exhibits for kids and parents alike, including a full-size teepee, the Capitol’s original Goddess of Liberty statue and a circa 1940 AT-6 “Texan” airplane in the central atrium. After exploring the extensive collections, rest your feet as you take in The Star of Destiny, a thrilling special-effects show held in the 200-seat Texas Spirit Theater, the biggest multimedia theater in the state.

The Hotel is located in the Puxi central business district, providing a quiet refuge in the heart of the bustling metropolis—just minutes from key business headquarters, as well as the best shopping and entertainment.

With the new business travel package, all the expected Four Seasons advantages are enhanced by airport or train station pickup upon arrival and complimentary Internet access.

For first-time time visitors to Shanghai, arriving at the airport, facing an extra-busy environment and language differences, can be a daunting experience. Four Seasons removes all the stress and trouble, giving you a great first impression.

If you’re arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (airport code PVG), you’ll find a Four Seasons representative waiting for you just outside immigration and customs. There’s also a Four Seasons service counter at Pudong Airport Terminal 2, opposite the international exit gates.

For arrivals at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (airport code SHA), the airport representative waits in the arrival hall outside the baggage claim area.

Right away, you’ll be escorted to the parking area where a driver is standing ready with a BMW 5 Series sedan. This special Four Seasons service saves at least 30 to 45 minutes that can be spent finding the right gate, locating the taxi stand and lining up for a cab.

Relax in Comfort—All the Way to Your Room

From the car service, you can refresh with chilled bottles of water. You’ll find a leather portfolio case filled with newspapers and magazines, plus a city map and Concierge recommendations. The car’s stereo system can play your own music selections, too, with an easy connection to your iPod or mp3 player.

To the city centre, it’s a 45- to 60-minute drive from Pudong Airport, or 30 to 45 minutes from Hongqiao Airport, travelling on a modern freeway that moves through spectacular sightseeing, introducing you to the dynamic modern China.

Four Seasons staff greet you at the Hotel’s front door and escort you directly to your room, offering express check-in with no need to stop at the front desk. It’s a smooth, seamless arrival, introducing you to a stay that’s entirely customised to your needs and preferences.

The business travel package also includes complimentary Internet during your stay, wired and wireless, available in your room and throughout the Hotel. It’s a great way to enhance your productivity.

You can also take advantage of the many Four Seasons details designed for your needs—from the Business Centre and multilingual Concierge team to the in-room safe suitable for a laptop computer.

Additional Amenities

Keep up your fitness routine in the newly upgraded fitness centre, with new yoga classes and a sunlit indoor pool. Or simply relax in the award-winning Qin the Spa. Enjoy great dining with five Four Seasons venues, including Si Ji Xuan. And there’s always 15-Minute Room Service.

For a nominal fee, you can access the Executive Club, with a wide range of business services offered from the 37th-floor lounge. Even meals are included, with a full breakfast buffet, light refreshments through the day, and evening cocktails and canapés.

Discover all the ways Four Seasons can transform your Shanghai business experience.

1. The Duomo, Campanile & Baptistery
Impossible to miss, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore—the cathedral of Florence—dominates the heart of the city with its sheer size and colourful green, white and pink marble exterior. Brunelleschi’s towering dome is an architectural wonder, and older kids will get a good workout climbing the 463 steps to the top. The payoff: incredible views. Meanwhile, younger children will be entranced by the playful Candy Land-like exterior of the Duomo itself—every square inch is covered with patterns, colours and shapes. Inside, a profusion of beautiful frescos, stained glass and smaller chapels will captivate children of all ages. The adjacent Campanile, or bell tower, is also worth the hike up (go early in the day), and don’t miss the Baptistery with its glittering 13th-century mosaics and celebrated bronze doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti and Andrea Pisano.

2. Piazzas Past and Present
Piazza della Repubblica is one of the hubs of Florentine life, and the antique carousel in the centre is the perfect way for tots to begin any day of touring. Grab a sweet pastry at Gilli before heading to the bustling Piazza della Signoria with its animated statues. (Perseus holding Medusa’s head is often a favourite of the tween set.) Piazza Santissima Annunziata features an enormous fountain and the Ospedale degli Innocenti (Foundling Hospital), while nearby Piazzale Michelangelo offers beautiful views of the city below as well as the perfect place for little ones to stretch their legs.

3. Museums and More
Make targeted trips to museums so that kids get a flavour of the work of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and other artists, but aren’t overwhelmed by crowded galleries (this holds especially true in peak summer months). The Galleria degli Uffizi is a must, so pre-book tickets to catch a glimpse of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Next stop, the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, a lavish palazzo complete with gold ceilings and displays of arms and armour that will captivate budding historians. Very young visitors will love Museo dei Ragazzi (the Palazzo Vecchio Family Museum) with its wonderful mix of stories, lavish costumes and peeks at the lives of the powerful Medici family. If your gang has energy for more, visit Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia or interact with exhibits at the Museo di Leonardo da Vinci where replicas of the artist’s inventions—the printing press, mortar cannon and gears—will fascinate children ages 5 and up.

4. Explore the Oltrarno
In warmer months children will appreciate an escape to the gardens, play spaces and palace grounds on the far side of the River Arno. Stroll across the Ponte Vecchio (“old bridge”), and stock up on souvenirs such as wooden toys, jewellery and leather goods along the way. Once on the other side, gather a picnic and head for the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, where you’ll find grottos, fish ponds and lush lawns. For more unfettered outdoor fun, head further up to Forte di Belvedere, a 16th century star-shaped fort that offers endless grassy spaces and Porta San Giorgio—ancient city walls that are perfect for small explorers.

5. Mangia Bene! (Eat Well)
Florence is a foodie town, and children will love local specialities such as pizza al taglio (by the slice), panini and Bistecca alla Fiorentina (grilled steak with olive oil and herbs) not to mention the incredible gelato. And though there is much debate over the best gelaterias in this “birthplace of ice cream,” Vivoli and Perchè No! (“Why not”) won’t disappoint. For more local colour, don’t miss the Mercato Centrale, a marketplace with a large variety of cheeses, fruits and vegetables, and butchers and bakers. This is a great way to see Florentine families going about their daily shopping, sampling delectable treats along the way.

Roderick’s favourite unique thing at George V: Our flowers!

Roderick’s favourite way to spend the day at the Hotel: Lunch or drinks in the courtyard, dinner at Le Cinq and tea in La Galerie.

Roderick’s favourite Michelin-starred Parisian lunch spot: Les Jalles on rue des Capucines, opened by the owners of Bistro Volnay.

Roderick’s favourite restaurants to recommend most: There is such a wide range, and it depends on the guest and the mood of the moment. . . .

Roderick’s favourite trendy dining spot with great cuisine: La Société . . . but it’s hard to combine hip and great cuisine. Not much the trend of the moment in Paris. Great lively places would be something like Septime, Agapé Substance and Le Coq Rico.

Roderick’s favourite places for a post-work drink: Experimental Cocktail Club, Le Forum and the very new bar at Les Jalles on the first floor.

Roderick’s favourite cocktail served at Le Bar: The “Sphere” cocktail from bartender Maxime Hoerth.

Roderick’s favourite place to find the best macarons: Pierre Hermé and Ladurée, of course. And Carette at Place du Trocadéro. Ladurée really rose up again in the ’90s with Pierre Hermé as their pastry chef. Even behind the hotel there’s a great chocolatier, Malitourne, that has incredibly good macarons.

Roderick’s favourite outdoor dining spot (lunch or dinner) for the summer: But our Marble Courtyard here at the George V, of course.

Roderick’s favourite place to find the best baguette in Paris: In fact, we have a selection of the best baguettes in Paris. Sébastien Mauvieux of Boulangerie Mauvieux just got the title, and will provide the bread for the presidential palace for the next year.

Roderick’s favourite cheese purveyor in Paris: Fromagerie Quatrehomme near Le Bon Marché is the most renowned and one of the very best. Also pop into La Grande Epicerie de Paris to find great cheese and great bread all in one place.

Roderick’s favourite place for sorbet this summer: The problem with sorbets is that they serve the Berthillon ones everywhere. I think a restaurant that does its own would be the best, but it is not an everyday thing.

Roderick’s favourite place to find best éclairs: Stohrer on Rue Montorgueil—and by the way, that entire area is just so great about food!

Roderick’s favourite place to enjoy a salad: A great café on a nice little street or a famous avenue would easily serve a good salad. For example, if running errands on Rue Saint-Honoré, I would pop into Chez Flottes.

Roderick’s favourite place for people-watching and late afternoon coffee or a glass of wine: I love La Closerie des Lilas over on the Left Bank. Great wines, nice crowd and full of history.

Roderick’s favourite boutiques: Colette and l’Eclaireur.

Roderick’s favourite antique markets: It is not so much which (Biron, Vernaison, Paul Bert and Serpette—all located in Saint-Ouen), but how and when. Fridays are not officially open, but that is when the pros go. Get there in the morning when the boutiques are still setting up for the three open days (Saturday, Sunday and Monday).

Roderick’s favourite underrated small museum in Paris: Museé Cognacq-Jay is underrated, and probably also Nissim de Camondo.

Roderick’s favourite way to spend one glorious day in Paris: Strolling around Le Marais, the Islands and the Latin Quarter/St-Germain.

Roderick’s favourite day trip outside of Paris: Definitely Versailles, then Normandy, the Loire Valley and the Champagne region.

Paris’ famous dining scene can sometimes be a challenge for out-of-town visitors, so Roderick recommends using the Hotel’s concierge service to book restaurants prior to your stay. “Of course, some places really need to be arranged quite a few weeks ahead of time,” he says. “A lot of the most famous places at the moment do not have more than 20 to 25 seats.”

A cultural icon filled with fine cuisine, whimsical alleyways and fun activities for socialites, history buffs and families alike, Paris has so much to see—what will your experience be like? Any trip to this romantic and cutting-edge city can be made even more memorable with someone like Roderick on your side. “We really work on tailor-made propositions according to the guest’s expectations,” he says.

Stay tuned to Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts on Facebook, or follow @FourSeasons on Twitter, for all the latest news, including about the next #bestofcity event.

In addition to Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, many other Four Seasons hotels and resorts across Asia are taking extra steps to expose guests to the continent’s healing cultures. Traditional Chinese medicine is rooted in the belief that for a body to be well, qi—pronounced “chee” and loosely translated as “energy”—must flow smoothly through it. TCM doctors help restore the flow of qi through herbs, diet, exercise and therapies. At Qin The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, guests can meet with TCM doctors and have a treatment plan prescribed. After a diagnostic evaluation that will include a pulse assessment, breath examination and life-style assessment, the doctor will customise a treatment plan that might involve an acupuncture appointment, herbal steam session, massage, foot reflexology, a private tai chi lesson and even a prescription for herbs to take when you get home. “The goal is to create an awareness of wellness even when you are on the go, and to maintain the health and well-being of our guests,” says Spa Director Kim Burton-Clay. And since this all takes place in a space outfitted with black granite floors, lacquer cabinets and Chinese objets d’art, the experience puts the standard doctor’s visit to shame.

In Japan, taking to the waters in the country’s hot springs (onsen) is the way many treat everything from rheumatism to skin disorders. Oftentimes, though, a visit to the onsen involves trekking to some remote mountain spot. But at YU, THE SPA at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so, guests can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the thermal waters: The Spa imports spring water twice a week from the Izu Peninsula on Japan’s southern coast. Spending time in the communal bath is the perfect prelude to one of the massages using oils made from seasonal flowers and herbs. Now, just lean back and say ahhh.

Four by Four Seasons

See the doctor: At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, two on-site Ayurvedic doctors work with a yogi, nature’s pharmacy and the Resort’s Ayurvedic chefs to guide each guest along his or her own path to ultimate wellness.

Indulge in the local: The tension-releasing Ruak Ritual at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand, makes use of Kaffir lime from the Camp’s lime trees in the treatment’s foot bath, and bamboo tools hand-carved from stalks that grow wild on the Resort grounds.

Make time for tea: Traditional Chinese medicine takes full advantage of tea’s health benefits at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. The Dragonwell Tea and Jade Spring Ritual includes a tea bath, a tea-based wrap and exfoliation, and a massage using a Dragonwell-tea-infused oil.

Banish jet lag: Therapists perform traditional Javanese massage, which mixes acupressure with long palm strokes, kneading and knuckling, in treatment rooms decked out with deep soaking tubs at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta. The massage is the perfect way to recover after a long-haul flight.

While basics such as vegetables and tropical fruits were available, the more interesting foods at farmers markets were not being produced on a scale that could support a resort. “I wanted to focus on locally grown ingredients that would be fresher, healthier and more flavourful,” Babian says, “and also more readily available, without the negative environmental impact of shipping.” He began convincing local farmers to expand their crops to supply key ingredients with the consistency and quantity required by a major resort. Currently he works with more than 160 farmers, ranchers, fishermen and aquaculturists.

On the menu are heirloom vegetables, Hamakua mushrooms, local goat cheese, ranch-raised beef and Kona coffee. Babian has found a supplier for sustainable seafood who raises lobster, shrimp and fish in icy water that’s pumped up from the ocean floor. And moi, the fish favoured by Hawaii’s ancient kings, is farmed on site at the Resort.

Today Babian sources 75 percent of food items locally, and that figure rises to 90 percent at the Resort’s signature restaurant, Pahu i‘a. He is now going beyond the regional approach to create cuisine specific to Hawaii Island.

Four by Four Seasons

Local treatments: The Spa’s Apothecary follows Hawaiian healing traditions by using native plants and minerals. More than 40 natural ingredients—from Hawaiian sea salt to crushed macadamia nuts—may be custom-blended to create unique personalised treatments.

Natural and eco-friendly: All the Resort’s guest rooms are newly refreshed in a light, beachy style. Also new is the Eco-Crescent at King’s Pond, with rooms that let you cut your carbon impact with measures such as eliminating bottled water. It’s an easy, eco-friendly choice.

Adult swim: Among the Resort’s seven pool experiences is the new Palm Grove, which many are calling the ultimate pool for adults. Facing the ocean and blissfully quiet, the setting features hammocks, daybeds and a swim-up bar with signature shave-ice cocktails.

High-tech tour: A new virtual tour helps you get familiar with the plant life, art and historical sites at Hualālai. Featuring audio and images, the Huaka‘i tour is free to download from iTunes, or you may simply borrow an iPod Touch from the Concierge desk.

How did you get your start in fashion?
I had a show in 1981, my first, in New York. It was at the Metropolitan Club, which was really beautiful. It was very glamorous, with everybody there—all the stores, important people and all the editors. At the beginning, I had mixed reviews. Some press people said that I was going to do it for one year, two years, and then I was going to get tired and not do anything else. But I am still here more than 30 years later.

Did you have a mentor in the early days?
One of the most important ones—Diana Vreeland. Diana was a great friend of my family and of me. And I went to her in the beginning when I decided I wanted to do something in fashion. My idea at first was to design fabrics. She was a very funny lady. She said, “Why would you want to do that? It’s so boring. Why don’t you make a collection and let’s see what happens?”

How would you define the Carolina Herrera aesthetic?
Carolina Herrera is classic but with a very important modern twist. I don’t like to follow trends. You lose your originality, your individuality. I think for a woman—or a man—it’s very important to have your own style. I am a great believer that women should look beautiful and should know exactly what suits them.

What inspires your designs?
It can be a beautiful painting, a walk in the street, looking at the people. It can be a conversation, a book that I’m reading, a little colour in a painting that I see and like. You have to have your imagination going all the time—and you have to be curious in order to discover.

Colour plays an integral role in your designs. Can you tell us about that influence?
Colour is very important in fashion. But black is the most important colour in the world, because it is always there. It’s quite attractive to have different colours, but you must know how to mix them—for example, when you go to a garden and you see many flowers and they all mix well. But it’s not so easy when you take a piece of fabric and you want to include a lot of colours. You have to be careful.

Do you have a favourite colour?
I like yellow because it is the colour of the sun, and I like sunny days and blue, blue skies. But I also love black. And for very important occasions I always find myself wearing white.

Can you tell us a bit about your design process? What goes into the design of a collection?
There is always a theme. The last spring collection was influenced by the Bauhaus movement. I had been in Berlin and saw the Bauhaus Museum. I was impressed by the linear qualities and the colours—the red. From there I was inspired to do all the prints and fabrics for the collection. It was quite wonderful that it all came together. I had another collection that I adored that was inspired by Lartigue when he was in the south of France photographing all those wonderful women. In my last collection, the print was inspired by Gaspar, my little poodle. It has been very successful and now Gaspar is famous.

The city is swathed in colourful paper garlands. People spill into the narrow streets, listening to folk music and dancing, eating grilled sardines and drinking Portugal’s famous vinho verde (young “green” wine).

Events take place in every part of Lisbon, but especially in the historic districts of Alfama and Mouraria, with street entertainment, cinema, music, theatre and folk festivities both day and night.

In a traditional symbol of friendship, local people present each other with small pots of basil and give paper carnations inscribed with poems. (They can become lovely souvenirs.)

Celebrating the Eve of St. Anthony’s Day

The celebrations reach a peak on June 12—the eve of St. Anthony’s Day, honouring Lisbon’s patron saint.

Sixteen couples from various city parishes are married in a huge collective wedding ceremony at St. Anthony Church (Igreja de Santo Antonio). The newlyweds are then driven around town in vintage automobiles as the sun begins to set. Spectators cheer them on as they go by.

With evening comes a giant parade, the Marchas Populares, flowing down the Avenida da Liberdade, getting everyone dancing with lively folk music and samba bands. The parade then transforms itself into a massive street party in the Alfama district.

Boat Processions on the Tagus River

Expect more festivities on St. John’s Days, June 23 and 24, while St. Peter’s Days on June 28 and 29 herald the climax. To bring a beautiful close to the Festas de Lisboa, several boat processions move down the Tagus River, which flows through the centre of the city. It’s an inspiring sight to witness, and it’s worth planning your Lisbon visit accordingly.

Learn more about the Festas de Lisboa and other intriguing activities in the regularly updated Lisbon City Guide, designed as an online flip book.

To start planning your Lisbon adventure, visit Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon.

• The Palm Beach Radius from Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach is made with mangos, oranges and mint for a clean, seasonal taste.

Recipe: Palm Beach Radius
Muddle 5 leaves of fresh mint in the bottom of a shaker.

Add to shaker: 2 oz. mango-infused vodka (see below), 3 oz. hibiscus tea (see below) and 2 oz. squeezed orange juice. Fill with cubed ice.

Shake ingredients well and pour into glass. Add four pieces of cubed mango from infusion to glass and stir slightly.

Mango infusion: Cube 5 ripe south Florida mangos and place in infusion jar with one 750 ml bottle of 4 Orange Vodka. Let infuse for 4 to 5 days.

Hibiscus tea: To 1 oz. dried hibiscus flower (organic is best), add 12 oz. fresh boiled water. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Add ½ cup sugar and dilute with 3 cups cold water.

• Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo created a cocktail called 18th on the Green, made with Costa Rican sugar-cane-distilled alcohol.

Recipe: 18th on the Green
2 oz. Guaro Cacique (sugar-cane-distilled alcoholic beverage)
1 oz. simple syrup
1 oz. fresh lime juice
Fresh basil leaves
Fresh cilantro

Muddle the cilantro and basil together with lime juice and simple syrup. Pour into shaker; add Guaro Cacique and some ice cubes and shake well. Serve in a jicaro with salt on the rim. (The jicaro tree produces a hard, cannonball-like fruit that is commonly used for flower pots—and now a glass.)