What's Hot: Glasgow's New Riverside Museum by Zaha Hadid

A happening music scene, farm-to-table cuisine and hot hotels... Glasgow is the place to be. And another tempting reason to jet to Scotland ASAP: This UNESCO City of Music will be opening the Riverside Museum on June 21, a dazzling building by Pritzker prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. Sprawling along the River Clyde, the museum is dedicated to transport and travel, paying homage to Glasgow's history as a shipbuilding capital. The inside is just as dazzling as the outside, showcasing every type of transportation imaginable. (Trust us- we had a peak inside before the official opening date.)

Looking for the best digs in Glasgow? Check out the properties in our Five-Star and Four-Star collection. Tip: We're smitten with the entirely renovated Blythswood Square Hotel, the spa is a destination itself.

Related Article: Jumeirah Sets its Sights on Glasgow

Summer in Italy: The Famous Opera Festival in Verona with Byblos Art Hotel

A jaunt to Italy in the summer months isn’t complete without taking in a performance at the world-famous opera festival in Verona. Now in its 89th year, the Opera Festival of the Fondazione Arena di Verona will feature a total of 50 performances between June 17 and September 3. It’s not just thousands of music lovers who relish Verona’s spectacular seasonal event. The Opera Festival attracts its share of opera newbies who are dazzled and delighted. There are six different operas this year: Verdi’s La Traviata, Verdi's Aida, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Verdi’s Nabucco, Puccini’s La Boheme, and Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet.

Byblos Art Hotel—a magnificent luxury hotel occupying the 16th century Villa Amista—is welcoming guests with open arms for the festival. The hotel itself was conceived as a permanent collection of contemporary art, filled with pieces by artists who are revered around the world. (You’ll also find furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Aldo Ross.) The setting is positively magical. Sun-bathing by the pool, coupled with a massage at the spa Espace Byblos, is guaranteed to soothe the soul. Take advantage of the hotel’s “Arena di Verona” package and enjoy a pre-Opera dinner for two people at the Atelier restaurant, Opera tickets, private limousine service to the Opera, plus entry to the spa along with luxury accommodations for two nights. Priced from 604 euros per person, available June 17- September 3, 2011.

An Oktoberfest Hotel in Munich: Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski

“In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus: Eins, zwei, g'suffa…” Every now and again, I can’t get this song out of my head. I can’t predict when the words come flooding in, usually when I take a drink of a fine German lager. My taste buds trigger an emotion that is pure happiness. Oktoberfest! Oh how I miss thee!

This year, I’m going back, and I hope you’ll join me. Munich, the beautiful Bavarian city in southern Germany, has more than just the annual beer drinking festival, but there isn’t honestly a better time to visit. The season is just changing, with the weather pleasant and calm, and the warmth of the German people never more evident. This is what makes Oktoberfest so enchanting!

I’ve stayed at many places in Germany, from home stays to hostels to ski chalets, but nothing compares to the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski. Can’t pronounce it? Don’t worry, I can’t either. But you won’t need to, because the world class staff at the Hotel Vier will do everything for you, including the speaking!

I do recommend doing one thing on your own though, and that’s drinking a liter of Hofbräu, and singing that famous old song… Prost!

Celebrate Virginia Wine Month at Keswick Hall, Charlottesville

October could be the best time to visit the Commonwealth of Virginia; the peaking fall foliage draws plenty of leaf-peepers, and Virginia Wine Month means festivities and celebrations galore. From concerts to barrel tastings, hay-rides to artist displays, the month will be jam-packed with fun events. It all kicks off at Monticello (how fitting!) when The Governor's Cup for White Wines will be presented to one lucky Virginia winery as the opening event for October Virginia Wine Month. Looking to stay in the area? Check into Keswick Hall, the gorgeous 600-acre estate managed by Orient-Express, and you might just find yourself joining in the grape harvest (or stomping the resort's own grapes!) Plus, Keswick hosts a wine tasting every Thursday in Fossett's Bar with Keswick's Richard Hewitt, one of the few Master Sommeliers in Virginia.

Oktoberfest in Munich with Custom-Made Dirndls at The Charles Hotel

Oktoberfest is fast approaching, and where better to celebrate than Munich? (For more about Oktoberfest, click here.) This year marks the 200th anniversary of the 16-day party, the world's largest fair. To celebrate the tradition, The Charles Hotel-- part of the luxurious Rocco Forte Collection-- is offering the “Dressed for Oktoberfest” program. The hotel has teamed up with Schatzi Dirndl, one of Munich's leading traditional designers, to create custom-made Bavarian dirndls for guests. What else is included in the package? A private limousine transfer to Schatzi Dirndl (the store), buffet breakfast, as well as a welcome drink and a Bavarian gift in your room on arrival. The program runs from September 18 through October 3. Rates start at 815 Euro.

In Bruges: Chapel Concert Series at the Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace

In Europe this summer? Be sure to stop through the "fairytale" town of Bruges, aka the "Venice of the North" situated just an hour from Brussels. Explore the canals and medieval cobblestoned streets of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city and treat yourself to a luxury stay at the Kempinski Hotel Dukes' Palace. Housed in the renovated Prinsenhof, built in the 15th century on the occasion of the wedding between Philip the Good and Isabelle of Portugal, the hotel is a historic masterpiece. Buzzworthy: The Kempinski will be resuming its Dukes' Chapel Concert series this fall. Conde Nast Traveller magazine describes these evenings of classical music as perfect for a culture-soaked city such as Bruges. What's more:

The hotel itself is steeped in history: it dates back to 1430, when, as the Prinsenhof, it played host to hundreds of royal events throughout the years - so bringing back this traditional entertainment was a simple decision. And, as the hotel's General Manager, Philippe DeMeyer, says: "The 15th-century chapel is a unique venue for concerts because of the historical setting and the great acoustics." Award-winning cellist France Springuel - the first Belgian to win the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow - will perform the famous Cello Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach to guests at the first concert, held on 24 September.

Jane Austen Festival to Run This September in Bath, England

The 2010 Jane Austen Festival takes place in Bath from September 17th-25th. Now in its 10th year, the event grows annually, with more and more  people dressing in Regency-style costume celebrating the life and works of Jane Austen.

Tickets for each event are now on sale at the Bath Festivals Box Office. The most spectacular day each year is the first Saturday, when the festival officially “opens” with the Regency Costumed Promenade through the streets of Bath. (Think promenaders from all over the world dressing in 18th-century attire led by Bath’s Town Crier and accompanied by soldiers and sailors.)

The rest of the festival is comprised of small soirees, theater, concerts, walking tours, food, talks and dancing, plus the opportunity to dress throughout the week, if you wish, in 18th century costume.

Where to stay in Bath? We suggest two charming options: The Bath Spa Hotel and The Bath Priory Hotel Restaurant and Spa.

“Hollywood & Wine” Festival plus July 4th Fireworks: $119 Rates at the Arizona Biltmore

Arizona's Grand Dame-- built as one of Phoenix's first resorts in 1929 with Frank Lloyd Wright as the consulting architect-- has hosted its share of U.S. presidents and celebs. Part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection, the Arizona Biltmore continues to dazzle guests with its eight swimming pools, seven tennis courts, full-service spa, and two 18-hole PGA golf courses (adjacent to the resort at the Arizona Biltmore Country Club). This summer, the landmark resort is staging a summer-long "Hollywood & Wine" festival featuring celebrity bands and winemakers, Hollywood behind-the-scenes shows, blockbuster dive-in movies, theater productions and culinary events. While June has been all about "Hollywood Live On-Stage," with live theater performances by the Southwest Shakespeare Company and music from celebrated bassist Miles Mosley, July focuses on "Hollywood Blockbusters." There will be screenings of classic American movies and a synchronized swim show featuring the Aqualillies. On July 4th, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra Pops and fireworks will salute America. Talk about serious summer fun. The best part of all? Blockbuster rates at the Arizona Biltmore starting from just $119. [Map]

Boom with a View: July 4th with Adrian Grenier at the W Washington DC

The capital city's cool new hotel has commanding rooftop views of major landmarks- clearly one of the top spots in D.C. to check out the best July 4th fireworks in the country. (And while you're ogling the view, you can also check out the scene at the happening rooftop terrace.) Leave it to the W Hotel Washington D.C. to orchestrate a fab Fourth of July celebration high above the city. A true VIP experience, the rooftop party will feature an exclusive live performance by the Honey Brothers featuring Adrian Grenier, Andrew Vladeck, Ari Gold, Daniel Green and D.S. Posner and by New York-based DJ, Sky Nellor. Enjoy a premium open bar and delicious nibbles by Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges. The "Boom with a View!" package includes admission for two to the party (starting at 6 p.m.) and accommodations in a Wonderful Room. Priced from $619. Reservations are pre-paid and non-refundable. Just interested in the par-tay? Tix are $200.

The Nice Jazz Festival: Stay at Le Palais de La Mediterranee

Take advantage of the insanely favorable exchange rates right now and get to France for a summer on the Med. Check out the jazz greats who'll be playing the Nice Jazz Festival from July 17-24, 2010. When the festival was first launched in 1948 on the French Riviera, Louis Armstrong and his All Stars stole the show. Over the years, stars like Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald have also taken the stage. (They also played at Jazz à Juan in Antibes Juan-les-Pins, the renowned festival celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.) The place to stay while in Nice is the Le Palais de la Méditerranée, situated directly on the Promenade des Anglais in a picture-perfect setting overlooking the Baie des Anges. Just a short distance from the snow-capped French Alps, the hotel sits directly at the heart of the famed Cote d'Azur. Behind the Art Deco facade, a gorgeous indoor/outdoor pool-- the pride of the hotel-- awaits. At Cedric Biron's signature restaurant, Le Padouk, you can dine on the terrace amidst the mandarin trees while savoring the panoramas of the Baie des Anges. Most of the 188 guest rooms have balconies with views over the sea and the surrounding city. There's also a casino, fitness center, sauna, and Turkish bath.