National Harbor - the city built along Potomac River in Oxon Hill (Maryland, USA) is attracting people from everywhere with it's fine food, music shows, art museums and views of the starting-to-get-crowded marina.

Ovetta Wiggins wrote at The Washington Post:

Visitors stroll along the pier, some stopping to take a water taxi to Alexandria or Georgetown. Art lovers gaze at pieces in two galleries. And, near the plaza, children climb over "The Awakening," the massive sculpture that was uprooted from its longtime home in Hains Point.

This is National Harbor, the little city being built by Milton Peterson along the banks of the Potomac River in Oxon Hill, where yachts are filling the marina.

The city is slowly taking shape.

I've got cousins near Alexandria Virginia and I guess they've been to National Harbor already. Definitely one place to check out.

[In Photo: The giant sculpture "The Awakening" at the Potomac River banks in Oxon Hill. Credit: The Washington Post]

At least some good news for actor Wesley Snipes. He has been allowed to travel abroad for work (do movies) while his lawyers are left behind to fight his tax convictions.

Federal judge William Terrell Hodges on Wednesday approved the actor's motion to travel to London and Bangkok, Thailand. Snipes will be in England about three days this month for post-production editing of "Gallowwalker," and in Thailand for eight weeks to film "Chasing the Dragon."

Read more from The Associated Press.

Photo Credit: AP

Want to stay in one of the world's tallest buildings? Soon, you can.

The Park Hyatt Shanghai is scheduled to open this Fall and boasts of 174 rooms. It is 492 meters and 101 storeys tall. The new hotel will be one of the tallest buildings in the world, and is designed by New-York based designer Tony Chi.

The hotel is located from the 79th to 93rd floors of the Shangai World Financial Center, otherwise known as "The Vertical Complex City". Situated in the heart of the Lujiazui business district in Pudong. The hotel will be the highest hotel in the world.

The interiors will showcase a sophisticated modern-Chinese residence, a calm and spiritual sanctuary where guests can practice tai chi or play Chinese chess in the courtyards.

Visit http://shanghai.park.hyatt.com for more information and to book.

Now environmentalists need not only go to Borneo to see some of the world's most elusive flora and fauna. Fregate Island, which is a private island of amazing natural beauty, is located in the Seychelles.

Among its numerous bird species is the delicate pirate of the air: the fregate bird, which is unable to swim or land on water. It skillfully steals the booty of other seabirds.

The island is 20 minutes by flight from the Seychelles island of Mahé in the Indian Ocean. It's only three square kilometers and is the most remote and secluded of the Seychelles granite islands.

The island boasts some of the world's most unique flora and fauna, and there are no more than 40 guests on the place at any given time. You can also get married here! A chapel and exquisite culinary fare makes this island a trip you will remember forever. www.fregate.com

Going to Orlando, Florida? Add one more luxury hotel to your list of choices. Art lovers will rejoice at the opening of the Mona Lisa Suite Hotel in Celebration, FL. The 240 room hotel is 10 minutes away from the Walt Disney World Theme Parks, and has a clean simplicity reminiscent of a Caribbean oasis.

There is a lush gold course, a lot of well manicured gardens, and rich textures, including polished wood and glass, and burnished metals that create an eclectic blend of modern and contemporary design. Oversized interpretations of well-known masters' artwork have been meticulously recreated by professional Chinese artist and are featured on each floor.

It opened in May.

There are also spacious balconies overlooking the hotel's infinity pool. All rooms have beds fitted with crisp, 350 thread-count, 100-percent Egyptian cotton Frette duvets and linens.

Art lovers can set up meetings in the Da Vinci room.

Reservations at the Mona Lisa Suite Hotel or any WORLDHOTELS' location can be made online at www.worldhotels.com

The Georgetown Business Improvement District just relaunched its web site and in conjunction, is giving visitors a chance to experience the city in a luxurious giveaway.

Valued at over $5,500, the Weekend Getaway Grand Prize includes:

- Three-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, a AAA Five Diamond boutique hotel located within a National Historic Landmark
- Roundtrip chauffeur service from Dulles International or Regan National Airport by Capital Dream Cars
- $1,000 shopping spree with gift certificates from Cusp, a Neiman Marcus' trend-setting boutique; Random Harvest, a home furnishings store; L'Eclat de Verre, a French framing shop; and Richey & Company, a high-end designer brand shoe store
- $500 of beauty care services provided by ILO Day Spa and Erwin Gomez Salon & Spa, and passes to Georgetown Yoga
- Dinner at 1789 Restaurant, selected by Gourmet readers as one of "America's Top Tables," and a full tasting dinner from Mie N Yu's global menu; lunch at Leopold's Kafe, a contemporary adaptation of an Austrian konditorei; breakfast or lunch at Patisserie Poupon, an authentic French bakery; and Sunday brunch at the original Clyde's of Georgetown, a local legend.
- Passes to historic Georgetown attractions, Tudor Place and Dumbarton House





Enter online at www.georgetowndc.com until August 31, 2008. The grand-prize winner selected at random and announced September 15, 2008. Complete sweepstakes details are available online.