The Good Life

Visit the Museum of Scotland for an impressive collection that covers the country's history, from its geological origins to its contemporary art. (Chambers Street. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free admission.)

See the 17th-century Royal Botanic Garden, where you can witness nature's wonders in the Glasshouses and the Orchid and Cycad house. ( rbge.org.uk . Open daily ; free admission.)

-- Amber Haq

Restaurante Arzak

San Sebastian, Spain

Chef Juan Mari Arzak and his daughter, Elena, are heirs to one of Europe's greatest gastronomic institutions. Juan's grandparents opened Arzak in the elegant seaside village of San Sebastián in 1897. Today, boasting three rosettes, it's a mecca for gourmets craving innovative cuisine crafted from the finest traditional Basque ingredients.