Out and about: London's newest architectural gem

When you survey the travel world these days, there are fewer people out there working to—you know—show some love. Airlines are one-upping each other in the race to nickel-and-dime. Cruises are having an aha moment about the fact that they, too, should be charging fuel supplements ("That fuel is expensive!"). And we won't even get into the fact that finding a vacation option now involves a carpal-tunnel inducing 12 clicks online—meaning lots of your valuable time. Isn't this supposed to be vacation? Where's the warm-fuzzy fun? Turns out, hotels are stepping up to the plate. I found a hotel hitting the right note on a trip late last month to Beijing. (I was there to speak at the World Travel & Tourism Council's annual Global Travel & Tourism Summit). Upon landing after my 13-hour flight from New York, I stumbled into my hotel room at the Opposite House. I'd booked it in 4 clicks, the last of which was flash-sale discounter Jetsetter, where I got about 50 percent off the $250 rate I'd found elsewhere online. On my bedside table I spotted a little something with a yellow Post-it note attached, reading, "You must have had a very long day." It was a cooling facemask meant to help soothe and reduce puffiness, and I later learned that this is something that hotel, owned by Hong Kong-based Swire, does for absolutely everyone. They were right; I had had a long day, but that little touch completely turned it around. The result was sweet, subtle, and casually thoughtful in just the right way. A day later, at the WTTC conference, Hubert Joly, the President and CEO of Carlson Hotels, told me that a key initiative for the company, which owns Country Inn & Suites as well as Radisson and Park Inn, is something they're calling "hospitality empathy"—thoughtful touches, like that face mask, mean to make you feel considered, cared for, and understood. What's the latest hotel amenity that felt truly "empathetic"? I'd love to know the where, the when, and the how.

Have you ever wondered how it felt to be the first explorer to set foot on the South Pole a century ago? A new family-friendly exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, "Race to the End of the Earth," re-creates the epic battle between two explorers in 1911-1912 to be the first to make it to the South Pole, complete with hands-on interactive elements and rare historical artifacts from the expeditions (museum admission $16 adults, $9 kids). On display until January 2, 2011, the exhibit kicks off with a video introducing the two men, Norwegian Roald Amundsen and British Royal Navy Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and their missions, building suspense and ending with the question: Who will reach the South Pole first? As visitors exit that section, they receive a character card featuring a member of the British or Norwegian team and can look for clues about that person's experience throughout the rest of the exhibit. (I got the commander himself, Scott, who I learned was "intelligent, but sometimes short-tempered," and I was tasked with finding his goggles.) The exhibit then takes you through the events leading up to the race, including what life was like in each team's base camp on Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf as they waited out the winter before setting off on the 1,800-mile journey to the pole. (The camps were 400 miles apart, so neither team ever knew what the other was up to). Highlights include life-size re-creations of Scott's hut and of Amundsen's underground workrooms, accompanied by touch-screen virtual scrapbooks of photos and drawings by each team. Then it gets down to business: A side-by-side comparison of the teams shows just how many dogs, people, sledges, etc., each set off with, and a timeline follows the trail of their challenging, historic journeys, culminating in which one planted its flag in the ground first. (I won't spoil the "surprise" by revealing the victor, but a fun fact about the winning team was that when its members reached the pole and set up a tent to mark the spot, messages of congratulations fluttered from the seams of the tent—confident teammates who'd stayed behind at the camp had hidden the notes inside it months earlier.) The exhibit closes with an interactive personality test to see if you're cut out for life on the continent. Sample question: "Winds of up to 185 mph have been clocked in Antarctica, and the sound is intense. Would this bother you?" Uh, yeah! "Race to the End of the Earth" has appeal for adults and kids alike, reflected in a host of related special events the museum is offering. Adults can cool off from the summer heat during a night of "Polar Cocktails" inspired by Antarctic explorers, led by cocktail connoisseur David Wondrich and Momofuku Ssäm Bar mixologist Don Lee (Tuesday June 8, 6:30 p.m., $25 including tastings), while animal lovers of all ages can enjoy a wildlife program featuring live penguins with Jarod Miller, host of the TV show Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller (Saturday, July 10, 11 a.m.–noon and 1 p.m.–2 p.m., $12 adults, $10 kids). Fun, free activity while you're in the neighborhood: Spend some time in Central Park, which borders the eastern side of the American Museum of Natural History. amnh.org. EARLIER New York City: 5 perfect moments—for free! New York: Bicycling made easy

One of the best ways to get around New York City is not on four wheels. It's on two. Riding a bicycle may seem intimidating in Manhattan, with all of the crazy yellow cabs zooming about. But it can actually be a relaxed way to sightsee—if you stick to a few safe and scenic locations. Depending on the kind of ride you'd like to have, some trails may suit you better than others. Consider trying part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, a 32-mile bike trail that encircles nearly the entire island. Most of this scenic route runs along the shoreline, under several bridges, and winds through various parks. Drift off the path whenever you'd like to visit many of Manhattan's eclectic neighborhoods. Here is a bite-size stretch of the Greenway that I'd recommend: Start out at a café along the Hudson River on the Upper West Side, making your way down to Chelsea Piers and Battery Park, where you can take a breather by the docks. Then continue up the East Side, possibly stopping in Soho, the East Village, and Midtown. If a circuit around Manhattan doesn't sound like your cup of tea, try Central Park! This 50-block, nature haven is a biker's dream and offers its own set of bike trails, with varying levels of difficulty. The main Park Drives have three main long-distance routes: 6.1 mi., 5.2 mi., or 1.7 mi. There are also a number of shorter routes you can find by just crossing the Park. Keep in mind that the drives are closed to traffic (cars, not bikes) on Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and on weekends from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday. So plan your ride around these times if you don't want to be bothered by motorists. How to rent a bike: Go for a road bike if you're looking to fly like the wind, a mountain bike if you'd like tires wider than a pin needle for steadier balance when traveling slowly, or a hybrid. There are loads of places from which you can rent a two-wheeler. The average price tends to hover around $10/hour and $35-50/day. Bike New York has an annually updated list of rental shops and provides their locations, phone numbers, prices, and more. Hope to see you riding around town this summer! —Max Behrman MORE INFO New York City: Free bikes for downtown visitors Official biking laws (Yes, helmets are required) Official online bike maps for New York List of New York bike rental shops Central Park's bike trails

I still haven't shaken off the sticker shock of New York City, even though I've been living here since 2004. My Midwestern frugal instincts still bristle at $8 beers and $100-plus Broadway tickets. But thankfully, I've learned a thing or two since I moved here about sussing out the freebies. Earlier this month I divulged June's Five Best Values…and that got me thinking: Some of my all-time favorite NYC memories have taken place at free events. So here are five more free summer events worth checking out. 1. My first love in New York is still my favorite. I first caught the Siren Music Festival in 2003, when I arrived here as an intern (i.e. completely, entirely penniless). One Saturday, I wandered down to Coney Island to sightsee, and by chance, this concert series was going on that very day. I caught Modest Mouse, they were incredible, and I was hooked. Now, this is my don't-miss event every year. (I also love the excuse to make the hour-long subway trek to Coney Island, Brooklyn, my favorite wealth of kitsch in the world.) This year's festival, on July 17, will feature Matt and Kim—and more, soon to be announced at the official site. 2. Of all the things visitors love to do in NYC, seeing a Broadway show may be the priciest. Luckily, you can get a taste of the Great White Way for free at Broadway in Bryant Park. From 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the summer, the casts of four or so musicals perform a medley of songs from their show. Pick up lunch beforehand. My favorite cheap-eats spot near Bryant Park is Zeytinz: zeytinz.com. Broadway in Bryant Park 3. Every Monday evening, from June 21 – August 23, as part of the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, free classic movies are shown alfresco. The lawn opens at 5 p.m., and viewers bring blankets and picnic before the show starts at 8 o'clock. It's a great time to relax in my favorite vantage point of Midtown: the Empire State Building looms on one side, with the New York Public Library, old gold-and-black Bryant Park Hotel, and sloping, shiny Grace Building on the others. This summer's slate kicks off with Goldfinger, starring my man Sean Connery. bryantpark.org 4. On July 13–14, the New York Philharmonic performs a free evening concert on Central Park's Great Lawn. Music begins at 8 p.m., but get there early to snag some real-estate on the lawn; space fills up quickly. And stay 'til the end; there's always a fireworks show. 5. The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival features two days of free music in the neighborhoods where Parker lived and worked. On August 28, blues pianist McCoy Tyne plays in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park, followed by saxophonist James Moody playing on August 29 in the East Village's Tompkins Square Park. summerstage.org EARLIER June's Five Best Values See all of Andrea Minarcek's posts