CNN Travel

Cannes may not spring to mind when seeking a restorative retreat, walks among ancient forests or a spot of bird-watching. But a 15-minute ferry ride from the splashy Riviera resort drops you at the tranquil Îles de Lérins, twin emerald islands in France where all the pleasures of the great outdoors await.

For most chefs, the award of an illustrious Michelin star is a dream come true.

The dancing begins almost as soon as the sun sets on Sanya, in southern Hainan.

The first thing you see when you step into the lobby of the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is what can only be described as floral shock and awe.

Florist to the stars Jeff Leatham, who works at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, shares his process for making an elegant statement with flowers.

Ton That Anh looks perturbed ... and it's not just because I'm umm-ing and ah-ing about which of his handmade acoustic guitars to buy.

The Inn at Dos Brisas outside Houston offers guests private haciendas, horses and miles of trails, shotgun lessons and the only Forbes 5-Star restaurant in the state.

Elite Escapes looks at golfing in the Canadian Rockies, where the surroundings are even more gorgeous than the game.

The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, billed as the world's longest outdoor escalator system, can ease the aching feet and legs of Hong Kong tourists.

In a city where a bowl of noodles doesn't usually cost more than $6, a shop in Taipei has been charging $325, or TWD10,000, for its beef noodle soup -- and diners are happily paying for it.

Locals call them the "shape-shifting" or "floating" islands.

Abandoned Berlin is a website and book that explores forgotten places in Germany's capital. Ciarán Fahey, an Irish journalist, explains the story.

Fresh, wholesome, healthy, rich, aromatic -- it's no wonder that the past decade has seen Middle Eastern cuisine's global profile skyrocketing.

The leisure safari was born in the 1920s when well-heeled Europeans and Americans flocked to Africa to see (and shoot) the remarkable wildlife.