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    Shelby's Dubai Dairy

    'Shop 'til you drop' only begins to tell the story of world's largest malls: Skiing anyone?

    Shelby Hodge
    Mar 9, 2015 | 5:55 pm

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Leave the stilettos at home. A shopping trip to either of this Emirate's mega malls means two things — credit card frenzy and, rather than shop 'til you drop, it's walk 'til you drop. The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are the ultimate in conspicuous consumption play pens and they are enormous.

    Amid the myriad retail and culinary offerings, Mall of the Emirates, the senior of the two, boasts snow skiing and penguins while Dubai Mall with a vast aquarium and underwater zoo holds title as the largest mall in the world. One of my travel writing cohorts on this visit counted enough steps to equal no less than four miles trekking through the monster Dubai Mall.

    One of my travel writing cohorts on this visit counted enough steps to equal no less than four miles trekking through the monster Dubai Mall.

    You can spend millions on diamonds from Dhamani in Dubai Mall, less on silver plated flutes and piccolos from Sadek Music Centre and even less on costume jewelry sold in mid-mall kiosks. Dubai Mall houses the largest collection of fashion brands in the world.

    From eyewear to bridal, from exotic lingerie to sports attire, footwear, home furnishings, electronics, a florist, a day care center and even a dry cleaners — there is nothing left to be desired, except perhaps a golf cart to peruse the vast expanse of buying opportunities.

    On my visit, I dropped into famed French retailer Galeries Lafayette to pick up Laura Mercier cosmetics, founded by a Houstonian. In another part of the mall, I purchased — for a song — a ravishing, beaded silk caftan from India. And I window shopped for hours.

    Across Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates, which held first place as the world's largest mall until the opening of Dubai Mall, I checked out the skiing experience. You cannot imagine it until you see it. Some five and a half acres of ski terrain with chair lifts, ski instructors, snow boarding, a winter wonderland and a village of penguins — on the edge of the dessert. Mind-boggling, yes.

    But sitting in the aprés ski bar overlooking the slopes, one's mind could be tricked. The millionaire Emiratis suiting up and soaring across the steep terrain, kids learning the snow plow and others schussing down the slopes was Aspen all over gain, well, sort of.

    Dubai Mall by the numbers:

    1,200 shops and counting

    150 food outlets, ranging from food courts to fine dining establishments

    $20 billion, the cost of the Downtown Burj Khalifa development that includes the mall

    440,000 square-foot fashion avenue

    22 screens in the Reel Theater

    33,000 sea creatures live in the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

    Mall of the Emirates by the numbers:

    460 retail shops and counting

    90 places for food and drink ranging from food courts to fine dining

    $800 million, cost of building the mall which opened in 2005 (until opening of Dubai Mall, it claimed to be the largest in the world)

    14 screens in VOX Cinemas

    22,500 square meters (or approximately 5.5 acres) of ski slopes

    Every January, the Emirate celebrates the power of purchasing with the Dubai Shopping Festival, which includes major sales as well as musical entertainments, sports activities, fashion events and more.

    This is the last in a seven-day series. To start at the beginning of Shelby's Dubai Diary, click here. Shelby Hodge's trip to Dubai was hosted by Emirates Airline.

    Directional signs in Dubai Mall tell all.

    News, Shelby, Dubai Mall, Feb. 2015
      
    Photo by Shelby Hodge
    Directional signs in Dubai Mall tell all.
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    Where to travel right now

    Hill Country's historic spa reopens + 10 more Texas travel ideas for June

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 3, 2025 | 9:15 am
    Ottine Mineral Springs pool
    Photo by David Brendan Hall
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    Texas, it's time to make those summer vacation plans. June is shaping up to be a big month full of travel ideas, from fun wine tastings in Austin to a lively mural festival on the coast. There's also plenty to explore at home in Houston, such as a Japanese culture festival. Here are our top picks for summer travel events, hotel deals, and more in June.

    Austin

    The Loren Hotel is introducing two new wine programs this summer, open to all visitors. The "Boxed or Bougie" wine tastings will be offered on the first Saturday of each month, starting June 7, where guests can taste different wines to discover if fine wine is worth the price tag. On the second and third Saturdays of each month, the hotel will host "Varietal Wine Tastings" with different themes to spotlight wine regions, flavor profiles, and winemaking styles. Since June 14 is National Rosé Day, the first varietal tasting will focus on rosés. Both programs are free to the public and events will be held from 3-5 pm in the hotel lobby.

    Nearly 30 participating Texas Hill Country Wineries will hit the highway for an Austin Road Show at the Austin Central Library. Attendees will get to meet the owners, winemakers, and managers behind some of the Hill Country's most successful vineyards while tasting new wines and dining on charcuterie. Guests will also receive a take-home event wine glass. The Austin Road Show event will be held from 5:30-8 pm on Friday, June 27. Tickets are $60 per person.

    Central Texas

    Floating down the Comal, San Marcos, or Pedernales Rivers while enjoying the scenery and the cool water is a perfect way to spend a hot afternoon this summer. People travel to the Central Texas area every year to tube, and locals love it, as well. However, it's not without dangers, rules, and guidelines that should be observed. Before setting off down the river, check out CultureMap's five essential tips for tubing this summer.

    There's a unique new spa making a splash in the small town of Gonzales: Ottine Mineral Springs is finally celebrating its grand reopening after undergoing an extensive renovation. The 40-acre historic site was previously home to two private mineral-fed pools, but now the property is dotted with five new pools of varying adjustable temperatures, outdoor dining options, saunas, cold plunges, cabanas, fire pits, and much more. Day passes are $65 on weekdays and $75 on weekends.

    Fredericksburg's beautiful new Albert Hotel, whichopened in January, is adding a new barbecue restaurant inspired by the area's German heritage. Junebug's BBQ will open Friday, June 6, serving barbecue classics such as brisket, pork ribs, house-made sausages, and more. Junebug's BBQ will have limited hours from June 6-9, serving food from 2 pm until it’s sold out. Starting June 12, Junebug’s will operate regular hours from Thursdays through Sundays, from 11 am until sold out.

    Junebug's BBQJunebug's BBQ is ready to open at the Albert Hotel. junebugsbbq.com

    TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines' signature restaurant Magnolia Table in Waco has introduced a new summer menu, featuring dishes like a brunch slider flight and a spicy peach fizz mocktail. The nearby Silos Baking Co. and Magnolia Press café have also added new items on their seasonal summer menus, including a peaches and cream cupcake and a ham and cheddar croissant sandwich. Reservations for Magnolia Table can be made via OpenTable.

    Houston

    Texas-based luxury bus service Vonlane will debut daily service between Dallas and The Woodlands on Friday, June 13. The new route will pick up travelers at Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center and drop off at Dallas' Doubletree Love Field hotel. The ride will take 3 hours and 15 minutes. This will be a second Houston-area destination for Dallas, as Vonlane already offers service to downtown Houston. Tickets can be booked online; fares are a flat rate of $125 for one-way trips with advance purchase. No taxes, baggage fees, or change fees apply.

    Tokyo X, one of Houston's premier celebrations of Japanese culture, is returning to NRG Center from June 14-15, promising celebrities, food, martial arts, anime, and more. Highlights of the festival include the Hot Import Nights Japanese car show series, a ramen showdown, and an anime convention featuring cosplay contests, panels, and voice actor appearances. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite. Saturday tickets are $36.22 per person, Sunday tickets are $ 30.48 per person, and two-day badges are $59.21 per person.

    Along the Gulf Coast

    The coastal city of Corpus Christi will celebrate its annual Mural Fest during the first week of June, showcasing its colorful large-scale murals in the Marina Arts District. During the Artist Week days from June 2-5, visitors can take self-guided tours to watch artists paint murals live throughout downtown, and collect "artographs." The festival will draw to a close on Saturday, June 7, with a block party on South Chaparral Street from 3-9 pm. More information about daily events during Mural Fest can be found via Visit Corpus Christi.

    Mural Fest in Corpus ChristiMural Fest will take place during the first week of June in downtown Corpus Christi. Photo courtesy of Visit Corpus Christi

    Across Dallas-Fort Worth

    A long anticipated Fort Worth hotel and restaurant have arrived: The Nobleman Fort Worth, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and the hotel’s in-house restaurant Duchess, have opened at 503 Bryan Ave., with fabulous accommodations and food from celebrity chef Casey Thompson. The property has 121 guest rooms and 32 extended-stay suites with kitchenettes. Hotel amenities include a pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, and 2,000 square feet of meeting and outdoor event spaces, along with terraces. Nightly rates begin at $162 in June.

    Dallas' Perot Museum of Nature and Science recently reopened the Moody Family Children's Museum, unveiling an extensively renovated 11,000-square-foot space sprawling with educational and science-centered activities. Among the new areas for children to explore are an immersive multi-sensory Imaginarium, an expanded toddler area, a hands-on maker area, an open-air outdoor space, and a fiber art playscape created by Toshiko MacAdam. Non-member general admission to the Perot Museum ($15 for children aged 2-12, and $25 for adults and children 13 and older) also includes access to the children's museum.

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