Dubai: Beyond the Stopover

1. Desert Safari: The traditional Emirati culture is often hard to find in Dubai due to the demographics of the city. Take a day to ride in an open jeep (or on a camel back), eat a traditional feast starting with Arabic coffee and dates, observe a falconry display and even camp in the desert. There are many desert safari tour operators; I recommend that offered by Platinum Heritage.

2. Dubai Mall: It's not just a mall. It has an aquarium. It has a ski slope. It has a scuba diving tank. And every night starting at 6:00 pm, there's a water fountain that shoots water 140 meters into the air amid an overwhelming light show.

3. Dubai "Brunch": They do brunch a little differently here. Instead of a late Sunday morning meal, this usually takes place on Friday nights. It's an extravagant, all you can eat feast, usually including alcohol and often with live music. Prices are flat rate and average around 400 AED.

4. Expo City: This massive development, including a new monorail stop, was built for the World Expo held from October 2021 to March 2022. Many of the individual country 'pavilions' remain, as do restaurants and other attractions. The village is free to explore but there is a 50 AED entry fee for most exhibits.

5. City Walk: An outdoor shopping mall with a movie theater and a plethora of outdoor dining options. Also, it's very kid-friendly.

6. Beach Clubs: The man-made Palm Jumeriah Islands and adjacent Marina district is covered in a plethora of public beach clubs. Pay a moderate entry fee, and spend the rest of the day being served prosecco on a daybed or bean bag chair. Soul Beach, Koko, February 30 and San Beach are just a few examples. The only catch is that beach season in Dubai is approximately October through April, with temperatures averaging in the 80's. Go in the height of summer and there isn't enough sunscreen in the world to protect you.

7. Bur Dubai: This neighborhood north of downtown looks very different from the Dubai you see on postcards. There's a lot of things that should be mentioned here: the Al Fahidi historical district where you can find preserved architecture and a number of historical museums, the Old Souks, a collection of trade stalls where you can buy local textiles and spices and a ride across the Dubai Creek on an abra.

8. Jumeirah Mosque: An essential cultural experience, this is one of a few mosques in the city that will allow entry to non-Muslims. Visitors will remove their shoes and women should wear a head scarf, but if you don't have one, one will be provided to you. The tour concludes with a truly informative and non-judgmental Q&A session.

Day Trips:

Abu Dhabi

The capital of the United Arab Emirates is a two hour bus ride away from Dubai and is worth the trip to see two iconic buildings. Tour the Emirates Palace (kind of equivalent to the White House) to see the Great Hall and its 200 foot high domed ceilings and marble panel walls. Just a couple of miles away, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque will blow you away with its imposing Ottoman inspired architecture and gold encrusted mosaics. Both will have you staring up at the ceilings in awe for long enough that your neck hurts.

Hatta

Rent a car and get out of the city to Hatta, a village in the mountains two hours from Dubai. The lodging is a mix of single occupancy cabins, trailers or domes but with all the typical amenities you would find in a hotel. There are many trails for hiking and mountain biking; the most popular one being a hike to the 'Hatta' sign (a clear homage to the Hollywood sign). Also accessible from the resort is kayaking on the lake formed by Hatta Dam and countless other outdoor activities.

1. Arabian Tea House: A visit to Bur Dubai should definitely include lunch at this traditional Emirati restaurant.

2. Amazonico: With an original location in Madrid, they serve excellent Latin American food in a dining room with lush tropical décor. The rooftop bar has its own DJ and turns into a club atmosphere late at night.

3. Zuma: A Japanese restaurant with an opulent dining room and several tasting menu options.

4. Karma Kafe: Swanky Asian restaurant with views of the Dubai Fountain and also great brunch deals.

5. Leila: Authentic Lebanese food in a casual setting.

6. BOCA: Modern Spanish restaurant sourcing locally grown ingredients.

7. The Maine: Classic seafood and steak with extensive raw bar options and inspired by the owner's visits to coastal Maine.

8. Zaroob: Great fast-casual Lebanese food. A cheap meal in a city where cheap is hard to find.

9. Bahri Bar: It's hard to even get close to the world's first seven star hotel. You need a reservation at one of its restaurants, but instead of spending an exorbitant amount of money at Skyview bar, come here and sit outside for views of the Burj Al Arab itself.