What do the words Austin, Texas make you think of? Music? Cowboys? Richard Linklater? Okay, fair enough, but what if I told you sushi? Its true, mixed up with all the BBQ, steaks and Mexican food is the amazing sushi restaurant Uchi. We know what you are thinking, “It must be good for Texas sushi standards’, but this sushi bar is amazing. A renovated old house just south of the river and across the street from the landmark Alamo Draft House theater (another Austin gem) provides great interior design to chow down colorful fish. Recent Iron Chef contestant Tyson Cole heads up the creative dishes that look like little pieces of art (and for the price it may as well be art). If you are in Austin and need your Japanese cusine itch scratched, Uchi can do that and them some. Just don’t expect a table when you head down for SXSW.

Even if you don’t travel a lot, you’re probably already familiar with the following stereotypical image of an eco-conscious traveler: Birkenstocks on calloused feet, an unruly mane and facial hair, reeking of patchouli, and vegetarian. I swear on my mother’s name: I’ve actually met a few with the magic amalgamation of these characteristics in the flesh and blood in my backpacking days, poked and sniffed them, and saw they were for real. But it was inevitable this type of approach to living on the road would earn a clean shave and a new image.

Wend Magazine’s focus stems from adventure travel high on activism. This is no do-gooder magazine though. Told through first-person narratives, travelers share their stories straight-up, from a trip through the Sahara desert to climbing in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. It’s obvious that the stories are chosen for their inspirational factor, but in the end the overall concept is to be applauded, even if the design needs to be improved a little bit. Head to the site to get a free look at their latest issue, but subscriptions (printed on sustainably harvested wood, no less) are available to the electronic-averse.

We like mixing up a bit of modern design culture with the great historic architecture. So when I heard that Hotel Josef just around the corner from Old Town Square in Prague was designed by London (though Czech nationality) architect Eva Jiricna I knew I had to stay there. The hotel had everything you would expect from a four star hotel: very helpful staff, gym, sauna, beautiful bar and breakfast — the typical amenities you can list off any given four star hotel website. But where Hotel Josef rises above the rest is in its attention to details. Beside being designed by one of the great contemporary architects of recent years, they completely cater to creative professionals: WiFi throughout the lounge and bar, high speed Internet and iPod docks in the room, and such progressive design you feel like your staying in a piece of art. If you make it to Prague we highly recommend checking out the Hotel Josef and if you are in the literary scene at all note that the Prague Writer's Festival is hosted by the hotel every year. If Hotel Josef is a little out of your budget, we wrote up the wonderfully beautiful Miss Sophie's Hostel a while back as well.

Check out some more pictures after the jump.

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If you’re looking for a practical bag for your laptop that doesn’t skimp on style, there’s a good chance you can find something in Tom Bihn’s vast array of potent portables. His latest creation, the Checkpoint Flyer Laptop Briefcase, is the fruit of five months of some serious design labor in response to the Transit Security Authority’s challenge to create a “checkpoint friendly” case to transport your precious wares. These suave satchels remove the hassle for both you and the security guard by allowing them to get a clean shot at the contents of your carry-on by keeping your laptop in a separate protective compartment and leaving the rest of your gear undisturbed as it passes through their x-ray machine. The bag is available in sizes accommodating most Apple laptops and also many PCs.

What happens when you let a bunch of contemporary artists invent carnival games? The V&A's Village Fête of course. For those non-Brits, a Fête is what we in America call a fair, except this is so much more proper and kooky. As with most things, the V&A is giving it a modern twist by hiring contemporary artists to supply some original games and activities. They've come up with helium fueled karaoke, anarchy topiary, human pinball and a few games involving breaking ceramics (I told you it was kooky). Have a look at the full list the activities and games and go play a game or two while the weather in London is nice. The Village Fête beings tonight and runs through the weekend.

Michael Mina’s Clock Bar is the newest collaboration between Mina and the Westin St. Francis, paying homage to the San Francisco hotel’s century-old tradition in Union Square. While the namesake — the Magneta grandfather clock — proudly stands outside the bar, the interior (designed by the Rockwell Group) is a modern throwback. Hand-woven metallic screens allude to the gold from the face of the clock, and the "speakeasy" cubby bar proudly shelves an amazing selection of premium alcohol. The aesthetic is phenomenal, but it’s the drinks that really steal the show. Head bartender, Marco "Cocktail Geek" Dionysos has created a deliciously complex cocktail menu. My favorite creation is also one of the most innovative. The refreshing "Chartreuse Swizzle" showcases the mastery of the very complicated ingredient: green chartreuse. The emphasis here is on local purveyors, with in-house preparation of the drink elements that use old school ingredients like egg whites. Marco's research spans his personal library of over 300 cocktail books, bringing classic cocktails back to their roots. Order the Aviation — a gin, maraschino liquor, lemon drink with crème de violette — and bask in its Lindberg-era glory. The Clock Bar just opened, but be certain that it’s only a matter of time until it’s the hottest spot in S.F.

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If you’ve ever wanted to add the fancy term “Hotelier” to your business card but lack the capital to actually open a hotel, here’s your chance. Our Planet Retreats, an eco-friendly company aimed at providing truly unique accommodations, is relying on donations from people just like you to get their project off the ground. For a scant $30 donation you can become a shareholder, creating a rare travel experiences for eco-tourists while boosting the local economy. Each retreat consists of 12 rooms that are more or less spheres in trees that house four people apiece, giving travelers an incomparable connection to their surroundings. Each retreat location comes with activities tailored to their environment: whale shark diving, bird watching, turtle conservation projects, or surfing, among others. The current goal is to set up four locations in Vanuatu, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea within the year. Maybe it’s time you got in on the ground floor.

Amy Martin designed these irreverent Time Travel Posters for McSweeney’s 826LA and the newest branch of the non-profit literary institution, the Echo Park Time Travel Mart in Los Angeles. With tongue wedged deeply into cheek, the voyage-themed posters feature vintage-feeling graphics paired with sayings like “Enjoy Fantastic Feudal Japan” and “Ice Age: A Winter Wonderland All Year Round!” They’d make a great present for a frequent traveler who runs into tacky vacation ads all too often. They cost only $19.99 each, but if you get all five in the collection, 826LA will take $10 off. All proceeds, as usual, will go to the organization. They go on display at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart tomorrow.

Most motels across the country are unique reminders of an era in roadside elegance long gone. Their rooms are adorned by Bob Ross-esque landscape paintings and beds that vibrate for the small fee of a nickel. The Presidio Motel seeks to bring the American travel outpost up to date. Each of the recently relaunched Santa Barbara, California motel’s rooms break the cookie-cutter mold with distinct vinyl sticker art installations courtesy of Kat Trajano and Stephanie Mansolf, as well as stylish modern furnishings, adding 21st-century appeal to a mid 20th-century staple. If you happen to drive by on your way to San Francisco you may want to stop in for a stay.

One way to get the key to New York City is to get on Mayor Bloomberg’s good side. But if sucking up to politicians isn’t your style, might we suggest checking out Urban Daddy’s new Keys To The City microsite? If you really want to get the lowdown on the all of the secret nooks and hottest spots (and more than a bit of product placement) in “the city that never sleeps” from the people that know it best, then look no further. The site contains exclusive interviews from nightlife impresarios and famed restaurateurs such as David Sarner, Jeffrey Chodorow, Kyky and Uniq, who provide insight to the city as only they can. So if you’re looking for a hot evening of dancing or just the perfect place to get a clam pizza, we suggest letting Urban Daddy unlock the door.

We’ve written about plenty of travel guides, but this time we thought a) what’s one more? and b) it’s free! Whether you have a hankering for a happening lounge or a dose of architectural innovation in a distant land, Turnleft has got you covered. While their sphere of tourist influence currently only encompasses Paris, Helsinki, Amsterdam, and Berlin, the around-the-world adventure advice guides will be expanding their reach from the Americas to Scandinavia shortly. Pretty soon you’ll be able to find a tasty concept restaurant in Reykjavik or a dope design spot in Denmark. Did we mention it’s free?

I’ve been collecting the frequent flyer miles, and right now I’m in Rome for the next week (for the first time). I’m here because on Thursday I’m speaking at the TTI/Vanguard conference about the future of the social web, this new group of humans called Born Digitals, etc. The speaker lineup is pretty great, and I’m humbled to be here. But, like any good globe trotter, I’ve got some time to burn this trip (by design), and I have planned, wait for it, yep– nothing. Why would I come to Rome with nothing planned? Well, I figured a few of my faithful readers have been here and can lend a hand in recommendations. Where should I eat? What should I visit (other than the obvious city attractions?) Where should I shop? Who wants to get gelato with me? Drop me a note or leave a comment below. Ciao!

Fodor’s and Lonely Planet do an admirable job of helping first timers get around unfamiliar locales, but what about repeat visitors? After the obvious museums and landmarks, there are still plenty of cultural must sees and dos that escape our vacation radar. Le Cool publishing have found a way to bring all of the missing links of leisure to the attention of the jaded jetset. On the heels of their hometown “A Weird and Wonderful Guide To Barcelona”, the Spanish publishers have released four graphic guides: Amsterdam, Lisbon, London, and Madrid. They feature the work of top designers and insiders who find hidden gems in these Euro cities, and prove that while they may have been there, they might not necessarily have done that.

You’ve lived it up in London, found romance in Rome, and even wandered into a tourist trap in Turkey. So what’s next, you international traveler you? You could take photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa or eat brunch in Barcelona, but that’s all been done before. Why not try a little something off the beaten path? If you’re looking for a bizarre travel suggestion that doubles as an incomparable life experience, we suggest checking in with Urbane Nomads. The self-proclaimed “travel mixologists” specialize in creating unique itineraries for those who think they’ve seen it all, but ain’t seen nothin’ yet. So if you’ve ever imagined yourself playing polo in Pakistan or at a spa in Sri Lanka, your window of opportunity is wide open.

Most guide books are, well, dull. And even if you think you’ve picked the “local” spots, you’re likely to end up at the same bar or strip club with all the other tourists. Lame. But check out the new book Art Space Tokyo, and you’ll be able to really find what you’ve been looking for — at least in Japan.

The book introduces you to the neighborhoods that house the most important art galleries in the city by pairing illustrations by artists such as Nobumasa Takahashi and Craig Mod, with insightful descriptions of the areas and suggestions of spots to check out. Follow it, and we doubt you’ll run into any loud, gum-smacking tourists.