BEAUTIFUL HOTELS

New York native and author Nora Ephron once said, "I look out the window, and I see the lights and the skyline and the people on the street rushing around looking for action, love, and the world's greatest chocolate chip cookie, and my heart does a little dance" — and the William Vale hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn makes it easy for guests to experience a bit of that magic. Each of its 183 luxury rooms features an open-air balcony tailor-made for taking in sprawling views of the New York City skyline, as well as for watching the visitors and locals below traverse the hip neighborhood in search of their new favorite restaurant, bar, shop, or concert venue. The hotel also features the largest hotel pool in Brooklyn, lauded local artwork, and two restaurants — Westlight, located on the hotel's 22nd-floor, not only serves up tasty bites and craft cocktails, but also some of the borough's best and highest views. Travel tip: If you do indeed happen to be in search of the best cookie in the city, head a few blocks south and see what you think of the options at Bakeri — a local favorite with cookies that have been debated as "the best" for ages. (