Fodor's Expert Review Palm Jumeirah

Dubai's first foray into large-scale coastline extension, Palm Jumeirah caught the world's attention when plans were announced in 2001. The development was Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum's solution to the area's shortage of beachfront and was created by taking land from the seabed to build new communities. Shaped as a date palm tree, the 1.2 mile-long trunk protrudes from the mainland and its 17 palm fronds sit in a shallow lagoon surrounded by a protective outer crescent. Palm Jumeirah is a self-contained residential district that combines private villas and apartments with luxury hotels, shopping, and entertainment districts. As a visitor you can't access the residential areas, but the monorail can take you down the trunk and drop you at Atlantis hotel. From here you can see the sun set over the Arabian Gulf from the boardwalk on the outer crescent. There are food trucks there in nice weather if you want to stroll and make an evening of it, or you might want to dine in one of the many hotel restaurants.