Travel

(CNN) — With its tropical islands, rice paddies, tea plantations, rugged mountains and sprawling megacities, Asia is a wonderland of diverse destinations. Among the mix, travelers can discover charming towns that deliver big on romance, history and beauty. Whether you’re looking for the grandeur of colonial-era architecture, stunning scenery or remote cultural immersion, here are

Vienna, Austria (CNN) — You may think you are entering an extremely charming old-fashioned café when you step into Vollpension in Vienna. The furniture is worn but inviting. The walls are covered by framed portraits and other art. Lace doilies, tiny vases and cute animal figurines evoke a room with warm family memories. This could

Salina, Sicily (CNN) — As the hydrofoil approaches Salina, the second-largest island of Sicily’s Aeolian archipelago, it’s not hard to understand why Michael Redford and Massimo Troisi chose it to shoot many scenes of “Il Postino” (The Postman). The 1994 film won an Academy Award for its tale about falling in love with poetry, and,

(CNN) — It’s among every beachgoer’s worst nightmares — returning to your spot, dripping wet, to discover that your belongings, including your clothes, have been stolen. To help conquer such beachside embarrassment, police in Barcelona have been issuing emergency clothing kits to bathers caught short by theft while enjoying the city’s shoreline. Police have been

Editor’s Note — CNN Travel’s series often carry sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However, CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy. (CNN) — Driving through the beautiful, winding country lanes of Georgia’s remote, western Imereti region is an immensely pleasurable travel experience — but not

(CNN) — Wild, weird, wonderful… there are many ways to describe the Crazy House (also known as Hang Nga Guesthouse) in Dalat, a relaxed mountain resort town in southern Vietnam. One thing’s for sure: This “crazy” complex is one of a kind. Standing in stark contrast to Dalat’s French colonial villas, the bizarre avant garde

Anaheim, California (CNN) — Visitors to Disney’s “Star Wars”-themed land in Orlando can stay immersed in a galaxy far, far away by spending two nights in a themed hotel that will be called “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.” Details about the project were part of a two-hour presentation on Disney Parks & Experiences at the company’s

(Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (CNN) — On August 25, 1919 the first regular international passenger air service took place between London, England and Paris, France. This fledgling flight, operated by Air Transport & Travel Ltd (AT&T) — a forerunner of British Airways (BA) — took off from Hounslow Heath, not far from what’s now

Andrew Aitchison/Getty Images (CNN) — The world’s first solar farm to directly power a railway line has been plugged in — a development that could lay the foundations for the world’s first solar-powered trains. Social enterprise Riding Sunbeams has installed about 100 solar panels near a train station in Aldershot, southeast England. Energy captured by

(CNN) — The deep dive into depression hits me the second I turn the key to my front door. The vacation is over. And I’m so bummed. I feel a distressing weight pressing on my chest, the dread of enduring this ennui and the existential dread of day-to-day routines. Why is life so hard? Why

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took their family on economy airline FlyBe for a flight from Norwich in eastern England to Aberdeen on Scotland’s east coast. They were traveling to Queen Elizabeth’s summer residence of Balmoral Castle, Reuters news agency reported. “We were delighted to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their

(CNN) — Regular nonstop flights between the east coast of Australia and London or New York could soon become a reality. In preparation, Australian airline Qantas has announced three test flights, with 40 people traveling directly from London or New York to Sydney, to see how the human body copes with 19 solid hours in

Two cycads (cycas revoluta), a type of primitive plant that dominated the Earth’s flora 280 million years ago, have produced cones on the cliffs of a botanic garden on the Isle of Wight, off England’s south coast. “This can be seen as further evidence from the plant kingdom of climate change in action. Certainly this

Nepalese authorities said they will ban plastic soft drink bottles and single-use plastics under 30 microns thick (0.0012 inches, or 0.03 millimeter) in the Khumbu region, which is home to Everest. The ban will prevent hikers from bringing the plastic goods in — and stop shops from selling them. The rules won’t come into effect

Marieta Islands, Mexico (CNN) — When the Mexican military used the Marieta Islands for target practice in the early 1900s, little did they know their efforts would lead to the creation of a future tourist destination. But, in fact, repeated bombings on the islands are thought to have created what is now known as Hidden

A series of five dives were completed this month by an exploration team from Triton Submarines to the spot 370 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada, and 4,000 meters below the surface where the ship deemed “unsinkable” now rests, according to a release from Triton. A team of experts, scientists and a National Ocean and Atmospheric

(CNN) — If taking time to enjoy nature in Michigan’s state parks wasn’t relaxing enough, you can now add a little Bob Ross to your experience. For its 100th birthday, the parks system is partnering with Bob Ross Inc. to help the “happy little trees.” Michigan’s “prison grow” program will be renamed in honor of

(CNN) — Air travelers to and from the City by the Bay will now experience water in new ways. The airport is adding plastic water bottles to its list of restricted food service items as part of an effort to become the world’s first zero-waste airport by 2021. According to the nonprofit Zero Waste Alliance,

(CNN) — Venice has spent the last few years trying to curb the overtourism that has plagued it. But now Italy’s famed city of canals has taken action against a bridge that isn’t capable of handling the tourists they already have. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has been fined €78,000 ($86,000) for what the city deemed

While with family members in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, a mountainous region on the border of Montana and Idaho, Laga’s brother’s horse went lame. Laga, the strongest hiker of the group, offered to switch with his brother and walk. He volunteered to walk ahead of the group toward the trailhead but made a wrong turn and