This week’s roundup of travel stories highlights Asia’s top foodie spots, America’s best towns to visit in 2026, and the special dishes that have powered London’s oldest restaurants for centuries.
Founded in 1798 by Thomas Rule, London’s Rule restaurant has welcomed everyone from literary giant Charles Dickens to the queen of pop, Madonna, over its 228 years.
A bright red flag and gold-trimmed awning identify this historic restaurant in Covent Garden. When you enter the store, you are immediately transported to another era. Every inch of the wall is covered with vintage mirrors, statues and busts, alongside countless drawings, cartoons and paintings.
Golden stenciled letters on the window: “Oyster, Pie, Pudding.” — provides an overview of the traditional British cuisine on offer. From rabbit to guinea fowl, we sell more game than any other restaurant in the UK, and when it comes to desserts we’re truly old-school. Feast your eyes here.
Harry Potter fans save Dobby’s ‘grave’
Former project manager Simon Ludlum said Harry Potter fans rescued Dobby’s “grave” from an undersea cable that ran directly through the memorial site. The Greenlink interconnector line was rerouted after the company received hundreds of calls protesting the route. CNN’s Ivana Scatola reports.
The Rules dining room has played starring roles in numerous films and television shows, from Downton Abbey to the James Bond film Spectre.
Elsewhere in the UK, Harry Potter fans recently saved a monument to the “grave” of the fictional character Dobby on the coast of Wales. An undersea cable for a power project was scheduled to run straight through the popular rock pile, but protesters weren’t having it.
“Traitor: The New Blood,” which airs in the U.S. later this month, is the first fully civilian version of the show, hosted by Alan Cumming, and like other seasons, it was filmed in the Scottish Highlands. CNN subscribers can watch Cumming explore the Highlands in the opening episode of the 2025 travel series “My Happy Place.” Stream it now.
Lucknow is considered by many Indians to be one of India’s greatest gastronomic capitals, but beyond its borders in South Asia, the city is largely absent from the global food conversation.
But all that could change after UNESCO designated Lucknow, the capital of northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state, as a creative city of gastronomy last year. Let’s go there while it’s hot.
A little further east, Indonesia is experiencing a fine dining revolution. While the world has fallen in love with the archipelago’s humble street food in recent decades, a growing number of modern chefs are seeking to elevate the country’s cuisine on the world stage. It means reimagining famous spices into sophisticated, high-level experiences while sharing the story of Indonesian flavor through a different lens.
Welcome to the circus capital of the world
Welcome to the circus capital of the world
2:30
We’ve finished our countdown of America’s best towns to visit in 2026, and Sarasota, Florida came in at number one.
This Gulf Coast city is Florida’s arts capital, with a cultural complex that grew out of the estate of circus mogul John Ringling. Unusual gardens and beautiful beaches make for a sophisticated and cultural holiday where you can also enjoy the sun and surf.
Here’s a complete summary of the 2026 All-Star list: 10th place goes to Roanoke, Virginia. Lawrence, Kansas, 9th place; 8th place goes to Iowa City, Iowa. Juneau, Alaska, 7th place. Burlington, Vermont, ranked 6th. Fort Collins, Colorado, ranked fifth. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 4th place; Third place goes to Greenville, South Carolina. In second place was New Haven, Connecticut.
This job is for birds only.
A seagull named Roger works on the docks as an unofficial “security guard.” Look here.
I don’t think I’m ready to eat this jelly.
These stunning edible creations push wobbly treats to the limit.
What’s the secret behind the world’s most livable cities?
Change doesn’t happen overnight.
This is a commemorative coin. A cosmic milestone. Feminist icon.
What do you remember about that week?
