Western Europe recorded another exceptionally hot June, and climate adaptation is becoming a major issue for tourism. Research cited in recent reporting found 81% of Europeans are adjusting travel plans because of climate change, with many seeking cooler destinations or avoiding extreme summer heat.

In the 1930s, more than 200,000 people traveled Route 66 to escape drought, debt and hardship. A century later, travelers follow the same highway for strikingly different reasons: nostalgia, history and the chance to experience one of America's most iconic roads.

The Land of Oz opened on Beech Mountain in 1970, drawing families to the high-elevation North Carolina town for a decade before it closed in 1980. Each September, the yellow brick road opens again.

In 2026, many industry experts say luxury travel is less about doing or spending more, and more focused on quality of the experience and how the vacationers feel after the trip. While some travel predictions just point to places that look good on a map, a new hotel opening, a rare solar eclipse, or a growing culinary scene could be enough to move a destination onto travelers' short lists.