Travel & Tourism

Chambersburg – September 24, 2026 -- Franklin County Visitors Bureau will host a two-day "Learn & Explore Weekend: Road to Freedom" on October 3-4, spotlighting the local history of John Brown, Frederick Douglass, and the raid on Harpers Ferry.

A bus tour retraces the county's role in the 1859 raid

The weekend opens Saturday, October 3, with "A Freedom Tour of Franklin County," running 9 AM to 3 PM. The bus tour stops at sites tied to the Underground Railroad, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, and the United States Colored Troops, including the Mary Ritner Boarding House, the capture site of John Cook, the home of bounty hunter Daniel Logan, Wertz Farm, and USCT cemeteries.

Fly Creek, N.Y. – September 23, 2026 -- Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard has been voted the Best Cidery in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, marking the second national #1 ranking for the Upstate New York destination in three years.

The historic mill, located three miles from Cooperstown, previously topped the same list in 2024 and placed third in 2025. The USA TODAY 10Best competition nominated leading cideries nationwide, with rankings decided entirely by public vote.

The mill still runs on 19th-century water power

Built in 1856, Fly Creek presses cider using an 1889 Boomer & Boschert rack-and-cloth press. The equipment is powered by an 1872 water turbine that harnesses a 10-foot head of water from the on-site Millpond, letting visitors watch cider being made the same way it was generations ago.

Big Bear Lake – September 23, 2026 -- Big Bear Valley will host a two-day community event, Wings Over Big Bear, on Oct. 3-4 to honor Jackie, the wild bald eagle who became a global icon through a live nest camera before her death in August.

Jackie made her home in Big Bear Valley and was followed by millions worldwide via the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest camera, where viewers watched her and her mate, Shadow, nest and raise their young above Big Bear Lake for years. In July, she was found weak and unable to fly near Big Bear Lake and was rescued. After more than three weeks of intensive care, treatment and testing, she died Aug. 10 at age 14.

Hanoi – September 23, 2026 -- Greenfield Dental, a clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam, has seen international patient volume grow over 300% since 2025, as rising dental costs in Western countries push patients abroad for care.

Western dental prices keep climbing while Vietnam holds steady

In the United Kingdom, the majority of dental practices have stopped accepting new NHS patients, and private fees have risen over 20% since 2022. In Australia and the United States, implant costs increase 8% to 12% annually, pushing full-arch procedures out of reach for many uninsured patients and retirees. Vietnam, by contrast, maintains annual price increases of only 3% to 5%, with patient savings of up to 80% on implants. The country now ranks as the second most popular dental tourism destination for Australians and among the top three in the Asia-Pacific region.

Charlotte – September 23, 2026 -- The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway (ACWR) is bringing a fleet of historic passenger railcars to Charlotte's NoDa neighborhood, launching The Magenta Train Charlotte with a public Open House on Thursday, October 22.

The event kicks off with a ribbon cutting and media preview at 11 a.m.

A media meet & greet and guided walkthroughs follow until 1 p.m., ahead of a free public Open House from 4 to 7 p.m. at 409 East 35th Street. No tickets are required, but guests must sign a waiver before boarding, and pets are not permitted; the railcars are not wheelchair accessible.

Leiper's Fork, Tenn. – September 23, 2026 -- A string of fall festivals is rolling out across the rural communities bordering the Natchez Trace Parkway, the 100-mile stretch of National Park land anchoring what organizers call Nashville's Big Back Yard.

Lavender and pudding lead the harvest lineup

Near Hohenwald, the Oak Grove Lavender Farm hosts an all-day Fall Festival on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with artisan vendors, seasonal food and a dog costume contest. In Centerville, the National Banana Pudding Festival runs Oct. 3-4, featuring a cook-off and a tasting trail dubbed 'The Puddin' Path.'

Paradise Island, Bahamas – September 22, 2026 -- Atlantis Paradise Island will ring in 2027 with back-to-back marquee concerts, booking five-time Grammy-winning Maestro Andrea Bocelli for New Year's Eve and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Alex Warren two days later. Tickets for both shows are now on sale.

Andrea Bocelli headlines an intimate New Year's Eve set on The Royal Deck

Bocelli will perform "An Unforgettable Evening Under the Stars" on December 31, 2026, at The Royal Deck, with the night closing on a midnight fireworks display over Paradise Island. The classical superstar has sold more than 90 million albums and holds a Golden Globe, six Latin Grammy Awards, seven Classical BRIT Awards, seven World Music Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His catalog includes "Con te partirò (Time to Say Goodbye)" and "The Prayer," and he has performed at the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup.

Miami – September 22, 2026 -- Windstar Cruises has released its 2028 Europe season, offering travelers 348 itinerary combinations across five yachts sailing the Mediterranean and Northern Europe from March through October.

The lineup ranges from four-day getaways to a 53-day Grand Mediterranean Adventure running from Tenerife in the Canary Islands to Venice. Guests booking eligible newly released 2028 Europe voyages by October 31, 2026 can access an Early Booking Offer that includes a complimentary All-Inclusive package covering Wi-Fi, gratuities and select beer, wine and cocktails, plus $100 in shipboard credit per guest and up to 5% savings on fares paid in full at booking.

Providenciales – September 22, 2026 -- Viral toddler techno artist Lenny Pearce brought four live performances to Beaches Turks and Caicos between September 16 and 21, 2026, as part of the resort's annual Fall Fam Jam celebration running through October.

Four shows spanned the resort's stages and pools

Seattle – September 22, 2026 -- Holland America Line has completed a major refresh of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, its private Caribbean island, adding a new Beach Club, food pavilion and upgraded amenities in time for cruises sailing from October 2026 through April 2027.

A new Beach Club opens for booking in early October

The exclusive Beach Club will offer priority tendering from ship to shore, dedicated waiter service, all-inclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, included beach accessories and specialty food offerings. The design uses the cruise line's signature blue, orange and cream palette paired with natural textures and open-air spaces.