| Unforgettable Italy: 5 unique experiences and TSA employee arrested for alleged thefts (CNN) -- Picture it: a long, relaxing stay in a thousand-year-old castle in Tuscany, drinking wine produced on an estate with ties to the real Mona Lisa, renting a boat |
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(CNN) -- Picture it: a long, relaxing stay in a thousand-year-old castle in Tuscany, drinking wine produced on an estate with ties to the real Mona Lisa, renting a boat for a tour of the Amalfi Coast.These are some of the ways I was lucky enough to experience la Bella Italia during a recent journey with my family through Tuscany and the spectacular Amalfi Coast.Close your eyes and imagine the rolling hills and decadent wines of Tuscany. Now know that the reality of the place is even better. Twisted, knotted vineyards cover the rolling hills in patches of regimented rows that almost look like quilts. The air is fresh and sweet, and as you drive through the narrow curving roads, ancient towns and rustic old castles seem to pop up out of nowhere.We rented a car for a more intimate look at the nooks and crests of Tuscany. Two things that made the visit all the more spectacular: our hotel and the wine. [Read the full article] (CNN) -- Towering majestically over the jungle, and sometimes tangled up in its monstrous roots, the temples of Cambodia's ancient city of Angkor have inspired awe for centuries.The jewel in Angkor's crown is the breathtaking Angkor Wat temple, built in the 12th century, and said to be a miniature replica of the universe in stone. It graces the Cambodian flag and countless postcards and posters and has become synonymous with the small country in Southeast Asia.And though Cambodia's cultural heritage suffered terribly at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, Angkor, now a UNESCO world heritage site, was thankfully neglected rather than destroyed.Now Angkor is a thriving tourist venue, bustling with visitors. With the addition of the recently restored and reopened Baphuon temple, it is sure to attract ever more visitors. [Read the full article] It has become clear that the days are long gone when America could rely on reputation and word-of-mouth to attract international travelers. In this new, flat world, the U.S. must regain its competitive edge to grow its travel and tourism industry. Just as we compete globally to produce manufacturing or technology exports, we must also compete to attract world travelers and the spending they bring.There is, however, both good news and a promising way forward. Last year, a bipartisan Congress passed the Travel Promotion Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law in March 2010. At no cost to U.S. taxpayers, the act created the Corporation for Travel Promotion, a public-private partnership that will create and execute America's first nationally coordinated marketing program designed to attract more international visitors and provide them with the kind of helpful information they need and expect. [Read the full article] 
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