Top Destinations for Gastronomy and Mixology: Unforgettable Street Food and Cocktails

Sign up for CNN Travel's weekly newsletter, Unlocking the World, for the latest updates on aviation, food and drink, accommodations, and other travel developments. In our recent travel news roundup, discover top cities for exceptional cocktails, indulge in Japanese street food and Michelin-starred fine dining, and explore the fascinating world of aviation through father-son and grandmother-granddaughter partnerships.

And with Halloween on the horizon, find out why "tombstone tourists" find cemeteries so fascinating.

Bars, street food and fine dining

Looking for the world's best bar? Look no further than Barcelona, which has claimed the title for two consecutive years. This month, the coveted 2023 award went to Sips, an intimate cocktail joint with just 33 seats. Despite opening during the Covid pandemic, it managed to impress and surpass last year's winner, speakeasy Paradiso.

When it comes to Asian street food, Fukuoka reigns supreme in Japan. This Japanese city boasts a larger number of open-air food stalls, known as yatai, compared to the rest of the country combined. Curious about how Fukuoka became the epicenter of the yatai scene in Japan? Read on to discover its story.

Finally, on October 24, Atlanta has welcomed the prestigious Michelin-starred dining scene to its capital city. With the awarding of one Michelin star to five renowned restaurants, Atlanta's culinary landscape is now recognized for its dynamism and diverse offerings.

A family affair

A grandmother and granddaughter who both work as flight attendants recently had the opportunity to take a flight together on Southwest Airlines in California. Hannah Heck, who is 24 years old, was inspired by her grandmother's career in aviation and decided to pursue a similar path. When they both ended up working for the same airline, Cynthia Heck, who is 72 years old, made sure to be a part of Hannah's first flight by working behind the scenes.

Another heartwarming story involves Ruben Flowers and his son, also named Ruben. The younger Ruben grew up admiring his pilot father and always wanted to follow in his footsteps. In a 1994 photo, a toddler Ruben is seen in awe as he looks up at his father, who is in uniform and preparing to fly a plane. Now, almost 30 years later, the pair recreated the photo, with the younger Ruben, who is now 30 years old, dressed in uniform as well. He is about to embark on his career as a First Officer, just like his father, and will be flying for Southwest Airlines too.

Travel tech making journeys smoother

Travel is becoming increasingly easier with the aid of technological advancements. One such innovation is the luggage tracking device, which has become a necessity for smart travelers. An example of its usefulness is when athlete Gray Barnett's $12,000 bike disappeared during his journey from France to South Carolina. Fortunately, Barnett and his father were able to track the bike to Brussels Airport where a helpful airport staff member was able to retrieve it, thus saving the day.

Additionally, there have been continuous advancements in live translation. Tokyo metro, a leading tech innovator in Japan, has recently unveiled an innovative screen that can instantly translate discussions into 12 different languages. To witness this groundbreaking technology in action, click here.

Furthermore, Google Flights has introduced a new feature aimed at assisting travelers in saving money. This feature also highlights the most frequently searched winter holiday destinations. Moreover, if you are looking to transform your vacation videos into captivating short films, our partners at CNN Underscored, a product review and recommendation platform owned by CNN, have curated a list of the top mobile video editing applications for the year 2023.

See an emperor penguin hatch

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See emperor penguin hatch at SeaWorld in 'once in a decade' event

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This emperor penguin chick is the first to hatch at SeaWorld San Diego in over 10 years. Staff say shes now thriving on a diet of fish and "fish milkshakes."

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