Travel

Countless cats beckon visitors at a temple in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood. Legend provided by the Gotokuji Buddhist temple says it is the birthplace of beckoning cats, the figurines widely believed to bring good luck and prosperity. Some visitors come to the temple to snap a few photos, while others pray and make wishes. The […]

NEWPORT, R.I. — The Point, a waterfront neighborhood here, is one of the largest, best preserved and most important Colonial-era communities in the United States. Its grid of 18th-century streets contains scores of houses built before the American Revolution, and dozens more that are almost as old. “It’s incredible to walk around a neighborhood like

The backstage of the Grand Ole Opry, a radio staple since 1925, is a place where you might run into your favorite country star, drop a letter in a singer’s mailbox or take a peek inside a dressing room where an impromptu jam session is happening. Every year, 1 million people come to the Opry

From iron works in Burkina Faso that date back nearly three millenniums, to the fortified and planned city of Jaipur in India, to the Guggenheim museum in Manhattan, Unesco has added a broad array of cultural and natural marvels to its World Heritage List. To be included on the list, a site must meet at

Navigating airports can be tricky. They’re loud, crowded and not always laid out intuitively. They’re even more challenging for visually impaired people. Chieko Asakawa knows those challenges firsthand, and she has also devised a remedy. Asakawa has been blind since she was 14 and is now an IBM Fellow and a professor in Carnegie Mellon

Britain’s data regulator said Monday it wants to fine British Airways 183 million pounds ($229 million) over a data breach that compromised information on half a million customers — the biggest to date under new, tougher data regulations. The airline revealed in September that it had been the victim of a hack. The scam saw

The Russian government’s ban on direct flights between Russia and Georgia came into effect on Monday, affecting thousands of travelers. The flight ban deals a serious economic blow to the South Caucasus nation, which has annually hosted more than 1 million Russian tourists, attracted by its scenic mountains, lush sea coast and the renowned wine

The ponies are the property of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, and proceeds from the sales fund things like their new firehouse, hoses and uniforms. Before Henry, it was a quaint local rite; “If you’re from Chincoteague, wherever you are, you come home for Pony Penning Day,” said Richard Conklin, 78, as he sat on

Spanish officials say the second day of bull runs at the San Fermin festival has left four people injured, including one who was gored. Tomás Belzunegui, a spokesman with the regional hospital in Pamplona, says three runners have head injuries or severe bruises. Red Cross spokesman José Aldaba says another runner was gored in the

A saloon in a New Mexico ghost town attracts regulars with diverse backgrounds and opinions with a promise to “have dialogue.” The No Scum Allowed Saloon in the White Oaks, New Mexico, pulls in people from around the state and sometimes tourists from overseas because of its reputation and catchy name, the Albuquerque Journal recently