Sample the Best Italian Food this Side of the Atlantic (Jeff Kauck) “There are two kinds of people in the world,” chef Mario Batali said recently at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, CO, “those who are Italian, and those who wish they were Italian.”No wonder: Italian restaurants across America are raising the bar. Think of all the Neapolitan pizzerias opened in the past decade, the focus on handmade pastas and authentic ingredients, and hip concepts like Torrisi Italian...

The Newest Travel-Inspiring Sites (David Davis Photoproductions / Alamy) Germany’s Bayreuth Opera House isn’t exactly a household name, but you’ll be hearing more about it and for good reason. This opulent 18th-century theater has been singled out by UNESCO—and will host events celebrating the 200th birthday of composer Richard Wagner in 2013.Every summer, UNESCO names new cultural and natural wonders to its World Heritage List for their outstanding universal value. It’s a way to raise awareness of the preservation of...

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- An optimistic forecast has inn owners expecting brisk business when leaf peepers visit the Northeast this fall, with some hoping to recoup losses from last year after images of Tropical Storm Irene swallowing up bridges and roads scared visitors away from Vermont and other affected areas. The Woodstock Inn & Resort had to cancel reservations for all of September last year due to flood damage. After multimillion-dollar renovations, it's quickly filling up for the five-week season and...

Baggage fees contributed $2.7 billion in added revenue to airlines last year, and more fees are likely to be added, a new government report concludes. (Getty Images) WASHINGTON — Airline passengers can expect fewer carriers to choose from, fewer flights to smaller cities and more baggage and other fees as the industry continues to grapple with high fuel prices and a weak economy, according to a new government report. The airline industry is still in transition after a tumultuous decade...

(Ken Canning) A leaf-peeper's guide to the top spots for fall foliage travel Nothing – not sweaters, not the smell of fireplaces, not pumpkin patches, and not apple picking – says "fall" like the blazing red, glimmering gold, and burnt-orange leaves that cover trees and crunch underfoot during the autumn months. Whether you're practically a professional leaf-peeper or just a casual enthusiast, you'll need to know where to take in the season's splendor. Lucky for you, we've scouted out the...

In this Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, file photo, Captain Mike McClellan, ORD Domicile Chairman of the Allied Pilots Association left, joins over 200 American Airline pilots marching on a picket line at O'Hare International Airport, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) DALLAS -- American Airlines says if pilots don't end actions that are disrupting flights, it will take their union to court. A senior American Airlines executive told union leaders that some pilots were conducting "an unlawful, concerted effort to...

'Fairtastic' Eats and Treats (Getty Images) State fairs are one the top events for states across the country, drawing millions of visitors each year. These family friendly events were built on the basics: judging livestock, agriculture and food. Recipe judging is one of the oldest kind of competitions dating back to the early 1800s. Today, state fairs are larger, offer rides, special events and, of course, a variety of tempting and tasty treats. In the following pages we highlight some...

Texas Rangers' Mike Napoli, right, celebrates his home run with Mitch Moreland during the third inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Where will the two-time American League champs be at the end of the week? They could open Friday at Yankee Stadium in a one-game showdown of wild cards. Or Saturday at Detroit in the best-of-five division series. Or even Sunday at Baltimore.Or perhaps play at home...

Seats from an American Airlines 757 are carried before receiving "Main Cabin Extra Refurbishment" Tuesday at Logan International Airport in Boston. Seats on a third flight came loose as the plane was airborne. (AP Photo/WBZ-TV) DALLAS — AmericanAirlines said that improperly installed clamps caused seats to pop loose on two planes during flights and an inspection turned up four others with the same problem. (MORE: Check Your Flight Status) The airline said Tuesday that it inspected and fixed the seats...

As airlines keep shrinking capacity, holiday travelers may find sharply limited space and higher fares on less-popular routes, said Dean Headley, an associate professor of marketing at Wichita State University and expert on airline performance. Best advice: Book now. (Getty Images) Thanksgiving airline seats and fares are disappearing faster than Aunt Vera's green bean casserole. So unless you want the leftovers, book now. "Of course, there will be last-minute sales, but you'll only get the middle seats on the 6...

In this photo provided by WBZ-TV and WFXT-TV seats from an American Airlines 757 are carried before receiving "Main Cabin Extra Refurbishment" Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012, at Logan International Airport in Boston. (AP Photo/WBZ-TV/WFXT-TV) DALLAS -- American Airlines says it has repaired 42 of 48 planes that were pulled aside and inspected because the seats could come loose. The airline said Friday that all seat repairs on its Boeing 757 airplanes should be done by Saturday. American canceled 44 flights...

Tim Allen, of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., samples one of Jim Beam’s bourbons as his college buddy Woody Parker looks on during a tour of the Beam distillery in Clermont, Ky., on Oct. 3. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner) CLERMONT, Ky. — Bourbon fan Tim Allen started his day of sightseeing by sipping whiskeys crafted at a Jim Beam distillery. Where else are pre-lunch nips more commonplace than in Kentucky bourbon country? "That's smooth as silk," the North Carolinian said after sampling Jim Beam...

Earlier this month, several Costco gas stations in Burbank, Calif., were running out of gas due to supply and demand. Customers will finally get some relief as prices decrease. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) NEW YORK — Gasoline prices have begun their seasonal slide. Better late than never, drivers say. (MORE: Cycling More Popular as Gas Prices Rise) The national average retail price has fallen for ten straight days and is now $3.74 per gallon. It could mark the beginning of the...