A collection of travel stories, including the journey of the Galella family, who packed up for Italy, and the relocation of a Colorado couple to Ireland and Germany, as well as an overview of America's most underrated destinations.
In our roundup of travel stories this week, America’s most underrated destinations, the world’s most dangerous bowl of soup, plus how two US families’ lives changed when they relocated from the States to Italy, Ireland and Germany.
Families who moved from the US to Europe The Galella family had a “great” life in Miami running a successful renovation company, they tell CNN. But, feeling that something was missing, in 2024 the whole gang — Norma, Gaston, their two kids and their dog — packed up for Italy and rented a home in the coastal city of Rimini.
Although they’d lived most of their lives in the States, having both moved there from Argentina as youngsters, Norma and Gaston “never truly felt American,” they say. Returning to the land of Gaston’s grandparents was “more like coming back home for us. ” Two years on, Norma says, “we’re happier and more united.
” Colorado couple Geoffrey and Sarah were content with their lives in the Centennial State, until a combination of the political climate and Geoffrey losing his job as a software engineer made them reassess their goals. First, they moved to a houseboat in Malahide, Ireland.
Then when a baby came along, they returned a few years ago to a home on solid ground. Their new base is Breisach, Germany, close to the French border. Surprisingly, their then three-year-old son found the move hardest, taking around five months to adjust to the change. To others wanting to relocate, Sarah has this advice: “Go try it out for a while.
Make sure that you like it. Have a plan B.” America the Beautiful 25 of the USA's most underrated destinations 25 photos Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts: The town of Northampton is one of Massachusetts' overlooked charms. 25 of the USA's most underrated destinations Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts: The town of Northampton is one of Massachusetts' overlooked charms. Block Island, Rhode Island: Wildlife refuges and other nature areas make up a large part of this peaceful isle.
Buffalo, New York: Art Deco buildings, such as Buffalo's City Hall, are one of this underrated city's draws. Pennsylvania Wilds: Stargazing is a top attraction at Cherry Springs State Park in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. West Virginia: Historic and scenic Harpers Ferry is just one of West Virginia's intriguing destinations. Durham, North Carolina: The Duke Lemur Center is a unique attraction in Durham, a city that's been transformed in recent years.
Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia: Wild horses roam this barrier island rich in nature and history. Florida's Forgotten Coast: Powder-fine sand is part of this unheralded slice of the Florida shore's allure. Western Tennessee: Memphis' famed Beale Street has a rich history and is home to numerous live music venues. Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas: Unlike the nearby Ozarks, the Ouachitas are exceedingly untouristy.
Kansas City, Missouri: The Nelson-Atkins Art Museum boasts a world-class collection in a city where barbecue and American jazz meet. Southern Illinois: The Garden of Gods in Shawnee National Forest shows what visitors will find in this overlooked part of Illinois. Lake Superior: Touching three US states, this massive freshwater lake boasts two national lakeshores, a national park and other natural attractions.
Oklahoma: In a state that many people fly right over, Oklahoma City has a rich and varied food scene, plus interesting attractions. Badlands of North Dakota: Painted Canyon is part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, part of the lesser-known North Dakota badlands. North Park, Colorado: An aerial view from Independence Mountain in North Park shows the landscape visitors will find in this wild part of Colorado.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico: The world's largest gypsum dunefield stretches across 275 square miles of desert. Flagstaff, Arizona: Flagstaff tends to be a place travelers pass through on their way to the Grand Canyon or Sedona, but it definitely deserves a look-see. West Texas: This wild and rugged part of the state still has its man-made curiosities, such as Marfa's famous Prada store art installation.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah: This national monument sprawls across almost 1.9 million acres of largely roadless wilderness. Tacoma, Washington: The scenery in Tacoma is nothing to sneeze at. Incredible glass art, classic cars and fresh seafood sweeten the deal. Channel Islands National Park, California: A throwback to old California, the five-island park is heaven for nature lovers.
San Luis Obispo, California: The evolution of world-class wine regions in nearby Paso Robles and the Santa Ynez Valley have helped put San Luis Obispo on the tourism map. Kaʻū District, Hawaii: Punalu'u is one of the most famous black sand beaches in Hawaii. It's in Kaʻū on the southern end of the island of Hawaii.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska: About an hour's drive from Anchorage, this long river valley offers the sort of outdoor encounters that usually require a lot more time and effort to reach. Prev Next 25 of the USA's most underrated destinations The European relocation dream is one thing, but most Americans will be in search of adventure closer to home this Memorial Day weekend with gas prices near all-time highs.
For inspiration, CNN has put together our list of 25 of the USA’s most underrated destinations, from the untamed expanses of the Pennsylvania Wilds to the blues bars and barbecue joints of Western Tennessee. Take a look to see if your favorite spots made the cut. For seekers of sun and sand, coastal scientist Stephen P. Leatherman, better known as “Dr. Beach,” has just released his annual ranking of the United States’ best stretches of shorefront.
Beaches in Hawaii and Florida top the list for 2026, triumphing across criteria including clear waters and swimmability. Local food specialities Although misconceptions about pufferfish abound, restaurants around South Korea can prepare it to be safe -- and delicious. If there’s one thing you’re likely to know about pufferfish, it’s that if it’s prepared wrong it can be lethal to eat.
However, at the many pufferfish restaurants in Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, the poison is safely removed and hungry customers are tucking in. What can be trickier to remove is the stigma. Here’s what you need to know about the world’s most dangerous bowl of soup. Rolexes are a national dish in Uganda, although these ones go in your mouth rather than on your wrist.
They’re Indian-style chapati flatbreads topped with a thin omelet and vegetables, then rolled into a wrap.
“Rolled eggs” became shortened to “rolex. ” This is a snack you want to make time for: Take a look here. Ukraine has a thousands-year-long winemaking tradition, and now the country’s vintners are preserving the practice in the face of war.
“Our territory is super-unique,” says wine champion Sergiy Klimov. “We have black soils, limestone, volcanic soil and more than 400 grape varieties.
” Inside the ‘Brady Bunch’ house • Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/videothumbnails/60879972-20584525-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16x9" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/videothumbnails/60879972-20584525-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16x9" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html=" By Natasha Chen " data-timestamp-html=" PUBLISHED May 23, 2026, 5:00 AM ET " data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="false" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2026-05-08T17:11:30.290Z" data-video-section="travel" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/08/travel/video/brady-bunch-house-tour" data-branding-key="on-location" data-video-slug="brady-bunch-house-tour" data-first-publish-slug="brady-bunch-house-tour" data-video-tags="travel,cprog" data-breakpoints='{"video-resource--media-extra-large": 660}' data-display-video-cover="true" data-details="">The house used for exteriors on"The Brady Bunch" will soon allow the public a rare opportunity to tour inside this summer, after the interiors were fully renovated to match the show’s set. Actor Christopher Knight gives CNN’s Natasha Chen a personal tour, pointing out his favorite memories filming inside"America’s home.
" ' class='image__dam-img image__dam-img--loading' onload='this.classList.remove' onerror='imageLoadError' height='1080' width='1920'>Video Ad Feedback Inside the iconic 'Brady Bunch' house, led by ‘Peter Brady’ 4:06 • Source: CNN The house used for exteriors on"The Brady Bunch" will soon allow the public a rare opportunity to tour inside this summer, after the interiors were fully renovated to match the show’s set. Actor Christopher Knight gives CNN’s Natasha Chen a personal tour, pointing out his favorite memories filming inside"America’s home.
" ' class='image__dam-img image__dam-img--loading' onload='this.classList.remove' onerror='imageLoadError' height='1080' width='1920' loading='lazy'>Inside the iconic 'Brady Bunch' house, led by ‘Peter Brady’ 4:06 The house used for exteriors on “The Brady Bunch” is allowing the public a rare opportunity to tour inside this summer, after the interiors were fully renovated to match the show’s set. Actor Christopher Knight — better known as “Peter Brady” — gives CNN’s Natasha Chen a personal look around.
In case you missed it A sinkhole at New York’s LaGuardia Airport has been causing delays. Watch here. Thailand is cutting down on unruly tourists by tightening visa restrictions. Travelers from dozens of countries are impacted, including the US.
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. How well do you know the sights, snacks and traditions that define the season? The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now weeks away. But some fans are staying away from the matches in the United States.
Unrated Travel Destinations In The USA US Families' Relocation To Italy Ireland And Germany Underrated Travel Destinations In The USA Two US Families' Relocation To Europe
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