From France to the moon: rocket simulator opens in Toulouse

It was 8:55 p.m., a week before my trip to Tokyo and I was hovering over my laptop with a steady hand on the mouse. The website I was on clearly stated: "Reservations may be booked from 9 p.m., 7 days in advance at the earliest."

We often associate places with the historical events we know happened there and sometimes it might be the reason we travel, to commemorate and to visit these sites and museums. Places in the U.S. were also named after cities, towns and people in the old world or sometimes they simply described the geography of a place, often in local languages.

Compton Verney, a stately home turned art museum in Warwickshire, is set in 120 acres of Grade II listed classical parkland, designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, the most eminent landscape architect of the eighteenth-century. The property also houses the only Capability Brown designed chapel. In 1993, Sir Peter Moores, through the Peter Moores Foundation (PMF) bought the site, including the near-derelict mansion, and gifted it to the specially-created charitable trust Compton Verney House Trust (CVHT). Since then, Compton Verney has been welcoming visitors to its wide range of exhibitions, events and grounds, and this year it celebrates the 20th anniversary with the launch of its first ever sculpture trail and a number of ambitious exhibitions across its six galleries.

Today marks an eagerly anticipated event in the culinary world as France's Michelin restaurant stars are unveiled from the Palais des Congrès in Tours. Renowned globally for its gastronomic prowess, France's culinary landscape is celebrated once again with the prestigious Michelin Guide's star ratings. From cozy bistros to haute cuisine establishments, these stars represent the pinnacle of culinary excellence. Here are the latest additions, which will be guiding food enthusiasts and travelers to the most exceptional dining experiences across France.

There’s a new way to get free elite status with Air France/KLM’s loyalty program, Flying Blue, which offers enticing perks even for U.S.-based fliers.

The ground-breaking opening ceremony planned for this summer’s Paris Olympics on the Seine River has been scaled back once again, with the previously announced 600,000 free tickets available to the general public, now being cut in half to about 300,000 by invite-only. Though tickets for the momentous July 26 event were initially intended for the general public through an open registration, the nation’s Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin announced last week that 104,000 seats on the lower riverbank will be paid tickets, while 222,000 upper banks seats will remain free, but distributed via a quota system, The Associated Press reported.  “To manage crowd movement, we can’t tell everyone to come,” Darmanin said. “For security reasons that everyone understands, notably the terrorist threat of recent weeks, we are obliged to make it free but contained.” No specific plots have been identified, but there are certainly heightened threats, he noted.

As I dangle my feet in the cool, clear waters off northern Corsica, I have only a yacht moored 100 metres away for company. Sailing would have been the more glamorous way to arrive at the port of Centuri, a small fishing harbour on the far north-west tip of Cap Corse, but instead I have the thrill of the drive.

Living in the tumult of the city, who among us hasn’t wondered if we’re really marching to the beat of our own drum?

Spring has well and truly sprung and we’re just a few weeks away from Easter. As the flowers bloom and temperatures heat up, many of us are planning to make the most of the season and go on the trip of a lifetime.

The best Alaska cruise excursions can range from the thrilling to the serene. Passengers can fly on sleds led by huskies, ogle bald eagles and salmon-gobbling grizzlies, and soar over towering glaciers in a helicopter. And the best part? All these activities are planned for you as part of the cruise itinerary—as a way for travelers to sample the diverse wonders of The Last Frontier in one fell swoop.

Adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages is making it easier to work from the high seas this summer with a new seasonal pass that comes with everything necessary for a WFH setup — plus a few extra perks.

MADEIRA IS, FOR THE 10TH TIME, THE BEST ISLAND DESTINATION IN EUROPE. PORTO SANTO IS THE BEST BEACH DESTINATION AND THE MADEIRA PROMOTION ASSOCIATION THE BEST TOURISM ENTITY. Funchal will host two international World Travel Awards galas in November this year.