Travel Win and Travel Fail of the Week

Travel Win: Arkansas and Michael Dettlaff

Dettlaff, a 12-year old boy who was vacationing in Arkansas with his family, found a 5-carat diamond while exploring Crater of Diamonds State Park. Actually, it was 5.16-carats, if you want to get technical. What does that mean? Mining.com estimates this diamond could be worth $12,000 to $15,000, and the park allows visitors to keep whatever diamonds they find.

So young Dettlaff takes the cake for vacation win this week, though we have a feeling that Arkansas’ tourism numbers are also going to enjoy a nice little boost from this one as well.

Travel Fail: American Airlines and US Airways

Well that was a surprise. The merger between American Airlines and US Airways was challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice and a few states this week, causing the brakes to screech to a halt on the airline industry’s newest mega-consolidation.

This merger was going to be the solution to American Airlines’ bankruptcy issues, and was central to US Airways’ strategy for the coming years. Now it might be back to the drawing board.

Find Your Own Damn Diamond

OK, arguably not the best engagement line, but one that many a man would welcome (at least secretly).

Check this out. A man from Wisconsin was digging at an Arkansas Diamond Park yesterday and found a 3.92-carat diamond, but the rock will go into his collection because his fiancee already has a ring and a setting. He also found another, 1.49-carat stone on Monday, AP reports. They provide his name, too, which is very convenient for all the thieves out there.

Apparently, more than 700 diamonds have been found at the park in 2007 alone. The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the world’s only diamond-producing site open to the public and visitors can keep the stones they find.

Now, here is a truly brilliant way to motivate Americans to actually turn off their TVs and go explore the outdoors. Bling, bling.