Travel 2016: Rio, Indy 500, Christo in Italy

Some top places, events driving travel in new year

In this March 7, 2014 file photo, a runner races the fading daylight above frozen Eagle Lake as he makes his way down from the summit on the Cadillac Mountain Road at Acadia National Park in

Maine. (AP)

RBy Beth J. Harpaz

io and Cuba. The Pope’s Year of Mercy and artist Christo’s walk on water. Philadelphia, Cleveland and the next U.S. president. Super Bowl in California and the Indy 500 at 100. A centennial for America’s National Park Service, 400 years since Shakespeare died and 500 years of pure German beer.

These are among the places and events driving travel in 2016.

Rio and the Olympics: Rio de Janeiro hosts the Summer Olympics, Aug. 5-21.

Super Bowl 50: America’s most important football game takes place Feb. 7 at the San Francisco 49ers’ stadium in Santa Clara, California. San Francisco hosts a free public fan village, Super Bowl City, and other pre-game events beginning Jan. 30.

Phildelphia and Cleveland: Democrats choose their presidential candidate at a convention in Philadelphia on July 25-28. Republicans choose their candidate in Cleveland on July 18-21.

Cuba Mania: Cuban tourism will likely keep booming after a year in which visits by Americans rose more than 50 percent and travel from elsewhere surged, too.

Rome’s Year of Mercy and Christo’s walk of fame: Up to 10 million pilgrims may visit Rome during Pope Francis’ Holy Year of Mercy, which began Dec. 8 and runs through November 2016. Events include the September canonization of Mother Teresa. And in northern Italy, fans of Christo will walk on water thanks to his “Floating Piers” project on Lake Iseo in Lombardy, June 18July 3, weather permitting. The 3-kilometer (2-mile) walkway will consist of floating cubes covered in shimmering yellow fabric. Lakeside mountains will offer a bird’s-eye view.

National Parks: The National Park Service turns 100 on Aug. 25. A campaign called “Find Your Park” is designed to inspire a new generation to visit. Individual sites marking centennials include Acadia in Maine, established as a national monument July 8, 1916; Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Kentucky; New Mexico’s Capulin Volcano and Bandelier national monuments; and in Hawaii, Volcanoes and