Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Glamor and History in Portugal
By Linda Tancs
Historically a refuge for exiled European royalty, the Portuguese Riviera is an affluent, scenic coastal region to the west of Lisbon spanning Cascais, Estoril and Sintra. A mile-long promenade links Cascais with Estoril, home to Europe’s largest casino. The casino is legendary in James Bond lore as the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s first novel, Casino Royale. It also served as a filming location for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. A bus ride away is Sintra,a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its palaces, like Palácio da Pena, Quinta da Regaleira, Palácio Nacional de Sintra, Palácio de Monserrate and Biester Palace. Now is a great time to visit as you’ll be avoiding the summer crowds.
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The Kingdom of Beaver Island
By Linda Tancs
Although Hawaii is the only state to have been a kingdom, there’s an island in Michigan that once claimed its own monarch. That storied past belongs to Beaver island, the largest island in Lake Michigan. The self-proclaimed monarch was James Jesse Strang, a dissident Mormon leader who crowned himself king in 1850 and ruled until 1856. Following the departure of the Mormon colony in 1856, the island became a haven for Irish immigrants, leading the locale to be dubbed “America’s Emerald Isle.” Also, DarkSky International has formally recognized the Michigan State Wildlife Research Area on Beaver Island as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, offering one of the finest dark skies star gazing locations in the United States thanks to its distance from the light pollution of any large metro areas. The peaceful, remote haven is active largely from spring through fall. The Beaver Island Boat Company ferry runs from mid-April through December; winter travel relies on flights.
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48 Falls
By Linda Tancs
Once a training ground for ninjas, Japan’s Akame Valley boasts an abundance of waterfalls on a trail with a walkway. It’s popularly referred to as the 48 Waterfalls although the number is symbolic, not actual; the numerical reference means “many” or “endless.” The top five falls are Fudo, Senju, Nunobiki, Ninai and Biwa. Allow three or four hours for a visit. You might want to stop at the Salamander Center at the entrance to the nature trail. It features up-close looks at the Japanese giant salamander, the second-largest salamander species in the world at five feet. An hour from Osaka and about 90 minutes from Kyoto, the falls are easily reached by train to Akameguchi Station on the Kintetsu line.
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Block Island
By Linda Tancs
Ghost ships and buried treasure are just some of the lore surrounding Block Island, a small island off the coast of Rhode Island. These days it’s better known for the clay cliffs of Mohegan Bluffs, gorgeous beaches, two lighthouses built in the 1800s and an extensive ecosystem which includes the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, a significant migratory stopping point for over 70 species of birds. October is a prime time for migration. The cooler temperatures make spotting merlins, peregrine falcons, hawks and other bird species all the more common. Block Island Ferry provides year-round service from the mainland in Point Judith.
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Rhine Romanticism
By Linda Tancs
An inspiration for painters, poets, thinkers and musicians, it’s no wonder Germany’s Upper Middle Rhine Valley is considered to be the epitome of Rhine Romanticism. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 40-mile stretch flows between Koblenz and Rüdesheim. Characterized by steep vine-covered slopes and impressive rocky outcrops with hilltop castles, it’s one of the most magnificent and oldest cultural landscapes in Europe. A river cruise might be just the ticket to soak in the views. Numerous cruise operators, such as Marksburgschifffahrt Vomfell, offer large and small castle cruises, some of which go as far as Boppard or even to the Loreley (Lorelei).
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A Presidential Love Nest
By Linda Tancs
The historic White Haven estate is the centerpiece of Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. More than just another presidential homestead, it’s also the place where the Civil War hero and 18th U.S. president fell in love with his wife, Julia Dent, his former roommate’s sister. White Haven, the Dent family’s estate in Missouri, was frequently visited by Ulysses, who was stationed at nearby Jefferson Barracks. He became acquainted with Julia and their relationship blossomed. They became engaged there before Ulysses was sent south for war preparations. The site is located 10 miles southwest of downtown St. Louis on Grant Road.
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Hamming It Up in Smithfield
By Linda Tancs
Virginia ham is deeply tied to the state’s history. That’s especially so in Smithfield, hailed as the “Ham Capital of the World.” You’ll learn all about that history at the Isle of Wight County Museum. Its biggest feature, though, is the “world’s oldest ham” cured in 1902. You can keep tabs on it through its own social media channel as well as the HamCam.
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A Celebration of Wild Rice
By Linda Tancs
Considered its official state grain, wild rice is native to Minnesota. It’s been growing naturally in the shallow lakes and streams of the Great Lakes region for millennia, providing significant cultural, ecological and economic value for Native American tribes and the state. The Roseville Wild Rice Festival focuses on the indigenous aspects of the grain, celebrating Dakota and Ojibwe culture with dance and drumming performances as well as native games, food and merchandise. This year’s event takes place on September 26 throughout the grounds of the Harriet Alexander Nature Center, an oasis nestled within the borders of Roseville’s Central Park.
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Tennessee’s Largest Science Museum
By Linda Tancs
At over 100,000 square feet, Wonders Center & Science Museum is the largest science museum in Tennessee. Located in Dickson (just 35 minutes from downtown Nashville), it features planetarium shows and interactive learning zones along with exhibits like the Wonders of Paleontology, Wonders of Africa and Amazing Animals of Alaska. One of its most popular highlights is undoubtedly the Tesla coil experience. Tesla coils were invented by Nikola Tesla in 1891 and are electrical transformers that take ordinary electrical current to produce a high voltage display. The museum has two Tesla coils, each capable of generating 500,000 volts for a total of 1,000,000 volts. This produces six to eight foot volts of lightning in the same room as the viewer, even lighting up signs in the room that are not plugged in. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.
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Home of the Gunpowder Plot
By Linda Tancs
Once home to the Catesby family, Ashby Manor House in Northamptonshire is the site of one of England’s most notorious acts of treason: the Gunpowder Plot. In 1605 Robert Catesby and his fellow conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, gathered in the manor’s gatehouse where they conspired to assassinate King James I and his courtiers by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. Today it’s a popular wedding venue offering a variety of accommodation.
