Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for July, 2008
Roll Out the Barrels
By Linda Tancs
You needn’t wait for Oktoberfest to enjoy your favorite brew. Kicking off tomorrow through 3 August is the Berlin International Beer Festival along the city’s Karl-Marx-Allee. Showcasing over 200 breweries from more than 80 countries, the event includes traditional culinary fare, musical entertainment, and the newest brands to tickle your taste buds. Admission is free. The festivities this year will highlight 1000 years of Czech beer making, which brings to mind the Czech proverb, “A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it’s best to be thoroughly sure.”
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Take a Pass on Ozone
By Linda Tancs
As the ground-level ozone alert rises in New Jersey, mass transit agencies encourage people to take a break from the wheel. On designated alert days, employees whose businesses belong to the New Jersey Air Quality Partnership can commute via bus, rail or light rail for under $3 with an Ozone Pass. Now you can breathe easier.
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Castle in the Sand
By Linda Tancs
Let’s face it, there’s no shortage of lodging for the adventurous traveler: igloos, ice hotels, caves, and now this: a giant sand castle. One thousand tons of sand and four sculptors later, Dorset unveiled the first-of-its-kind hotel a few days ago on Weymouth beach. Lacking certain–ahem–amenities, the experience is yours (until Mother Nature’s wrecking ball is in full throttle) for a mere 10 quid a night. Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream, indeed!
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Hassle-Free Flying in Toronto
By Linda Tancs
Short-haul flyers in Toronto can’t speak highly enough about Porter. Situated downtown within easy reach of Union Station, this start-up offers flights between Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottowa, Halifax and Newark, New Jersey, with more U.S. destinations to follow. Consider this list of features and benefits: free ticket changes, free lounge access (leather seating) with complimentary wireless access, a free business center and all-you-can drink coffee, tea and soda. A porter is defined as someone employed to carry burdens. Sounds like they’ve taken a load off to me.
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A Taste of the Good Life
By Linda Tancs
Hot dog eating champs, move over. It’s time for a less hurried, more palate-pleasing competition in California. Just a few miles northwest of Philo, Greenwood Ridge Vineyards hosts a wine tasting competition this weekend. Singles can vie as connoisseurs on Saturday. Sunday is reserved for doubles. There’s even a training camp on both days for oenophile wannabees. Time to get your game on.
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Environmental Effects of Tourism
By Linda Tancs
Sometimes too much interest can be a bad thing. For years now, conservationists have been bemoaning the effects of tourism on a wide range of treasures around the world. Recently, a report indicated that the platforms harboring visitors at some of Cambodia’s ancient monuments are in danger of collapse because of the wear and tear from guests unloading from tour buses from sunrise to sunset. This situation is hardly unique, and other countries have implemented measures to control the effects of tourism on the environment. For instance, Egyptian authorities have long rotated the availability of tombs in the Valley of the Kings to offset the effects of rampant tourism. With some nations realizing a substantial part of their GDP from travelers, a dilemma arises between accommodating those who contribute to the community coffers and preserving an ecosystem that grows ever more fragile by the day through human and industrial actions. Ultimately, these nations must manage their tourism assets like a key player trying to effect change in a system, using goals that are strategic, measurable, agreed, realistic and timely. Then maybe sustainable tourism can be achieved.
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World Tourism Grows Amid Uncertainties
By Linda Tancs
The World Tourism Organization recently reported some encouraging news on the status of international tourism. Amid roiling global markets, the WTO found that world travel grew at a rate of about 5% during the first four months of this year, up 1% long term. Summer travel in the northern hemisphere will dictate whether the uptick holds at year-end. Not surprisingly, the U.S. sported a double-digit increase in tourism, thanks in no small part to the declining dollar. Tiger economies are enjoying a surge in inbound travel as well. On the other hand, Europe’s numbers are lagging except for the ever-popular southern and Mediterranean destinations. Overall, the WTO remains cautiously optimistic, so why shouldn’t we?
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Get Your Bajan On in Barbados
By Linda Tancs
It’s Crop Over time in Barbados. Find out what else is going on in this cruise ship haven. Visit Travelrific Travel Show.
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Largest Public Arts Festival Kicks Off This Weekend
By Linda Tancs
Art aficionados, take note. Baltimore, Maryland hosts Artscape this weekend. Billed as America’s largest free public arts festival, the event includes glass, ceramics, photography, clothing art, art exhibitions, and a host of musical entertainers from the worlds of jazz, soul, pop, rock, and blues, to name a few. Locals have easy access via bus, light rail or subway. For the rest, try Amtrak and save 50% off a companion ticket.
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Shutterbug Tours
By Linda Tancs
If the idea of touring like a photojournalist strikes your fancy, then a photography tour may be just the thing for you. How about capturing the haunting beauty of Glencoe or the hills and dales of Snowdonia and Yorkshire. If you prefer a walk on the wild side, then don’t miss the great migration at Masai Mara. Whatever your taste, there’s bound to be tour that’s right for you. So make like Ansel Adams and snap it up.
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Travelrific® Travel Journal 