Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for May, 2011
A Place of Quiet Beauty
By Linda Tancs
Pebble Hill plantation in Thomasville, Georgia bills itself as “a place of quiet beauty.” There certainly is plenty of ground for quiet reflection. Amidst the hallmark pines that define the plantation’s landscape, The Main House is framed with numerous camellia bushes, dogwoods, magnolias, azaleas, tea olives, and Cherokee roses. Near the North entrance to the House is a wonderful crepe myrtle tree, perfect for contemplating life plans. The Uno Hill Barn grounds offer views of the serenity of the piney woods. Or you could just marvel at the plantation’s substantial famed collection of prints from the first edition of Audubon’s Birds of North America. There’s plenty to do; come early, stay late.
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King Biscuit
By Linda Tancs
They’ll be raising lots of dough from 27 to 28 May in Knoxville, Tennessee at the International Biscuit Festival. Celebrating the heart of comfort food in downtown Market Square, you can sample the fare along Biscuit Boulevard and decide who earns the title of Best Biscuit. For those who lose the crown this year, there’s always the bake-off. Last year’s winner saluted one of Elvis’s favorite dishes comprising peanut butter, banana and bacon. Every biscuit tells a story. The songwriting competition gives you a chance to share yours. Post your lyrics here.
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Jambalaya Jamboree
By Linda Tancs
Gonzalez, Louisiana is the “Jambalaya Capital of the World.” From 26 to 29 May the area hosts its annual Jambalaya Festival and World Champion Jambalaya Cooking event. A Cajun/Creole dish made from a mixture of meats, rice and seasonings, jambalaya is a southern Louisiana delight. The jambalaya cooking contest draws contestants the world over for the coveted title. Do you have a favorite jambalaya recipe? Share it here.
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A Haven for Wild Horses
By Linda Tancs
For hundreds of years wild horses have lived on the shores of Maryland’s Assateague Island, their native habitat preserved through miles of fencing to protect them against contact with contemporary means of transportation. You can use those means, though, to meander peacefully among the sanctuary and observe them as nature intended, along with eagles, osprey, falcons, dolphins, sting rangs and a host of other species living along the coastline. The Pony Express Nature Cruise is available now through 9 October. Get there via Chincoteague, Virginia or Ocean City, Maryland, the gateways to Assateague.
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Cheap Train Tickets in UK
By Linda Tancs
Given the relative uncertainty of travel costs in the UK, it’s worth exploring all of the options for cheap travel, like rail bookings using thetrainline. Use the Best Fare Finder to locate the best deal or the Ticket Alert for notification when advance purchase options become available. You can even download a free application to buy tickets from your mobile. Want a package deal? You can select among train, hotel and theatre options for a customized experience. There’s even a carbon calculator for the environmentally conscious among you.
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Fine Wines in the Foothills
By Linda Tancs
The foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Walland, Tennessee may seem like the least likely place to yield up an epicurious haven. Yet that’s exactly what you get at Blackberry Farm, one of America’s most celebrated intimate luxury hotels set on 4200 acres. Now through 22 May the greatest producers in the world of wine make for a rare gathering at the Farm at the second annual Hospice du Rhone event. Featuring Christophe Baron, Greg Harrington, John Lancaster, Robert Perkins, Sara Perez and Rene Barbier, these giants of Rhone will share their knowledge and special vintages with oenophiles. Life on the farm never tasted so sweet.
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A Distinctive Hue in Brussels
By Linda Tancs
Most hotels pander to your palate. In Brussels, though, the Pantone Hotel caters to your palette. This hotel of colors features a distinctive hue on each guest floor. Feeling a little blue? There’s a suite just for you.
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Some Enchanted Evening
By Linda Tancs
As the state apartments of London’s Kensington Palace undergo a mulitmillion pound restoration, its enchanting history is coming out of the dust. Transformed into the Enchanted Palace, each room celebrates the life of one of seven princesses who once lived there. Merging fashion and fairy tale, you’ll romp through rooms like The Room of Royal Sorrows, the Room of Flight and The Room of Royal Secrets to uncover the identity of the estate’s inhabitants and their life stories. At last, walls that talk.
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Putting the Glam in Camp
By Linda Tancs
For many of us, camping likely conjures up memories of pup tents, oversized sleeping bags and roasted marshmallows on a stick. Oh, how times have changed. Camping has gone glam. Glamping, or glamorous camping, is outdoors life taken to a luxe level, featuring luxury tents, fine wines, gourmet food and, of course, outdoor adventure. Are you ready for some glam in your camp?
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The Windsor Tattoo
By Linda Tancs
Now in its fourth year, the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo takes place today through 15 May on the private grounds of Windsor Castle. Featuring traditional military tattoo and a tournament, the event takes on an international flair this year with the addition of 250 personnel from the French Army, Navy, Air Force and Gendarmerie. Why don’t you march on over.
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