Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for June, 2011
The Oldest Continuous Celebration in the US
By Linda Tancs
For 226 years, the folks of Bristol, Rhode Island have been producing a Fourth of July celebration like no other. Perhaps the most patriotic town in America, this year’s event promises to be “a unique American experience.” The Fourth of July Ball on 2 July at Mt. Hope Farm kicks off the grand celebrations, followed by a highlight of the festivities, the Drum and Bugle Corps Competition, on 3 July at 7:00 p.m. at Mt. Hope High School. Now in its 22nd year, the popular competition features top drum and bugle corps from the United States and Canada. Fireworks commence at 9:30 p.m. at Bristol Harbor on 3 July, culminating with the annual Military, Civic and Firemen’s Parade on July 4th at Hope and High streets beginning at 10:30 a.m. Best of all, you can have your own souvenir of the event by purchasing an Official Souvenir throughout the weekend, or get a limited edition coin by downloading the order form. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Better order yours now!
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Lots to Know About Louisville
By Linda Tancs
Louisville, Kentucky is home to the Kentucky Derby and the official American baseball bat. That much a great majority of folks probably knows. But there’s so much more going on there. Did you know that one third of the world’s bourbon is made there? Or that it’s home to the nation’s largest urban forest and the largest Victorian neighborhood? It’s also the site of today’s annual Great Steamboat Race. Beginning in 1963, the event has been a contest primarily between Louisville’s steamer, the Belle of Louisville, and New Orleans’ Delta Queen, both added to the National Historic Register in 1990. Since the Delta Queen’s conversion to a floating hotel in Tennessee, the Belle of Cincinnati replaced her in 2009. The Battle of the Belles now includes a series of challenges and tasks throughout race day for the boats and their crews, culminating in the race down the Ohio River. Crowds in excess of 10,000 gather on the Indiana and Kentucky shorelines to cheer their favorite boat to victory. May the best Belle win.
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Michigan’s Asparagus Trail
By Linda Tancs
In West Michigan, the trails are so good you could practically taste them. Consider, for instance, the 22-mile Hart-Montague Trail State Park, Michigan’s first paved rail trail. Located mostly in Oceana County, this linear park travels through cherry and apple orchards, asparagus fields and ice cream stands. Originally part of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, the trail connects John Gurney Park and the city of Hart with the twin cities of Montague and Whitehall. Both ends of the trail have camping, lodging and places to eat.
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Preserving the Past in Alabama
By Linda Tancs
At Fort Rucker, Alabama, they preserve the past for the future. That’s where you’ll find the Army Aviation Museum, exhibiting over 160 military aircraft, including one of the largest collections of military helicopters in the world. Aviation students, researchers, and authors will love the library (available by appointment only), housing more than 1,600 technical and field manuals, more than 2,000 films, an aviation history reference section, and approximately 95,000 photographs. Guided tours are available on request (call ahead to ensure that access to the installation is not restricted due to security requirements), and admission is free.
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Chicago’s Front Yard Food Fest
By Linda Tancs
Chicago’s Grant Park, at Michigan Avenue and Congress Drive, is dubbed Chicago’s “front yard.” Maybe that’s because it’s large and centrally located, the perfect venue for a foodie fest attracting more than 2 million visitors each year. The second largest tourist attraction in Illinois, the ten-day free event offers the usual fare (no pun intended) of top chops from Chicagoland’s best eateries, arts and crafts, music, chef demonstrations and lots of family fun in keeping with the current theme, America’s City Picnic. Visit anytime between 24 June and 3 July.
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A Boatload of Religion
By Linda Tancs
When the friendly skies are not so friendly, passengers often take to prayer. On the high seas, it’s likely the same scenario, particularly so if you happen to be on a religious-themed cruise. One example is the upcoming Music Boat tour on Carnival’s Imagination. Featuring today’s top Christian artists, the cruise beginning on 7 November promises to be inspirational. But don’t take it on faith, check it out for yourself.
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Through the Looking Glass
By Linda Tancs
Stained glass, leaded glass, art glass–the possibilities are endless. That’s what the folks at the Shanghai Museum of Glass want you to take away from their new museum celebrating the art and technology of glass making. Boasting ancient and contemporary collections from around the world, the glass-encased facility includes a hot glass demonstration hall for those interested in understanding the process and performance of glass blowing. Handle with care!
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Lost on the Beach
By Linda Tancs
Remember the secluded and pristine sandy beach of the TV show “Lost”? That’s Mokuleia Beach Park, a popular kite surfing spot. Tucked away on Oahu’s North Shore across from Dillingham airfield, there’s not a lifeguard in sight on this miles-long stretch of paradise. What you will find are scores of marine life (particularly sea turtles) and a long flat reef ideal for snorkeling. Find a local hotel and get lost for a while.
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A Taste of London
By Linda Tancs
There’s great taste abiding at Taste of London. From 16 to 19 June, 40 local restaurants and world class chefs will compete for your palate in Regent’s Park. The event features a boutique food market, cooking lessons from culinary greats in the Taste Theatre and a Secret Garden. No roses there, just a gourmet oasis of wines and first-class foodstuffs. Hope you’re hungry.
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Open Garden Days in Amsterdam
By Linda Tancs
Think of Amsterdam and you probably envision wooden shoes and tulips. But did you know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice? Along those 17th century canals where you’ll experience some of the oldest homesteads in the city as well as its industrial heritage, watch out for the clock gable and the fabulous canal houses along what’s known as The Golden Bend. Along Prinsengracht, you’ll find very old homes, including the location of the Anne Frank House and museum. For a taste of the city’s industrial past, sail by the giant warehouses of Keizersgracht. The canal gardens have a charm of their own, highlighted each year in June during Open Garden Days. Located around Keizersgracht and Herengracht, features include the floating gardens on the houseboats’ roof and behind the canal houses. On the 17, 18 and 19 of June this year some thirty canal gardens will be open to the public. Reachable on foot, a three-day pass will give you plenty of time to discover the color in the canals.
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