Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for October, 2013
Timeless Elegance
By Linda Tancs
A grand dame of European hotels, Copenhagen’s five-star d’Angleterre retains its timeless elegance following a two year renovation. Dating to 1755, the palatial icon’s first iteration on Kongens Nytorv arose from the culinary and servile aptitudes of a royal servant and the daughter of a royal chef. The founders’ culinary talents and exceptional service are a hallmark of this grand hotel still today. Prepare to be pampered.
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A Place in Railroad History
By Linda Tancs
It might seem hard to imagine that a railroad bridge in McKean County, Pennsylvania was once hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” That honor was bestowed upon the Kinzua Bridge, an iron marvel of the 1800s that was the tallest railroad bridge in the world before being dismantled. Subsequently restored, it was the fourth-tallest bridge in the United States before its partial collapse in 2003 from a tornado. Still attracting visitors to Kinzua Bridge State Park in Mount Jewett, the main attraction these days is the skywalk, a 225-foot-high observation deck offering stunning views of Kinzua Gorge.
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America’s First Presidential Library
By Linda Tancs
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is America’s first presidential library. Depicting the life and times of President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, it was conceived and built under FDR’s direction on his 16-acre property in his hometown of Hyde Park, New York. The only library used by a sitting president, the study marks the site where FDR delivered many of his wireless “fireside chats.” Recently renovated for the first time since its opening in 1941, the property is easily accessible by car or train. In the late spring through early autumn a free shuttle service operates from the train station at nearby Poughkeepsie, New York, among the presidential estate and library and other attractions such as Eleanor’s country home and the Vanderbilt estate.
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The Heart of the Continent
By Linda Tancs
Three hundred miles north of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, a water-based national park lies at the heart of the continent. Sharing 55 miles at Minnesota’s northern edge with the Canadian border, Voyageurs National Park is named for the French-Canadian frontiersmen who traded in the northwestern United States. Some of the oldest rock formations in the world are found here, mingling with a boreal forest, bogs, swamps, rolling hills and, of course, the lakes. Its interconnected water routes are accessible via free public boat ramps. Why not consider a houseboat rental and make a holiday out of it, plying the waters as the original voyageurs did in their birch bark canoes.
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The City of Bridges
By Linda Tancs
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, the source of the Ohio River. Needless to say, a water town will have its share of bridges. But 446? That’s the oft-quoted number of bridges in Pennsylvania’s second largest city, reason enough for the nickname “City of Bridges.” This Gateway to the West has more bridges than Venice, Italy (431 tops most estimates). But if you think the ooze of romance emanating from the trusses and beams of its European counterpart is lost on this city of steel, think again. Even The New Yorker magazine proclaimed: “If Pittsburgh were situated somewhere in the heart of Europe, tourists would eagerly journey hundreds of miles out of their way to visit it.” And why not? Where else will you find a bridge crossed by a young George Washington while acting as a messenger of the governor of Virginia to the French forces. Or a trio of identical bridges across the Allegheny River, the only such group in the world. Or a bridge whose name depends on the outcome of the annual football game between the two rival high schools of Rochester and Monaca. And then there’s historic Smithfield Street Bridge, designed by John Roebling, America’s best known civil engineer and architect of the Brooklyn Bridge. You get the drift.
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A Leaf Peeping Bonanza
By Linda Tancs
Shenandoah National Park hosts a presidential retreat within its borders (Herbert Hoover’s Rapidan Camp), but that’s only one reason why visitors flock there, particularly in October. Why? Because autumn heralds peak leaf peeping season. Skyline Drive runs for 105 miles through the park, offering 75 overlooks to take in those magnificent hues. Better yet, slow it down a bit and walk the Appalachian Trail, which runs parallel to Skyline Drive. Now there’s room enough for a view.
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Spinning Tales in Tennessee
By Linda Tancs
Like kids around the campfire, folks have been gathering for story time in Jonesborough, Tennessee for over 40 years now. But in this case, substitute a tent for a campfire. At the National Storytelling Festival this weekend, circus-type tents in downtown Jonesborough celebrate the pure and simple truth of a well-told tale. This year’s tellers include Tim Lowry, Syd Lieberman, Diane Ferlatte and Minton Sparks.
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The Lowest Place in North America
By Linda Tancs
Springtime may be the best time to visit California and Nevada’s Death Valley National Park, but the upcoming autumn season is relatively uncrowded and a great time to visit some of the park’s most stunning features. Badwater Basin, for instance, is the lowest place in North America at 282 feet below sea level. Despite its name, the park is alive with historical landmarks, like Scotty’s Castle, a hideaway from the Roaring ’20s, and beacons to industry like Harmony Borax Works and Keane Wonder Mine, one of the most successful gold mines in Death Valley.
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Verdi Festival Celebrates Milestone
By Linda Tancs
As any foodie knows, the Italian city of Parma is famous for its prosciutto and cheese. The Parma region is also the birthplace of the great Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi. This year’s annual Verdi festival, taking place now through 31 October, celebrates the composer’s 200th birthday. In addition to performances at the Regio Theatre of Parma, events will also take place at the Verdi Theatre in nearby Busseto. Enjoy performances of Falstaff, Simon Boccanegra, I Masnadieri, and Messa da Requiem.
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