Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for March, 2025
Cave Tubing in Belize
By Linda Tancs
Caves Branch River is a popular destination for caving, tubing and rafting in Belize. In fact, some of the best cave tubing in Belize takes place on the river. Many tours involve a guided hike for about 20 minutes through the Belizean rainforest and then a tube excursion down the river and through spectacular cave systems which the ancient Mayas regarded as a sacred underworld. This activity is an especially popular cruise ship excursion.
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Salt of the Earth in Bolivia
By Linda Tancs
Descending from a prehistoric lake, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat at over 3,900 square miles. Located in the Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Wildlife Reserve in Bolivia, it’s one of South America’s most popular tourist attractions. This snow-hued wasteland features a cemetery of cherry red trains along its outskirts that bear silent testimony to a once burgeoning rail system designed for the transport of the area’s rich mineral resources to Pacific Ocean ports. Although generally devoid of plant or animal life, it’s also home to a migratory species of flamingos. Why not complement your visit with a stay at a salt hotel, where everything from the beds to the walls and floors are constructed from salt blocks. A bus or plane from La Paz will get you there.
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Where History and Nature Meet in Panama
By Linda Tancs
Located in the eastern sector of the Panama Canal, Chagres National Park is a place where history and nature meet. It’s home to the forest that shelters the Chagres River (the largest river in the canal’s watershed) and where you’ll find remnants of the Camino Real, a colonial route that transported goods like gold and silver from coast to coast before the canal was built. Comprising over 300,000 acres, hiking opportunities are abundant, like the peak of Cerro Jefe and its spectacular views of the canal. Rafting, kayaking and fishing are popular activities as is visiting the indigenous Emberá community by canoeing up the Chagres River. Book a tour operator for the best experience, such as an indigenous culture tour or a full-day jungle expedition.
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A Fortified City in France
By Linda Tancs
Carcassonne is a hilltop town in France known for its medieval citadel, La Cité, comprising numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where the town stands. Take a guided tour of the ramparts for the best experience of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Robin Hood’s Castle
By Linda Tancs
Robin Hood is a product of English folklore famous for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Old Wardour Castle in Wiltshire is dubbed “Robin Hood’s castle” because it served as inspiration for the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Built in the 1300s for John, Lord Lovell, its hexagonal shape may have been inspired by Queenborough Castle in Kent. Now a picturesque ruin following the English Civil War, a free audio tour will bring its history to life. For great views of the estate as well as the surrounding countryside and woodlands, be sure to climb the East Tower.
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Railway 200 Celebrations in Britain
By Linda Tancs
The Railway 200 celebrations in 2025 mark 200 years since the birth of the modern railway in the U.K. As part of the festivities, the iconic No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ will be in operation between Pickering and Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, one of Britain’s most popular heritage railways. Between March 22 and March 30 you’ll have an opportunity to ride on this locomotive designed by celebrated railway engineer Sir Nigel Gresley. It became famous in 1959 for setting the post-war steam speed record of 112 mph during a test run, due in no small part to its sleek, aerodynamic design that reduced air resistance and enabled exceptional performance. Don’t miss the chance to see this masterpiece of British innovation.
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The White City
By Linda Tancs
The city of Arequipa in Peru is dubbed the “white city” because its architecture is built with white volcanic stone called sillar. But its volcanic nature is not limited to its buildings. In fact, the city in surrounded by huge massifs that rise in the north, northeast and east sectors of the city. The most iconic is the Misti volcano, towering over the city at over 19,000 feet. Take an excursion into the countryside and you’ll also find a volcanic range surrounding Colca Canyon, thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and home to the giant Andean condor.
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The Wall of Tears
By Linda Tancs
The Wall of Tears is a historical site located in Isabela Island, the most popular and largest of the Galapagos Islands. It was built by prisoners sent to the island and is composed of lava rocks. Debate ensues whether the unfinished wall had any real purpose other than to occupy the time of the prisoners, many of whom died from injuries, accidents and exposure (hence, the name). The site is a popular hiking and biking area with lookouts and frequent sightings of giant tortoises and iguanas.
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A Rite of Passage in Carlsbad
By Linda Tancs
The advent of spring in Southern California is marked by a very special attraction in North San Diego County. That’s where you’ll find 55 acres of ranunculus flowers laden like a rainbow at Carlsbad Ranch in Carlsbad. Heralding the season for over 60 years now, the display blooms for approximately six to eight weeks from March to May. A popular tourist attraction, it’s best to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Be sure to buy a ticket online in advance.
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Canada’s Limestone Barrens
By Linda Tancs
Canada’s Port au Choix National Historic Site is a rugged coastline of unique limestone barrens, forests and bays in a scenic fishing village. Limestone bedrock is formed by the compaction of coral plant and animal remains on the bottom of the ocean. In this unique environment, some 114 rare plants thrive, including the elegant yellow lady slipper orchid. You might also spot three rare plants, endemic only to Newfoundland: barrens willow (a woody shrub with reddish-brown stems), the Fernald’s braya (small white flower clusters with fleshy basal leaves) and the taller Long’s braya. Take a guided walk.
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