Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for July, 2025
Mississippi Writers Trail
By Linda Tancs
Mississippi gets bragging rights for its share of literary giants. So it should come as no surprise that the state has created a Mississippi Writers Trail to honor those with a strong connection to the state and stellar credentials. The trail comprises cast aluminum markers shaped like an open book that highlight information about authors including their birthplace, home, gravesite, museum or literary locale. Luminaries along the route include Tennessee Williams in Clarksdale, Ida B. Wells in Holly Springs and William Faulkner in Oxford.
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Venetian Flair in Texas
By Linda Tancs
Just minutes away from the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, offers Venetian-inspired flair. That’s where you’ll find Mandalay Canal, a waterway connecting with Lake Carolyn that winds through restaurants, shops, office buildings and residences. What would a canal be without a gondola? Take a ride along the waterfront, passing waterfalls and bridges, for a dose of Old World charm.
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A Sculpture Park in the Midwest
By Linda Tancs
Located in the scenic St. Croix River Valley of Minnesota, Franconia Sculpture Park is a 50-acre outdoor museum operating more than 50 public arts programs each year. It features a rotating collection of over 100 contemporary sculptures and an active artist residency. Open daily, admission is free.
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Basilica Hudson
By Linda Tancs
Originally a forge and foundry for steel railway wheels in the 1800s, the industrial building known today as Basilica Hudson in Hudson, New York, is a multidisciplinary arts center. Its offerings include music festivals, marketplace events, regular film screenings and an artist-in-residency program. The venue welcomes over 20,000 visitors each year, who no doubt appreciate its location on the Hudson River amidst the Catskill Mountains.
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The House of Tudor
By Linda Tancs
One of Britain’s best preserved medieval homes, Haddon Hall is a timeless treasure in the Peak District. Occupied today by Lord and Lady Edward Manners, its Tudor charm remains intact owing to the fact that the family chose instead to live at Belvoir Castle for over 200 years, saving the property from the modernizing effects of the Georgian and Victorian periods. As a result, the medieval banqueting hall remains furnished with its original Dais table, behind which hangs a tapestry gifted to the family when King Henry VIII visited. Another gem, the parlor, boasts its glorious Tudor painted ceiling of Tudor roses and heraldic paneling. On the first floor, the Elizabethan rooms culminate in the spectacular Long Gallery, considered to be one of the most beautiful rooms in England. Visitors can explore these rooms, and other treasures, like the walled gardens.
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The Oyster Trail
By Linda Tancs
Boasting some of the finest oysters on Earth, the Maine Oyster Trail features 75 one-of-a-kind oyster businesses to experience. There’s an option for everyone, including farm tours, raw bars, shuck trucks and boat/kayak tours. Your interactive experience comes with a Maine Oyster Passport; eligible visits earn points toward nautical swag.
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The Corn Palace
By Linda Tancs
There’s an “a-maize-ing” venue on Main Street in Mitchell, South Dakota. That’s where you’ll find The Corn Palace. The venue is adorned with intricate murals crafted from natural grasses and numerous shades of corn. During the summer months you can take a free, guided tour where you’ll learn how the murals are made. A popular tourist attraction, the facility also hosts industrial exhibits, dances, stage shows, banquets and other special events.
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Prairie Style in Wichita
By Linda Tancs
The last of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie houses, Allen House was commissioned by newspaper publisher Henry J. Allen and his wife for their home in Wichita, Kansas. Wright designed the house while working on the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, explaining the home’s Japanese aesthetic. Featuring more than 30 pieces of Wright-designed furniture, the interior also boasts art glass windows, bookcase doors and masonry wall joints covered in gold leaf. Reservations are required for a visit, which is led by a docent.
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The Driftless Area
By Linda Tancs
The Driftless Area is a region in Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois (and, depending on who you believe, parts of Minnesota and Iowa) that was never glaciated (hence, “driftless”). It’s characterized by its steep, rugged landscape and by the largest concentration of cold water streams in the world. In Wisconsin, you can enjoy all forms of recreation in this unique setting. One highlight is Eagle Cave, the state’s largest onyx cave and privately owned property offering camping, cabins, canoe rentals, mini-golf and more. Another option is a winding ride into the heart of the Driftless, following State Highway 131 north from State Highway 60 near Wauzeka as it runs high along the ridgetops. Whatever you do, take at least a day to explore this regional gem.
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