Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for August, 2026
Portugal’s Highest Mountain
By Linda Tancs
At nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, Mount Pico is Portugal’s highest mountain. It’s located in Pico Island in the mid-Atlantic archipelago of the Azores. A paradise for nature lovers, the island boasts unique lava formations and panoramic views of the archipelago from atop the mountain for hikers. The volcanic landscape also yields a special type of white wine called Verdelho from vineyards classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This time of year you’ll also spot several species of whales. Pick up a flight from Lisbon, Porto or other cities in Europe. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from the nearby islands of Faial or São Jorge.
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A Light in Sleepy Hollow
By Linda Tancs
Now just a few feet from land, Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, New York, was once a half-mile off shore. That all changed after years of landfill by a now-demolished General Motors factory moved the shoreline within a few feet of the light. Decommissioned decades ago, the lighthouse has been completely renovated inside and out. It’s accessible at Kingsland Point Park via the Riverwalk path. Curator-led tours are available by registration when available.
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A Walk Through Time in Connecticut
By Linda Tancs
The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum in Windsor, Connecticut, traces the development of electronic communications from the early 1800s up to the invention of radio, television, telephone, the personal computer and other technologies. Many of the exhibits are hands-on: Tap out your name in Morse Code; tune a vintage radio; crank a wind-up phonograph; listen to a home-made crystal set; or pick a song from a working juke box. Tour at your own pace or let a knowledgeable docent guide you around. The museum is open year round.
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Views Over Eden
By Linda Tancs
A formidable barrier against Scots invaders, England’s Brougham Castle in Cumbria was founded in the early 13th century by Robert de Vieuxpont, a powerful local baron who was granted the lordship of Westmorland by King John. Largely in ruins, the keep still stands today, a fine example of medieval military architecture. Climb its spiral stairs to the top for panoramic views over the Eden Valley.
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The Largest Covered Wagon
By Linda Tancs
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest covered wagon, The Railsplitter in Lincoln, Illinois, measures 25 feet high and 40 feet wide with 12-foot-high wagon wheels. It boasts a seated statue of Abraham Lincoln (referred to as Big Lincoln at 12 feet) reading a law book. The structure is being prepared to be moved downtown to the Route 66 Welcome Garden on the corner of Kickapoo Street (original 1926 alignment of Route 66) and Pekin Street.
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