Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for October, 2026
A Landmark in Dorset
By Linda Tancs
Old Harry Rocks are three chalk formations (including a stack and a stump) located at Handfast Point at the southern end of Studland Bay in Dorset, southern England. Named for a local pirate or alternatively the devil (according to legends), they mark the most eastern point of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thousands of years ago, Old Harry and The Needles (another chalk rock formation) on the Isle of Wight were linked by a line of chalk hills that eroded away during the last ice age. On a clear day you can see The Needles from Studland Bay. Buses run between Bournemouth, Sandbanks and Swanage all year, which stop at nearby Studland village. The walk from the village is part of the South West Coast Path. Autumn is an ideal time to visit, when migrant birds are on the move across the water, including enormous flocks of wood pigeons.
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Glamor and History in Portugal
By Linda Tancs
Historically a refuge for exiled European royalty, the Portuguese Riviera is an affluent, scenic coastal region to the west of Lisbon spanning Cascais, Estoril and Sintra. A mile-long promenade links Cascais with Estoril, home to Europe’s largest casino. The casino is legendary in James Bond lore as the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s first novel, Casino Royale. It also served as a filming location for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. A bus ride away is Sintra,a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its palaces, like Palácio da Pena, Quinta da Regaleira, Palácio Nacional de Sintra, Palácio de Monserrate and Biester Palace. Now is a great time to visit as you’ll be avoiding the summer crowds.
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The Kingdom of Beaver Island
By Linda Tancs
Although Hawaii is the only state to have been a kingdom, there’s an island in Michigan that once claimed its own monarch. That storied past belongs to Beaver island, the largest island in Lake Michigan. The self-proclaimed monarch was James Jesse Strang, a dissident Mormon leader who crowned himself king in 1850 and ruled until 1856. Following the departure of the Mormon colony in 1856, the island became a haven for Irish immigrants, leading the locale to be dubbed “America’s Emerald Isle.” Also, DarkSky International has formally recognized the Michigan State Wildlife Research Area on Beaver Island as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, offering one of the finest dark skies star gazing locations in the United States thanks to its distance from the light pollution of any large metro areas. The peaceful, remote haven is active largely from spring through fall. The Beaver Island Boat Company ferry runs from mid-April through December; winter travel relies on flights.
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48 Falls
By Linda Tancs
Once a training ground for ninjas, Japan’s Akame Valley boasts an abundance of waterfalls on a trail with a walkway. It’s popularly referred to as the 48 Waterfalls although the number is symbolic, not actual; the numerical reference means “many” or “endless.” The top five falls are Fudo, Senju, Nunobiki, Ninai and Biwa. Allow three or four hours for a visit. You might want to stop at the Salamander Center at the entrance to the nature trail. It features up-close looks at the Japanese giant salamander, the second-largest salamander species in the world at five feet. An hour from Osaka and about 90 minutes from Kyoto, the falls are easily reached by train to Akameguchi Station on the Kintetsu line.
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Block Island
By Linda Tancs
Ghost ships and buried treasure are just some of the lore surrounding Block Island, a small island off the coast of Rhode Island. These days it’s better known for the clay cliffs of Mohegan Bluffs, gorgeous beaches, two lighthouses built in the 1800s and an extensive ecosystem which includes the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, a significant migratory stopping point for over 70 species of birds. October is a prime time for migration. The cooler temperatures make spotting merlins, peregrine falcons, hawks and other bird species all the more common. Block Island Ferry provides year-round service from the mainland in Point Judith.
