Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Author Archive
A High Plateau in Austria
By Linda Tancs
Situated on a sunny plateau high above Innsbruck, Austria, is where you’ll find the Tyrolean village of Seefeld. Typical of the region, it’s prized for its rugged mountain vistas and horse-drawn carriage rides. It’s also arguably the preeminent destination for cross-country skiing, boasting mile after mile of trails for every skill level. Less common for the area is the octagonal shape of its prized icon, the Seekirchl chapel. Completed in 1666, the early Baroque-style church is a favorite for shutterbugs. Travel there via Innsbruck, where transfers take about 30 minutes.
Share this:
The Hot Spot of the Azores
By Linda Tancs
Furnas is a small town with a big draw in São Miguel Island, Azores. That’s because it’s a thermal hotspot boasting close to 30 bubbling, steaming calderas and fumaroles of different temperatures in the center of town. In addition to taking a dip in natural thermal pools and hiking around the crater lake, don’t miss the opportunity to eat a nature-baked meal. A longstanding tradition is a Portuguese stew (cozido) comprising a carefully layered pot of pork, beef, chicken, sausages, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and kale that is cooked slowly in the ground for around six hours. Virtually every restaurant offers a version of this meal; reservations are a must.
Share this:
Trees of Life in Tanzania
By Linda Tancs
The giant baobab is known as Africa’s “tree of life.” It’s an apt description, considering that they’re a source of food, water and shelter for numerous species and are also used medicinally. Tarangire National Park in Tanzania is known for its baobabs. A great way to see the abundance of this national icon is by taking a nature walk in the company of a guide. The best time for a walk is from June to October.
Share this:
New Zealand’s Glacier Country
By Linda Tancs
Glacier Country is located on the West Coast of the South Island in New Zealand. In the heart of the country is the town of Franz Josef (named for an Austrian emperor), which serves the glacier of the same name. The glacier descends from the tops of the Southern Alps into rainforest close to sea level. For a close encounter, consider a guided ice walk or heli-hike. Another must-see in town is the West Coast Wildlife Centre, where kiwi take center stage. In fact, the center has hatched and incubated over 385 rowi kiwi—the rarest kiwi on the planet with less than 600 left alive in the wild today.
Share this:
Gateway to the Sahara
By Linda Tancs
Erfoud, Morocco, is often referred to as the “Gateway to the Sahara” due to its proximity to Erg Chebbi, a striking sand dunes formation. Other attractions in the area are the palm groves and fossil exhibits. The arid, otherworldly scenery formed the backdrop for Hollywood films like The Prince of Persia and The Mummy. You can take in the magical setting from Borj Est, a military fortification on a hill that provides the perfect vantage point for watching the sunset over the surrounding mountains and dunes.
Share this:
Special Wildlife in Buffalo Springs
By Linda Tancs
Established as a protected area in 1948, Africa’s Buffalo Springs game reserve in Kenya offers wildlife viewing unlike other places. Specifically, Buffalo Springs (along with Shaba and Samburu) is home to two species only found north of the Equator: Grevy’s zebra and the reticulated giraffe, characterized by its brown-orange patches separated by thick, white lines. You’ll see them on game drives, along with a host of other animals. The best place for wildlife viewing is along the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro River, where they’ll be drinking and bathing. Head there during the dry season from June to October.
Share this:
A Living Work of Art
By Linda Tancs
Located in Wiltshire, England, Stourhead is an estate boasting a Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden. When it first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as “a living work of art.” Indeed, the home (one of the first grand Palladian-style villas built in England) boasts a spectacular collection of furniture, artwork and heritage pieces collected by the Hoare family. It’s also home to some of the most spectacular follies (decorative structures) in Britain. The most famous folly is arguably the Temple of Apollo, which made its way into the film Pride and Prejudice. Another folly, the Pantheon, was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. And another one, Alfred’s Tower (named for King Alfred the Great), offers panoramic views over three counties. Events at the property include Behind Closed Doors tours, guided walks and daily activities.
Share this:
An Iconic Tower in London
By Linda Tancs
Built in the 1960s, London’s BT Tower was once the city’s tallest building (at around 581 feet) until NatWest Tower opened in 1980. A national landmark, it was initially used for transmitting signals to television broadcasters and later featured a revolving restaurant and viewing platform (until an act of terrorism shut it down). As its role in telecommunications diminished with the evolution of fixed and mobile technology, the landmark saw new use as a giant banner of sorts when a wrap-around LED screen was installed around the 36th and 37th floors to provide messaging for various national events and even social media posts. The building has been sold to MCR, a major hotel group boasting properties like New York’s TWA Hotel and The High Line.
Share this:
Rhode Island’s Flagship Vessel
By Linda Tancs
The official flagship and tall ship ambassador of Rhode Island, SSV Oliver Hazard Perry is the largest civilian sailing school vessel in the United States and the first ocean-going, full-rigged ship to be built in the U.S. in over 100 years. The ship is named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, a native of Rhode Island and the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Its educational programming includes introductions to marine navigation and engineering. Public tours are also available. During the summer season (June to October), the ship is docked at Fort Adams State Park and thereafter relocates to Bowens Wharf, both in Newport.
Share this:
A Taste of South Beach in Tuscany
By Linda Tancs
Miami’s South Beach is an area well known for its Art Deco district. You could think of Italy’s seaside city of Viareggio as a kissing cousin. It boasts the same architecture, one of the most famous structures being the Gran Caffè Margherita. Start your tour at the intersection of Via Pietro Mascagni and Viale Alfredo Belluomini and head south on the promenade that runs parallel to the beach.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 