Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Author Archive
The Views on Tam
By Linda Tancs
One of the most prized assets in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mount Tamalpais State Park offers views as varied as the Farallon Islands, the Marin County hills, San Francisco Bay and the city, Mount Diablo and, on rare occasions, the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountain range 150 miles away. Known locally as Tam, you’ll find miles of trails along the 2,500-foot-high mountain crossing redwood forests, oak woodlands, open grasslands and a shrubland community found primarily in California. Located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, daily service is provided by the West Marin Stage Coach via route 61.
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The Bridge in the Sky
By Linda Tancs
A popular attraction, Sri Lanka’s Nine Arch Bridge is commonly referred to as “the bridge in the sky.” A marvel of engineering erected in 1921 during the nation’s British colonial period, it features nine arches built of a mixture of stone and bricks. The 300-foot-long bridge perched 100 feet high is flanked by tea plantations and lush vegetation, making it a favorite of shutterbugs. Located in the town of Ella, the best way to view it is by taking a train along the Ella-Kandy railway line.
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The Three Giants
By Linda Tancs
Lake Atitlán is one of the most prized tourist attractions in Guatemala. It’s flanked by three volcanoes, Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro, known as “The Three Giants.” The picturesque setting is a favorite with hikers, particularly those willing to endure the arduous climb to the summit of Atitlán, nearly 12,000 feet. What’s particularly spectacular about the cloud forests of this region is the horned guan, a rare bird endemic to the region with a red horn on the top of its head. You can take a shuttle from Guatemala City to the lake, which will take about four hours or so depending on the traffic.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Height of Land
by Linda Tancs
Height of Land is an apt name for a viewpoint in western Maine offering views so sweeping that it’s been described as one of the finest in the state if not in all of New England. You’ll find it on state route 17 along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway, a 52-mile-long national scenic byway that begins just north of Byron and features six major lakes. The photo-worthy spot boasts sprawling views of the Rangeley Lakes region and the mountains beyond. Bordering the Appalachian Trail, it presents a fine opportunity to hike at least a small portion of the trail while you’re there.
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A Lakeside Rail Ride
By Linda Tancs
Visitors to Meredith, New Hampshire, can enjoy a ride on over 50 miles of historic railroad track on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. Operating between Meredith and Lakeport along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee (the largest lake in the state), the route was once home to the famous Boston, Concord & Montreal line dating back to 1848. All excursions are round-trip from Meredith.
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Not Your Everyday Presidential Library
By Linda Tancs
The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio, is not your everyday presidential museum. Of course, it has the usual presidential memorabilia and research facilities you would expect. But it also boasts animatronic figures of the president and his wife along with an interactive science center, a planetarium and the Street of Shops, a life-sized, indoor 19th-century town featuring a large HO gauge train layout. The president, his wife and two daughters are also buried at the site at the McKinley National Memorial, a city landmark. Open from April to November, the towering, dome-shaped monument has a red, white and blue skylight with 45 stars in its design, representing the 45 states in the Union at the time of President McKinley’s death.
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Brewing in Utica
By Linda Tancs
The FX Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York, derives from a legacy of brewing tradition that began in Germany. Founded in 1888, it’s the third-oldest family-owned and operated brewery in the country. It’s also distinctive because it survived Prohibition, one of few breweries to do so, owing largely to transitioning to the making of soft drinks. Once Prohibition ended, it became the first brewery in the nation to acquire a license to sell beer. The outdoor Biergarten serves beer and food through late fall.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Nationality Rooms
By Linda Tancs
The Nationality Rooms are a group of 31 classrooms in the University of Pittsburgh’s 42-story, Gothic-style Cathedral of Learning. Each room depicts the cultural heritage of an ethnic community that helped build Pittsburgh, using designs created by international architects, artists and craftspeople. Because the rooms are functioning classrooms, all tours of the rooms require advance registration and will be guided.
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Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon
By Linda Tancs
Perhaps Vermont’s most spectacular natural wonder, Quechee Gorge is popularly known as “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon.” Formed by glacial activity approximately 13,000 years ago, it’s the focal point of Quechee State Park. Fishing is a popular activity at the gorge, as well as hiking and picnicking. Enjoy the vistas from Ottauquechee River, flowing 165 feet below viewing points along Route 4.
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Gallons of Fun in Atlanta
By Linda Tancs
One of the largest of its kind in the world, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta houses over 120,000 marine animals from more than 200 species in over 11 million gallons of water. It’s the only aquarium in the U.S. to house whale sharks. In fact, the building was designed around their 6.3-million-gallon tank. You’ll also find beluga whales, manta rays, penguins, sea otters, dolphins and more spanning seven permanent galleries. Special experiences include sleepovers, face-to-face animal encounters and swims. The facility is located in downtown Atlanta across from Centennial Olympic Park.
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