Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for national parks
America’s First Presidential Library
By Linda Tancs
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is America’s first presidential library. Depicting the life and times of President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, it was conceived and built under FDR’s direction on his 16-acre property in his hometown of Hyde Park, New York. The only library used by a sitting president, the study marks the site where FDR delivered many of his wireless “fireside chats.” Recently renovated for the first time since its opening in 1941, the property is easily accessible by car or train. In the late spring through early autumn a free shuttle service operates from the train station at nearby Poughkeepsie, New York, among the presidential estate and library and other attractions such as Eleanor’s country home and the Vanderbilt estate.
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A Leaf Peeping Bonanza
By Linda Tancs
Shenandoah National Park hosts a presidential retreat within its borders (Herbert Hoover’s Rapidan Camp), but that’s only one reason why visitors flock there, particularly in October. Why? Because autumn heralds peak leaf peeping season. Skyline Drive runs for 105 miles through the park, offering 75 overlooks to take in those magnificent hues. Better yet, slow it down a bit and walk the Appalachian Trail, which runs parallel to Skyline Drive. Now there’s room enough for a view.
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The Lowest Place in North America
By Linda Tancs
Springtime may be the best time to visit California and Nevada’s Death Valley National Park, but the upcoming autumn season is relatively uncrowded and a great time to visit some of the park’s most stunning features. Badwater Basin, for instance, is the lowest place in North America at 282 feet below sea level. Despite its name, the park is alive with historical landmarks, like Scotty’s Castle, a hideaway from the Roaring ’20s, and beacons to industry like Harmony Borax Works and Keane Wonder Mine, one of the most successful gold mines in Death Valley.
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Scotland Park Celebrates Ten Years
By Linda Tancs
The Scottish Highlands is a captivating region featuring the highest mountain (Ben Nevis) and the deepest lake (Loch Ness). A lesser known distinction may be that it’s also the site of the largest national park in the United Kingdom. Now in its tenth year, Cairngorms National Park offers an abundance of award-winning visitor attractions—like Britain’s only herd of free-ranging reindeer and a wildlife park boasting European bison, red deer, camels, yaks, red pandas, and even polar bears. The castles of Braemar, Blair and Balmoral beckon as well, along with a hodgepodge of adventure parks, distilleries and leisure activities. his dog owner-friendly expanse is easy to reach by road, rail, plane—or even bike via Deeside Way or National Cycle Route 7.
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Where the Buffalo Roam
By Linda Tancs
President Theodore Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman and a budding naturalist in his youth. During his presidency he advanced his conservationist agenda with the preservation of millions of acres of land and the creation of wildlife refuges. His values are well defended at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Located in western North Dakota, the park monitors and manages elk, bison and feral horses to maintain sustainable populations. An entrance fee is required. Buy an annual park pass, available for 20 dollars. A lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 62 or over is available for 10 dollars.
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Riding the Circuit in Patagonia
By Linda Tancs
Torres del Paine National Park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve in Chilean Patagonia. Rich with mountains (particularly the iconic Paine massif), glaciers, lakes and rivers, small wonder the area offers a plethora of activities like fishing, climbing, ice trekking, whitewater kayaking, environmental education and wildlife observation. The park offers a number of trails, or circuits, for day or overnight trekking. Those include the Pingo Zapata, Dickson and Grey Glacier circuits (leading to glaciers), the Paine Circuit (no pun intended–an arduous trail requiring seven to 10 days of walking), and Las Torres circuit (leading to the base of Torres del Paine). Get there via Santiago to Punta Arenas by air or via Puerto Natales overground.
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Racing Around the Caribbean
By Linda Tancs
Nelson’s Dockyard is the only Georgian dockyard in the world and is the largest tourist attraction on Antigua. In its midst is The Inn at English Harbour, a relaxing location from which competitors in today’s Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Caribbean 600 have been gearing up for the fourth annual yacht race around 11 Caribbean islands. The RORC Caribbean 600 features over 500 hundred competitors from at least 24 different nations taking part in this high-speed yacht race. The list of nations represented includes Australia, Austria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the United States. The largest yacht competing this year is Hetairos, the world’s largest carbon composite sailing yacht and the favorite to win.
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