Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for new york
Nation’s Largest Orchid Show
By Linda Tancs
In Chinese culture, the orchid has long been a symbol of refinement and nobility. No doubt its beauty and enchanting nature is reason enough why orchid cultivation has blossomed into an international industry. In the United States, the largest orchid exhibition is taking place through 22 April at the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show. The curated show sports a mother lode of exotic orchids in every shape, size and color imaginable. Of course, there will be orchids for sale, along with care demonstrations, mood music and cocktail evenings among the blooms.
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100 Years Grand
By Linda Tancs
Arguably the nation’s most famous terminal, New York City’s Grand Central Station turns 100 this year. Completed in 1913, the Beaux-Arts landmark is one of the most shutterbug friendly sites in the city. You can celebrate the grand dame’s heyday with a model train exhibit at the New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex at Grand Central. Better hurry, though, the exhibit ends on 10 February. Did you know that Grand Central boasts 68 shops and 35 dining options? See all the nooks and crannies with an audio tour, available at “GCT Tour” windows on the Main Concourse. You’ll learn little known secrets and discover a few hidden gems like The Campbell Apartment, an upscale cocktail lounge. Formerly the private office and salon of 1920’s tycoon John W. Campbell, the comfy enclave’s “drinks from another era” feature concoctions with names like Prohibition Punch, Flapper’s Delight and Robber Baron.
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Three Centuries of Hospitality
By Linda Tancs
The Madam Brett Homestead is the oldest building in Dutchess County, New York. Located in Beacon, a city used as a signaling point during the American Revolution, the house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. Built circa 1709 by Roger and Catheryna Rombaut Brett, the home’s original acreage of over 28,000 was inherited by Catheryna from her father, who purchased the land from the Wappinger Indians. Seven generations, spanning three centuries, have lived in its rooms. During the Revolutionary War, special guests included George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette and Baron von Steuben. Today visitors can enjoy period furnishings, including a colonial-era kitchen, China-Trade porcelain and 18th and 19th century furniture scattered among the drawing room, colonial-era bedroom and Federal-style dining room. The property’s remaining six acres include woodlands, gardens and a brook.
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A Presidential Retreat
By Linda Tancs
Nowadays our U.S. presidents retreat to Camp David for a little respite. But in Teddy Roosevelt’s day, Sagamore Hill was a presidential oasis–actually, the homefront–for one of the first presidents to be extensively chronicled. Located in Oyster Bay, New York, the grounds comprise the stately Roosevelt home, the museum at Old Orchard (formerly, eldest son Ted’s home), a visitors’ center, and a nature trail leading to the national wildlife refuge on Cold Spring Harbor. Although the house is closed for renovations, why not take in a peaceful visit of the park grounds during this off-season. The museum and vistors’ center are open Wednesdays through Sundays.
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A Home Run in Cooperstown
By Linda Tancs
Cooperstown, New York is the birthplace of baseball–the national pastime–and home to its museum. But did you know that it’s also a treasure trove for shoppers, opera and museum lovers, and theatre and concert goers? For instance, Fenimore Art Museum, one of the nation’s premier art institutions, is located here. This neo-Georgian dwelling houses a significant collection of American folk art and American Indian art, as well as important holdings in decorative arts, photography and modern art. The museum is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, presenting On the Home Front: New York in the Civil War.
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The Fairy Trail
By Linda Tancs
The Lily Dale Fairy Trail sounds like the title of a children’s book, but it’s an honest-to-goodness hiking trail in Lily Dale Assembly, a religious corporation promoting spiritualism located in southwestern New York just one hour south of Buffalo. The Fairy Trail is marked by pink fairies on the trees, engaging visitors to stay alert for fairy houses, gnome houses and small villages located along the trail. Like other features of this community (Forest Temple and Inspiration Stump), the trail offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the natural surroundings in a meditative way. Lily Dale is open to visitors year round, but visits from 29 June to 2 September require a gate fee.
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It’s a Dog’s Life
By Linda Tancs
Well, maybe it’s not quite a dog’s life after all. Even pooches need to get away from it all, as Canine Camp Getaway of New York would have you believe. How does a vacation in the beautiful Adirondacks sound? Your faithful companion will enjoy activities ranging from frisbee to skateboarding, rewinding afterwards at the very social Yappy Hour. Don’t feel left out. You can enjoy your own pursuits, like horseback riding, zumba, and the spa. The fun lasts from 24 to 28 June at Lake George.
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Nation’s Largest City Zoo
By Linda Tancs
The Bronx Zoo in New York is the nation’s largest city zoo. Managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, its exhibits include the Congo Gorilla Forest, the Wild Asia Monorail, Tiger Mountain, and Madagascar. The zoo is especially renowned for its Education Department, dedicated to teaching youngsters and adults about wildlife and wild habitats through guided tours, family overnights, summer programs, and opportunities to meet zoo experts. Save 20% when you purchase a Total Experience Ticket online, which includes all the popular attractions like the 4-D Theater, Bug Carousel, Butterfly Garden, Congo Gorilla Forest, Children’s Zoo, JungleWorld, Wild Asia Monorail, and the Zoo Shuttle.
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A Fortress in Manhattan
By Linda Tancs
At the foot of Manhattan in New York City lies a fortress, a national monument that celebrated its 200th anniversary last year. Known as Castle Clinton (named after Governor Dewitt Clinton of New York State), the structure was one of the New York Harbor forts built just before the War of 1812 with Great Britain. Over the last two centuries, the fort has also served as an entertainment center, an immigration landing depot and an aquarium. Saved from demolition in 1946, the Castle was restored to its original design by the National Park Service and today houses the ticket office for the Statue of Liberty, welcoming over 3 million visitors annually.
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Raising the Chocolate Bar
By Linda Tancs
They’ve raised environmental consciousness to a whole new level at Gnosis, a New York City chocolatier (www.gnosischocolate.com). Consider, for instance, that the boxes are 100% recycled, 80% post-consumer recycled, and FSC certified–with vegetable ink printing. Add to that ethically sourced raw cacao from Bali, Ecuador, and Peru and a dose of heart healthy low glycemic sweeteners, nutrient dense fruits, nuts, and medicinal herbs sourced from the Amazon to the Himalayas. The result is chocolate that is good for you, body and soul.
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