Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for tourism
A Light in Sleepy Hollow
By Linda Tancs
Now just a few feet from land, Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, New York, was once a half-mile off shore. That all changed after years of landfill by a now-demolished General Motors factory moved the shoreline within a few feet of the light. Decommissioned decades ago, the lighthouse has been completely renovated inside and out. It’s accessible at Kingsland Point Park via the Riverwalk path. Curator-led tours are available by registration when available.
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A Walk Through Time in Connecticut
By Linda Tancs
The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum in Windsor, Connecticut, traces the development of electronic communications from the early 1800s up to the invention of radio, television, telephone, the personal computer and other technologies. Many of the exhibits are hands-on: Tap out your name in Morse Code; tune a vintage radio; crank a wind-up phonograph; listen to a home-made crystal set; or pick a song from a working juke box. Tour at your own pace or let a knowledgeable docent guide you around. The museum is open year round.
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Views Over Eden
By Linda Tancs
A formidable barrier against Scots invaders, England’s Brougham Castle in Cumbria was founded in the early 13th century by Robert de Vieuxpont, a powerful local baron who was granted the lordship of Westmorland by King John. Largely in ruins, the keep still stands today, a fine example of medieval military architecture. Climb its spiral stairs to the top for panoramic views over the Eden Valley.
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The Largest Covered Wagon
By Linda Tancs
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest covered wagon, The Railsplitter in Lincoln, Illinois, measures 25 feet high and 40 feet wide with 12-foot-high wagon wheels. It boasts a seated statue of Abraham Lincoln (referred to as Big Lincoln at 12 feet) reading a law book. The structure is being prepared to be moved downtown to the Route 66 Welcome Garden on the corner of Kickapoo Street (original 1926 alignment of Route 66) and Pekin Street.
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Mostar’s Iconic Bridge
By Linda Tancs
Mostar is a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina located on the banks of the Neretva River. Its iconic symbol is Old Bridge, a replica of a 16th-century bridge built under the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it hosts a cliff diving competition each year that draws spectators and thrill-seekers alike. This year’s event begins on July 31.
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Art in the Fjord
By Linda Tancs
Surrounded by the Tjuvholmen sculpture park with views of the fjord, Oslo’s Astrup Fearnley Museum is a destination in itself. One of the Nordic countries’ leading museums for contemporary art, the museum manages the extensive Astrup Fearnley collection and presents changing exhibitions featuring both works from the collection and new productions by artists from around the world. You’ll find significant works by artists such as Matthew Barney, Paul Chan, Trisha Donnelly, Nicole Eisenman, Ida Ekblad, Félix González-Torres and others. Don’t miss a stroll through the sculpture park which, along with the museum building, was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano.
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Harlem’s Hallmark Museum
By Linda Tancs
Studio Museum is an African American art museum in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. Following an extensive renovation that began in 2018, it has reopened in a new seven-story, 82,000-square-foot space. The museum’s new design incorporates architectural highlights like the Grand Stair, along with other features like the “Stoop,” a flexible Grand Hall for events, and a rooftop terrace. The venue’s permanent collection represents more than 800 artists and 200 years. Studio Sundays offers free admission and family-centered programming every Sunday.
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Native Culture in Maine
By Linda Tancs
Located in Bar Harbor, Maine, Abbe Museum celebrates Wabanaki Nations’ arts and cultures. The Wabanaki (People of the Dawn) lived for thousands of generations in what is known today as Maine, New England and the Canadian Maritimes. Their history is showcased through changing exhibitions, special events, teacher workshops and workshops for children and adults.
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Art in the Subway
By Linda Tancs
Stockholm’s subway (metro) system may not be the biggest or the oldest, but it does boast the world’s longest art gallery. Sixty-eight miles long, the tunnels exhibit artwork initiated during Sweden’s late 1950s cultural boom that continues to be updated today. Its 100 stations feature unique art on the platform, walls or waiting hall. The system celebrated a milestone, its 75th anniversary, last year.
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The Viking Age
By Linda Tancs
Danish prehistory culminated in the Viking Age, the period from A.D. 800 to A.D. 1050. During the Viking Age the first kings appeared, who ruled an area roughly corresponding to present-day Denmark and, at the end of the age, also ruled over England and Norway during certain periods. That’s just part of 9,000 years of history you’ll discover at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history, it’s regarded as one of Europe’s best museums. A key exhibit showcases national treasures such as the Sun Chariot (a Nordic Bronze Age artifact discovered in Denmark), the well-preserved remains of the Bronze Age Egtved Girl, and an incredible collection of archaeological finds from the Viking Age. Self-guided and guided tours are available.
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