Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for tourism
Rainbow Mountain
By Linda Tancs
If Matisse could’ve applied his color palette to an actual mountain, the result would likely resemble Peru’s Vinicunca Mountain. Also known as Rainbow Mountain or the Mountain of Seven Colors, these peaks in the Ausangate Mountain region of the Peruvian Andes offer an impressionistic portrait filled with turquoise, lavender, gold and other colors. You can thank the sediment and atmospheric conditions of the region for the rainbow-like appearance of this growing tourist attraction. A day trip from Cusco, there are plenty of bus tours offering treks, which is best done between March and November.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Experiencing Gin in Manchester
By Linda Tancs
If you’ve ever fancied becoming a master distiller for a day, then head to Manchester, England, where you’ll find The Gin Experience at The City of Manchester Distillery. Their award-winning experience guides visitors through the production facility and the art of making gin. Afterward, every guest gets the opportunity to make his or her own bespoke bottle of gin from over 50 botanical flavors. Best of all, they save guests’ recipes so that you can re-order another bottle of your unique concoction at any time.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Bali’s Botanic Garden
By Linda Tancs
Bali Botanic Garden is reportedly the largest of its kind in Indonesia. Nestled in the cool, mountainous region of Bedugul in central Bali, it’s a refreshing respite from the hot and humid weather this time of year. Less than two hours away from Denpasar, the 388-acre paradise is prized for its wild orchid collection, some of which bloom year-round. It also boasts the world’s most comprehensive collection of begonias with around 100 species on display, including three endangered species unique to Bali. Other highlights include carnivorous plants, medicinal plants, the bamboo and fern gardens and a giant, age-old fig tree on the slope of Tapak Hill.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Jade Green in Slovenia
By Linda Tancs
All destinations benefit from great reviews that boost tourism. That was certainly the case for Slovenia’s Zelenci Nature Reserve, when British scientist Humphry Davy wrote, “There is nothing more beautiful in Europe than this.” Apparently, he was attracted to the area’s lakes and waterfalls. No doubt he found the reserve’s centerpiece enchanting, which is its jade-green lake sourcing the Sava River (the country’s longest). You can view the lake and the 36-acre reserve through a series of well-constructed walkways. Along the way you’ll likely see some of the rarest plants in the region, like cottongrass, pygmy willows and alder trees. The reserve is also home to species like the whiskered bat, sand lizard and scarlet grosbeak. The reserve is less than 2 miles from the alpine resort Kranjska Gora near the village of Podkoren.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Pinballs in Budapest
By Linda Tancs
Pinball wizards, and fans, should flock to the appropriately named Flipper Museum in Budapest, Hungary, Europe’s largest ongoing interactive museum dedicated to pinball machines. Many of its 130 machines invite unlimited play by visitors for the price of the museum’s entrance fee. The facility features Humpty Dumpty, the first pinball ever made with flippers. Apart from play, a pinball history presentation and guided tours in English at prearranged times are also an option.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Valley of Fire
By Linda Tancs
Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park owes its name to fiery Aztec sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes during the Jurassic Period. Established in 1935, the park comprises over 40,000 acres dominated not only by its iconic outcrops but also by creosote bush, burro bush and brittlebush. Consider yourself lucky if you spot the desert tortoise, a rare species protected by state law. Temperatures are mild this time of year, making it a preferred time to visit.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Republic Within a Republic
By Linda Tancs
Sandwiched between France and Switzerland, Saugeais is a micronation in eastern France. Established in 1947, the self-declared nation in the Haut-Doubs region comprises 11 communes, from Gilley in the north to Arçon in the south and from the Swiss border in the east to Crêt Monniot in the west. Its origins lie in jest, following a French official’s anointing of the area as a republic after jokingly being told he needed a permit to enter the region. Today, visitors are granted a permit to enter, evidence that a good joke is one you can use over and over. The unofficial republic boasts a Prime Minister, a Secretary General, two customs officers, 12 ambassadors and 450 honorary citizens throughout France and Europe who promote its charms.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Key West of the North
By Linda Tancs
Dubbed the “Key West of the North,” Put-in-Bay is a quaint Ohio village off the shores of Lake Erie on South Bass Island. Maybe it’s the overall laid-back vibe that prompts the comparison, or the fishing charters, boating and watersports. Unlike its southern sister, however, you won’t find clothing-optional bars. What you will find are loads of golf carts, a preferred mode of transportation. Use one to visit sites like the lighthouse (circa 1897) and The Monument, a tribute to Naval Commander Oliver Hazard Perry’s defeat of the British during the War of 1812. The Miller Ferry or Jet Express will get you there in high season in a jiffy, or grab a flight into the airport, which is open year round.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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America’s Garden
By Linda Tancs
The U.S. Botanic Garden is America’s garden, originally established on the National Mall in 1820. The facility is the product of a dream shared by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to create a resource for the study and collection of plants. One of the oldest botanic gardens in North America, it’s recognized as a living plant museum and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The complex is now located along the north and south sides of Independence Avenue bordered by First Street and Third Street, SW. The Garden includes the Conservatory, housing collections of plants from subtropical, tropical and arid regions around the world; the National Garden, featuring the Rose Garden, the Butterfly Garden and the First Ladies Water Garden; and Bartholdi Park, where visitors will find a tapestry of theme gardens surrounding the historic Bartholdi Fountain.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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On Edge in Hudson Yards
By Linda Tancs
If you’re into edgy experiences, then maybe New York City’s Edge is for you, touted as the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Your adventure awaits 1,100 feet in the air on a glass floor suspended 80 feet mid-air surrounded by angled glass walls. It offers enviable 360-degree views of the city thanks to its location at Hudson Yards on the western side of Manhattan. At the Eastern Point of the lookout, one visitor at a time can plant their feet above the beating heart of NYC, enveloped by nothing but glass, air and sky. Every visitor to Edge will receive a free digital photo or you can upgrade to a personalized photo book.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 