Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for tourism
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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Sailors’ Delight
By Linda Tancs
In 1801 Captain Robert Richard Randall died, his will decreeing that his New York City estate become a haven for retired seamen. Following a protracted will contest, his desire was fulfilled through the purchase of land in 1831 along the harbor in Staten Island instead. Located on the north shore, that enclave is known as Snug Harbor. Thanks to its popularity among retired sailors, the property grew to include a chapel, more dormitories, and a Beaux-Arts-style music hall. Boasting over 250,000 annual visitors, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center offers a glimpse into the life of a mariner. For art aficionados, there’s the John A. Noble maritime art collection. A year-round venue for performance art, the park is also notable for its botanical garden, one of the largest in the New York area.
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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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Two to Tango
By Linda Tancs
In Buenos Aires, Argentina you can shake off the winter blahs (and those chilly temperatures accompanying many parts of the globe) at the annual tango festival now through 16 March. Originally the dance of poor dockworkers, the popularity of the tango is evident in the number of worldwide festivals honoring this steamy Latin dance. So why not go back to the source and experience its flavor and flair for yourself in the city that made it famous. Rhythmically challenged or not, there are dance lessons, as well as exhibitions, concerts and dancing displays.
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Treasures from the Sea
By Linda Tancs
If seashell collecting seems as thrilling as watching paint dry, then you haven’t been to Sanibel Island, Florida. The island’s east/west orientation brings a plethora of colorful shells ashore from the Gulf of Mexico. This is where shell collecting is elevated to an art form. There’s even an annual shell fair and show. Taking place this weekend at the Community Center, the indoor/outdoor event features 250 shells, some elusive, as well as masterful works of shell art at the exhibition.
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A Traveling Sisterhood
By Linda Tancs
Lunafest is a traveling film festival by, for and about women. This year’s collection of nine films explores topics as diverse as chemotherapy, break-ups, shyness and gymnastics training. Over 150 locations will participate in this event through June. Find one near you.
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The Little Airport That Could
By Linda Tancs
Can you name a place where such luminaries as Amelia Earhart, General James Doolittle, several U.S. Presidents, Elton John, Diana Ross, Harrison Ford and Shania Twain would have gathered (not all at the same time, of course)? The answer is Trenton Mercer Airport in Trenton, New Jersey. Opened in 1929, the county airport averages 100,000 take-offs and landings each year, including flights to Florida. Its illustrious history includes a role in the production of the WWII Avenger torpedo bomber. Less than five minutes from the terminal building, the parking facilities are reasonably priced. The parking lot can be accessed from either airport entrance (Scotch Road or Bear Tavern Road) directly in front of the terminal.
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The Hottest Show on Earth
By Linda Tancs
Now in its 25th year, the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show is taking place this weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Sandia Resort & Casino. The most visited show on the subject of spicy foods and barbecue, you’ll likely never see a bigger array of the country’s spicy sauces, marinades, salsas amd mustards. And you can be sure that palates will burn particularly bright during this anniversary year.
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A Russian Wonder
By Linda Tancs
Of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, only the pyramids of Giza still stand. If you can’t manage a trip to Egypt, then the next best thing might be Russia’s wonder: a 55-ton pyramid outside Moscow. Built of fiberglass, the 144-feet-high structure is the largest pyramid across Russia. Regardless whether you believe in the power of pyramids, it’s a site to behold in perhaps one of the unlikeliest of places.
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World’s Largest Hotel Comparison Site
By Linda Tancs
Trivago bills itself as the world’s largest hotel comparison site. With more than 18 million monthly users, the site allows you to compare prices at dozens of booking engines for over 600,000 hotels worldwide. Add to that millions of hotel reviews and photos and you have a comprehensive search engine to find the perfect respite.
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