Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for tourism
Vatican City
By Linda Tancs
Vatican City, led by the Pope, is one of the holiest sites in Christendom and houses some of the most magnificent displays of art in the world. Explore the wonders of the world’s smallest country at www.travelrificradio.com.
Share this:
Exploring Climate Change
By Linda Tancs
All this chat about climate change in recent years no doubt got the city elders of Bremerhaven, Germany thinking. Why not create a place for individuals to experience climate change for themselves–to learn about the complex interaction between man and climate in an entertaining way. And so, beginning in March 2009, Bremerhaven will host Climate House, a science-based theme park in the shape of a giant dill pickle. The attraction promises to educate and entertain on the subject of world climate, even offering visitors the opportunity to create their own weather forecasts in addition to “visiting” world climates along the eighth degree line of longitude. This building is but one of many changes coming to the inner city, among them a hotel whose exterior is reminiscent of Dubai’s Hotel Burj al-Arab and a shopping complex dubbed Mediterraneo. As they say in Bremerhaven, “future ahoy!”
If you enjoyed this post, please share it on sites such as StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg, or bookmark it on del.icio.us. Thanks for your support! Travelrific® was featured as Blog of the Day on NJ.com!
Share this:
Serenity Now
By Linda Tancs
Cruise travelers seeking their inner Zulu will find it aboard every ship in Princess’s line by 2010, thanks to the success of Sanctuary on the Crown Princess. For the uninitiated, Sanctuary is an adults-only designated area offering spa-like amenities served up by your Serenity Steward (or stewardess?). So the next time those teens and tweens take over the hot tub, don’t sweat it. Your refuge is at hand.
Share this:
Stretching the Dollar
By Linda Tancs
Between rising fuel costs, exchange rate woes and failing airlines, you know your travel dollars will be stretched to the limit. So where can you get the most bang for your buck? The Portimão area of Portugal looks pretty good. You’ve got 5 beaches, 4 golf facilities, and the tourist mecca of Alvor, together with room rates as low as 83 euros through May. Hire a boat from Alvor to Ria de Alvor, an estuary giving sanctuary to a number of migrating birds and flowering plants amidst the sand dunes, mud flats, and freshwater and saltwater marshes. Top off your adventure with the local specialty of grilled sardine. Did you know that the Portguese eat more fish than any other Europeans? Now grab and bag and start packing. Desejo-lhe umas boas férias!
If you enjoyed this post, please share it on sites such as StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg, or bookmark it on del.icio.us. Thanks for your support! Travelrific® was featured as Blog of the Day on NJ.com!
Share this:
Viticultural Areas Abound in U.S.
By Linda Tancs
So what is a viticultural area, you ask? It’s a wine grape-growing region with distinctive geographic features, similar to (but distinguishable from) an appellation of origin. The U.S. has over 180 American Viticultural Areas. As you might suspect, a great majority of these are in California. You might be surprised at some of the other locations on the list, places like the Ozarks in Arkansas, the Mississippi Delta, Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Texas High Plains, and southeastern New England (Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island). So move over beaujolais and make room for the home-grown varietals.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it on sites such as StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg, or bookmark it on del.icio.us. Thanks for your support! Travelrific® was featured as Blog of the Day on NJ.com!
Share this:
Power Napping At a Pod Near You
By Linda Tancs
You’ve heard of yellow cabs. Now meet YeloCab in New York City, a suite of cabins with adjustable lighting and reflexology designed to invigorate you during your busy day. Now you can catch some zzz’s in style. Learn more at www.yelonyc.com.
Share this:
Travel May Affect Insurance–Part Two
By Linda Tancs
In follow up to our 26 February post, New Jersey has now passed a law forbidding life insurance companies from adjusting premiums based on the travel predilections of policy owners–for the most part, that is. Exclusion is made for the application of sound actuarial principles or past experience. You can read the new law at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A2000/1586_I1.HTM.
Share this:
The Luxury of Monaco
By Linda Tancs
Monaco is synonymous with luxury, from its five-star hotels and famous casino to the slew of Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins and Bentleys that cascade around the tree-lined streets and boulevards. Experience the grandeur at www.travelrificradio.com.
Share this:
Passenger Bill of Rights Gets Tossed
By Linda Tancs
A New York appellate court has invalidated the nation’s first passenger bill of rights passed in that state, declaring that it conflicts with federal law designed to establish airlines’ rights and obligations regarding service. As travelers increasingly suffered the indignity of lengthy confinement on the tarmac sans food or drink, the idea of a passenger bill of rights gained ground around the nation among legislators. These bills intended to guarantee delayed passengers certain amenities such as food, water, clean toilets and fresh air. Now, unless Congress decides to legislate airline service in such circumstances, the treatment accorded New York’s bill doesn’t bode well for similar legislation proposed in states such as New Jersey and Washington.
Share this:
Pan-Asian Dining on Holland America
By Linda Tancs
Eurodam, Holland America’s newest build debuting this summer, promises Pan-Asian surf to rival the best fare available on turf. According to the Eurodam news blog, here’s a sampling of the dishes to be available in the reservations-only eatery on Deck 11: shrimp wanton, ginger-infused scallop consommé, steamed lobster with garlic, ginger and chili, baked snapper in rice paper, and a paella-style seafood hot pot. The menu is in English, but something tells me it would sound great in any language.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 