Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for tourism
The Longest Bridge in the US
By Linda Tancs
Spanning 24 miles over Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, the U.S. Causeway (also known as The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway) is the longest bridge in the country as well as the longest bridge in the world over water. It was built in 1956 to connect New Orleans with the North Shore of the lake. Drive it for bragging rights and, additionally, great views over sunrise or sunset.
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Uplifting in Albuquerque
By Linda Tancs
One of the largest balloon festivals in the world, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly hot air balloon festival that takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. So what better place to have a museum that celebrates ballooning. Located in the heart of town, the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum explores the history, science, sport and art of ballooning as well as other forms of flight. It also features one of the world’s finest collections of ballooning equipment and memorabilia and a shop with unique balloon-related merchandise.
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Vermont’s Lincoln Legacy
By Linda Tancs
Robert Lincoln was the only child of President Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to maturity. Together with his wife, Robert built a summer home in Manchester, Vermont, a Georgian Revival mansion that would become a home to only Lincoln descendants until 1975, longer than any other Lincoln residence. They named the estate Hildene, formed from two Old English words: “Hil” meaning “hill” and “dene” meaning “valley with stream.” The description is an apt one, considering that the property is perched on a hill overlooking the Taconic Mountains to the west, the Green Mountains to the east, and the Battenkill River flowing through the valley below. In addition to the home and formal garden, the 412-acre estate boasts 12 miles of walking trails, a farm and a number of historic buildings. Wintertime is especially scenic at the estate and is a popular time to experience the trails.
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A Snow Globe Stroll
By Linda Tancs
Main Street in Park City, Utah, is a magical place during this festive season. Even more so thanks to the life-size snow globes decorated by local artists comprising the Snow Globe Stroll. Each globe is themed around a different holiday song. Every globe also includes hidden objects that are part of a scavenger hunt. Enjoy this free, family-friendly event!
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Jingle Rails
By Linda Tancs
An annual holiday tradition, Jingle Rails is a model train display featuring nine G-scale trains traveling through spectacular landscapes and past famous landmarks of Indianapolis and the American West. The scenes are masterfully crafted from natural materials and adorned with festive holiday decorations and twinkling lights. You’ll find this locomotive wonderland at The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Winter Aglow in Idaho
By Linda Tancs
Looking for a winter wonderland in Boise? Then head for the Idaho Botanical Garden for their Winter aGlow event. As the name implies, there will be a mesmerizing display of lights. The family-friendly fest includes Santa meetups, holiday vendors, a gingerbread house exhibit and a candy cane forest. Parking is free; you can also park and ride from downtown Boise.
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Woodland Wonder in Arkansas
By Linda Tancs
Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas. A gift from local industrialist and philanthropist Verna Cook Garvan, the site is nestled in the picturesque Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas in Hot Springs. The big draw in December is the Holiday Lights event, a visual extravaganza. Golf cart rentals are available on a daily basis for those unable to walk the path. Purchase your tickets in advance and be sure to leave plenty of time to arrive before the nightly display starts.
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Christmas Market Celebrates 25 Years
By Linda Tancs
Situated in the picturesque World Heritage City of Bath in southwest England, Bath Christmas Market is celebrating its 25th year. The event features nearly 200 chalets showcasing artisan jewelers, cheesemongers, homeware and more. The stalls span a majority of the city’s main shopping areas, including around Bath Abbey, Union Street and Milsom Street. Weekends are quite busy; for a calmer experience, try lunchtime or Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. This year’s market runs until December 14.
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The House With the Eye
By Linda Tancs
Although it sounds like the title of a mystery novel, The House With the Eye is a red, wooden house-turned-museum in Leadville, Colorado. Built in 1879 by architect Eugene Robitaille, the eye refers to an eye in a stained-glass window tucked under an arched eve. Using the house as a model home, it was later turned into a museum, featuring contents donated by locals. Artifacts include a Studebaker horse-drawn hearse from 1890 and a whiskey still from the Prohibition era. The museum is located on West Fourth Street.
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Britain’s First Public Museum
By Linda Tancs
Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology. Britain’s first public museum, it was erected to house the cabinet of curiosities that Elias Ashmole gave to the university in 1677. Their renowned collection ranges from an Egyptian mummy to contemporary art. It includes the Alfred Jewel, a masterpiece of goldsmithing made for King Alfred, the only monarch known as “the Great.” Arguably the most famous painting is The Hunt in the Forest (circa 1470), the last known work of an Italian artist named Paolo Uccello. You can browse more than 300,000 treasures like these online. Admission to the museum is free.
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