Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for tourism
Old Wood in Japan
By Linda Tancs
The world’s oldest surviving wooden structures are found on the grounds of Horyuji Temple in Nara, Japan, the only Buddhist monastery remaining from the Asuka Period. It was built in A.D. 607 during the reign of Prince Shotoku, who helped spread Buddhism. The complex contains dozens of historical and cultural properties, many of them designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. Not surprisingly, Horyuji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first in the country to be so designated along with Himeji Castle. Highlights include a five-story pagoda and the octagonal Yumedono, or Hall of Dreams.
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The Gardens at Chartwell
By Linda Tancs
For over 40 years Chartwell was the home of Sir Winston Churchill. He bought the grand country house near Westerham, Kent, in southeast England in 1922, and the apple orchard was one of the first projects that he undertook after moving there. In April the apples blossom in the orchard, along with other parts of the gardens created by Churchill and his wife Clementine. Many products of the gardens make their way into the cafe, like Chartwell apple juice.
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A Touch of Bourbon in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Italy’s Royal Palace of Caserta (and park) was commissioned by Charles of Bourbon III. A triumph of architecture and design, it borrows features from the palace and park of Versailles as well as villas in Rome and Tuscany. Its gardens are touted as one of the last great European gardens. Indeed, the scale of it is breathtaking, stretching for almost 2 miles from the palace to a waterfall in the forest. The gardens are at their best in spring and summer. The palace is 23 miles from Naples and 124 miles from Rome, easily accessible via train from either city.
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White Heron Castle
By Linda Tancs
Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in the city of Himeji in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. One of the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it’s popularly known as “White Heron Castle” because it resembles the outstretched wings of a white heron. Naturally, white is a predominant color that graces the castle walls. The first fortifications built on the site were completed in the 1400s; the main keep seen today dates from 1609. Most visitors enter the complex through the Sannomaru, a large, cherry tree-lined lawn and a popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms in early April.
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Alabama’s Light Show
By Linda Tancs
Designated a National Natural Landmark, Dismals Canyon is a sandstone gorge in Phil Campbell, Alabama. The key attraction are the fly larvae known locally as Dismalites, a bioluminescent species similar to the glowworms found in Oceania. Past twilight the canyon lights up with these creatures, and guided night tours allow visitors to see these unique insects. April and May represent one of two peak seasons for viewing (the other being September and October). Reservations are highly recommended, and be sure to bring a flashlight.
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A Weird Museum
By Linda Tancs
If you love museums dedicated to oddities and weirdness, then the Museum of the Weird in Austin, Texas, is for you. Operating in the tradition of a dime museum (an emporium for oddities and curios), the facility features attractions like shrunken heads, mummies and a cyclops pig. You’ll find it on 6th Street in the heart of downtown’s entertainment district.
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Ridges and Gullies
By Linda Tancs
Designated an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, the Cheltenham Badlands is a geological treasure in Ontario, Canada. Its distinctive feature are the ridges and gullies formed from weather-related erosion of the Queenston shale underlying the shallow topsoil, resulting in a moonscape-like topography. Enjoy the view from an accessible boardwalk or take to the trails. The Badlands Trail connects the Bruce Trail to the viewing platform and takes you through a slow-growth forest.
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America’s Historic Pharmacy
By Linda Tancs
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is an 1800s apothecary-turned-museum featuring 19th-century medicines and potions. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s first licensed pharmacist, Louis Dufilho Jr., practiced there. Tours are self-guided; no reservations are required. You’ll find it on Chartres Street in the French Quarter.
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The Lonesome Highway
By Linda Tancs
Lacking signs of intelligent life, the Lonesome Highway in Texas is aptly named. If you enjoy solitude, then take the drive along Highway 180 in West Texas, a route that brings you to the Guadalupe Mountains. Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas, a signature feature of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
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Gateway to the Endless Mountains
By Linda Tancs
Gateway to the Endless Mountains sounds like the title of a novel, but it’s actually a scenic byway in the Endless Mountains region of northeastern Pennsylvania. Running along US Highway 6 (Tunkhannock to Dushore), the mountain vistas do appear to be endless as are the hiking and birdwatching opportunities. The route is also known for spectacular views of the Susquehanna River.
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