Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for travel
One of America’s Prettiest Towns
By Linda Tancs
In 2009, Forbes Traveler listed Portsmouth, New Hampshire as one of “America’s Prettiest Towns.” It’s also one of the oldest. Settled in 1623, it is reputedly the nation’s third oldest city. The locals suggest that it even has the most restaurants per capita. Whatever the homage, this relatively small city near the mouth of the Piscataqua River offers more than 70 points of scenic and historic significance along the Harbour Trail, including 10 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, 10 National Historic Landmarks and three historic homes.
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The Oldest Vine in the World
By Linda Tancs
Do fine vines get better with age? You can bet the answer is a resounding ‘yes’ in Maribor, Slovenia, home of the Old Vine. Aged over 400 years, Old Vine is listed in Guinness World Records as the oldest vine in the world. The still-producing vine is located on the frontage of Old Vine House along the Drava embankment. Enjoy the exhibition and wine tasting room.
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The Lure of Little France
By Linda Tancs
The romance of covered bridges and medieval flair of half-timbered houses are the charms of Petite-France in Strasbourg, the principal city in the Alsace region of France. Located at the corner of the Grand Île (the Main Island) where the Île diverges into a number of canals, this historic neighborhood with a fairy tale feel offers visitors ample views of all its little nooks via a river cruise or on foot.
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Germany’s Old Stone Bridge
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s oldest stone bridge, and its first to cross the Danube, is an icon of the Bavarian city of Regensburg. Built in the 1100s, the 16-arch bridge was used by crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. Nowadays the span’s southside bratwurst eatery is a go-to destination for sausage lovers. And what goes well with brats? Well, beer of course. On the north side of the bridge is Spitalgarten, site of one of the oldest surviving hospital breweries where patrons enjoy a healthy stein or two.
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The Lady of the North
By Linda Tancs
A new English lady is borne out of over a million tons of rock, clay and soil in the English countryside near the Northumberland town of Cramlington. Christened Northumberlandia and coined “the lady of the north,” the colossal depiction of a reclining female figure, 100 feet high and a quarter mile long, is the centerpiece of a new public park. Open year round, the 46-acre community park features free public access and four miles of footpaths on and around the sculpture.
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Eat With the Locals
By Linda Tancs
Tired of hotel food? Are restaurant experiences too isolating, or expensive? Why not dine with the locals! The EatWith program offers travelers a taste of down home cookin.’ Choose from a variety of destinations and dining experiences. Hosts that are “verified” meet quality standards under the program. Fees vary based on the nature of the culinary event, like homemade paella from a backyard grill in Toledo, Spain, or a nine-course meal at a family farm outside Florence, Italy. Bring your appetite.
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Florida’s Forgotten Coast
By Linda Tancs
Florida’s Forgotten Coast lies along the Panhandle, punctuated by cozy towns with names like Port St. Joe, Indian Pass and Apalachicola. From a touristy perspective, the area may indeed be quiet and unassuming (hence, the name), but this is where foodies congregate for some of the best seafood in the country amidst a strong maritime culture. That’s especially true in historic Apalachicola, a tony hamlet with Queen Anne-style architecture known for its fishing and oysters. The Apalachicola Bay area boasts the state’s largest national forest and the second largest Estuarine Research Reserve System in the nation.
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Timeless Elegance
By Linda Tancs
A grand dame of European hotels, Copenhagen’s five-star d’Angleterre retains its timeless elegance following a two year renovation. Dating to 1755, the palatial icon’s first iteration on Kongens Nytorv arose from the culinary and servile aptitudes of a royal servant and the daughter of a royal chef. The founders’ culinary talents and exceptional service are a hallmark of this grand hotel still today. Prepare to be pampered.
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A Place in Railroad History
By Linda Tancs
It might seem hard to imagine that a railroad bridge in McKean County, Pennsylvania was once hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” That honor was bestowed upon the Kinzua Bridge, an iron marvel of the 1800s that was the tallest railroad bridge in the world before being dismantled. Subsequently restored, it was the fourth-tallest bridge in the United States before its partial collapse in 2003 from a tornado. Still attracting visitors to Kinzua Bridge State Park in Mount Jewett, the main attraction these days is the skywalk, a 225-foot-high observation deck offering stunning views of Kinzua Gorge.
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America’s First Presidential Library
By Linda Tancs
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is America’s first presidential library. Depicting the life and times of President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, it was conceived and built under FDR’s direction on his 16-acre property in his hometown of Hyde Park, New York. The only library used by a sitting president, the study marks the site where FDR delivered many of his wireless “fireside chats.” Recently renovated for the first time since its opening in 1941, the property is easily accessible by car or train. In the late spring through early autumn a free shuttle service operates from the train station at nearby Poughkeepsie, New York, among the presidential estate and library and other attractions such as Eleanor’s country home and the Vanderbilt estate.
