Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for travel
Lansdale’s Log House
By Linda Tancs
The Morgan Log House stands on land originally deeded to the Commissioners of William Penn, who was granted the Charter of Pennsylvania from King Charles II on March 4, 1681. In 1708, Welsh immigrant Edward Morgan and his family (from whom frontiersman Daniel Boone is descended) became the first settlers of the property and later sold it to a German settler who built the log house that is now restored on the site. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cabin reflects the lifestyle of colonial pioneers in the state. Access to the interior of the building is available via guided or self-guided tours.
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Pearl of the French Alps
By Linda Tancs
Annecy is affectionately referred to as the Pearl of the French Alps. The prized appellation owes as much to the purity of its lake’s drinking water as it does to the scenery. In fact, Lake Annecy (the second-largest natural lake in France) ranks first in Europe for the purity of its waters. Historically, the town was the capital of the Duchy of Geneva, a division of the Duchy of Savoy, which became part of France in 1860. Now the principal city of the Haute-Savoie region, the picturesque town just shy of the Swiss border is surrounded by mountains ringing its famous lake. Enjoy the activities that the lake has to offer, like pedal boating, cruising, sailing and even two nature reserves on the eastern and southern shores.
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An Old Brick School in Southbury
By Linda Tancs
Built in 1762 of locally-made bricks, Bullet Hill School in Southbury, Connecticut, is one of New England’s oldest schoolhouses and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The two-story structure remained in operation as a school for 179 years until December 1941. After the school closed, the building served as a meeting place for the Episcopal Church Sunday School, the War Rationing Board, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the first Regional School Board Superintendent’s office. It now serves as a living history museum for visiting school groups.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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The Castle in the River
By Linda Tancs
The Knights Templar was a medieval military order of the Catholic faith. In Portugal, they were granted lands and authority to defend the River Tagus from incursions by the Moors. One of their fortifications was the Castle of Almourol located in the river. Its commanding position offers great views from the ramparts. You can take an inexpensive ferry to get there.
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Underwater in New Orleans
By Linda Tancs
Located on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter, Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, Louisiana, offers a top-rated underwater experience. In addition to local species from the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, the facility features underwater wonders from the Caribbean to the Amazon. Overall, more than 3,600 animals from more than 250 species are represented, including endangered species such as African penguins and rare animals like white alligators.
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An Infamous Battle in Groton
By Linda Tancs
Fort Griswold is a former American defensive fortification in Groton, Connecticut. Named after Deputy Governor Matthew Griswold, the Revolutionary War site marks an infamous 1781 massacre by British troops aided by turncoat Benedict Arnold. Now a state park, the battlefield features the Ebenezer Avery House, which sheltered the wounded following the massacre. Also at the site is the Groton Monument, a granite obelisk honoring the fallen heroes. The 135-foot-high memorial is open for climbing in season.
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The Legend of John Henry
By Linda Tancs
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad built their main line between 1869 and 1872 through the labors of thousands of freed African-American slaves and Irish Catholic immigrants. Of thousands of African-American railroad workers, John Henry became the stuff of legend and the subject of a ballad. Historical research suggests that Henry was a real person, a steel driver blasting a tunnel through Big Bend Mountain in West Virginia. Legend has it that he died during a contest between a steel drill and steel drivers. Whether man or myth, a statue of him stands outside Great Bend Tunnel at John Henry Park in Talcott.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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New England’s Railroad Heritage
By Linda Tancs
The Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, Connecticut, preserves and restores New England’s railroad heritage. The museum boasts a diverse collection representative of New England railroading including locomotives, passenger and freight cars, and cabooses. Through its operating subsidiary known as the Naugatuck Railroad (originally chartered in 1845), they tell the story of the region’s rich railroad heritage, conducting scenic and historical excursions between Torrington and Waterbury.
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Tranquility at the Hammond
By Linda Tancs
Founded by American artist Natalie Hays Hammond, the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem, New York, is a museum with Japanese art and a 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden. A peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of Westchester County, the garden is centered around its pond and includes numerous rare Japanese plants and trees as well as species native to the area. Also on the grounds is a traditional Japanese tea room, which was imported from Kyoto and is used for tea ceremony events. The Hammond will open seasonally in April until November.
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Connecticut’s Kate
By Linda Tancs
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, known as The Kate, is a performing arts center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It’s named for the late movie star Katharine Hepburn, the town’s most celebrated resident. Adjacent to the lobby is a museum dedicated to the famed actress featuring letters, photos, home movies, costumes, personal wardrobe items and other memorabilia. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum offers rotating special exhibits and hosts lectures, workshops and film screenings.
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