Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for Uncategorized
Get Ready for Boomsday
By Linda Tancs
Knoxville, Tennessee, has been voted one of the top 20 vacation destinations in the United States. Located on the banks of the Tennessee River, the charming city is steeped in history, home to seven homes from the Civil War and the First Frontier. And speaking of the Civil War, here you’ll find a collection on Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, first admiral of the U.S. Navy and Civil War hero, at the Farragut Folklife Museum. But arguably the city’s greatest attraction is Boomsday, heralded as the largest Labor Day fireworks celebration in the country. The 25th annual boom fest will take place on 2 September at Volunteer Landing along the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fireworks will begin around 9:30. Admission is free, with only a nominal charge for food, drinks and games. Now that’s something to celebrate.
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Extreme Driving in London
By Linda Tancs
London’s International Horse Show at Olympia hardly sounds like the venue to be associated with extreme driving. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening for the first time at this year’s event. Extreme driving is a high speed indoor driving competition featuring the world’s top three drivers. A new equestrian disicpline, the action will take place on the evening of 15 December and the afternoon of 16 December. Sure gives new meaning to the expression, hold your horses.
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Tanks A Million
By Linda Tancs
Military tanks were initially deployed during the first world war, developed by the British for use in the trenches at the Battle of Somme. So it should come as no surprise that Britain lays claim to having the best collection of tanks in the world at the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset. This weekend you can enjoy one of the best displays of moving armor in the world at the museum’s Tankfest. Among the activities on offer are mock battles, historic and modern armor displays and live demonstrations. Here’s a chance to test your mettle.
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Arts and Crafts By the River
By Linda Tancs
The 37th season of Oregon’s Portland Saturday Market,the largest outdoor craft market in the U.S., begins on 6 March. The event, located at SW Ankeny St and Naito Parkway in historic Old Town, gives 250 or more artists the opportunity to showcase their handicrafts. While there you’ll enjoy live music and exotic foods. The kickoff includes a children’s parade at 2pm. Are you a master crafter? Maybe you should think about joining.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Help for Haiti
By Linda Tancs
Thoughts and prayers are with those in Haiti and their loved ones as well as with relief workers seeking to do good works amidst such severe devastation. Godspeed to them all. Here’s a list of relief organizations to which readers may direct their thoughts or efforts, compiled by NBC.
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Body Scans at Airports Cause Consternation
By Linda Tancs
In light of recent terror threats against the U.S., the Government has renewed interest in the full body scanners deployed in limited release among U.S. airports as previously reported in this blog. Moreover, the Government has requested that international airports around the world adopt the devices as well. London Heathrow will reportedly begin using the machines. Reports from France indicate that the machines will also be in use in some of their airports, initially to search U.S.-bound travelers. Contrary to fears, officials report that the machines do not emit harmful radiation and are safe for pregnant women and those with cancer in their health profile. Of course, health is only one concern; the prospect of one’s contours being up for public inspection has private advocates reeling. Are you ready for your close-up? Let’s hear the views–pro and con.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Traffic Tickets Across Borders
By Linda Tancs
As many international travelers know, vehicular traffic is controlled or limited in many areas. Woe to the international driver who unwittingly enters a restricted zone. In some countries, such as Italy, a traffic citation could appear in your mailbox as much as two years after your journey! That’s because the 360-day notice period there doesn’t run until the car rental company notifies the police of the driver’s identity. And that notification could take some time. You can thank those roadside cameras for giving you up to the authorities. So you better learn to read those signs (like “zona traffico limitato”). Forewarned is forearmed.
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The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Dining Guide For New Year’s Revelers
By Linda Tancs
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne, as the song goes. Would you like a four-course meal with that? How about seven? Barcelona’s Noti restaurant is offering a four-course, fixed-price fiesta for 120 euros per person. For less than 100 euros, you can add 3 more courses along with a midnight snack and fireworks at Hamburg’s Landhaus Dill. Look up more specials like these at The Europe Restaurant Guide. Happy eating, and happy new year!
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Transparency in Travel
By Linda Tancs
The dizzying array of airline charges can confound even the most seasoned traveler: second bag charge, security fee, fuel surcharge, exit row fee, holiday surcharge, food and beverage charges, tax, etc. What’s worse, you often don’t know what you’re getting yourself into until you hit the ‘pay’ button and that ‘cheap’ fare turns into something quite unexpected. For those who have long wished for an itemized list of those dreaded add-ons prior to checkout, your salvation may be at hand. A New Jersey senator has proposed the Clear Airfares Act of 2009, a bill intended to require airlines and ticket agents to notify consumers of all fees related to a fare in a timely manner. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for further action. Stay tuned.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Hog Wild in Carmel
By Linda Tancs
Did you know that the Hog’s Breath Inn restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea is owned by actor and former mayor Clint Eastwood? I’m sure you’d make his day if you stopped by for a visit, but that’s not the only attraction in this city in California’s Monterey Peninsula. The town is known for its story book-style cottages, characterized by turrets and stone chimneys, like those at Torres Street and Sixth Avenue. Another feature is its mile-long pure sandy beach. And then of course there’s the visual and performing arts centre along with the third oldest art gallery in the country, Weston Art Gallery–not surprising, considering Carmel’s origin as a bohemian art colony. This pet-friendly destination was rated a top ten locale by a leading travel magazine. If you go, consider a scenic walking tour. Then eat, shop and explore some more and find out for yourself why they call it California’s Jewel City.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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