Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for U.S. travel
Norwegian History in Iowa
By Linda Tancs
Decorah, Iowa, is a small town known for its scenic bluffs, waterfalls, and canoeing. It’s also a cultural hub, known for its Norwegian heritage. It’s where you’ll find Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School. The museum building includes artifacts from home life in 19th-century Norway, a 25-foot wooden sailboat, an immigrant log house from 1853, and countless displays of folk art. Heritage Park on Vesterheim’s campus includes 12 historic buildings in an open-air setting depicting the story of immigration, showcasing life in Norway in the 1800s and then life for immigrants in America. With over 33,000 artifacts, Vesterheim is one of the most comprehensive museums in the United States dedicated to a single immigrant group. The campus is open daily.
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Where the Ice Age Lingers
By Linda Tancs
West of Seward, Alaska, Kenai Fjords National Park on the Kenai Peninsula comprises the Harding Icefield, its outflowing glaciers, and coastal fjords and islands. With nearly 40 glaciers flowing from the icefield, you might say it’s a place where the Ice Age lingers. Visitors primarily access the park by road to Exit Glacier and by water along its stunning coast. Perhaps you’d like to hike the Harding Icefield Trail, or kayak, or take a boat tour to seek out playful wildlife and calving glaciers along Kenai Fjords’ rugged coastline. Humpback whales feed on the bounty of the fjords in late spring through summer. Ranger-led programs are offered between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.
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Cleveland’s Little Italy
By Linda Tancs
In the area that is now Mayfield and Murray Hill roads you’ll find Cleveland, Ohio’s Little Italy. Just east of downtown, the walkable neighborhood was established by Italian immigrants in the 19th century. It features old-school Italian cafes, bakeries and pizzerias as well as art galleries and wine shops. Be sure to see the outdoor murals as well. The Mayfield Road mural tells the story of Italian-Americans; you’ll find others in the alleys.
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Railroading History in New York State
By Linda Tancs
The only steam engine train offering regular excursions in New York State, Arcade & Attica Railroad in Arcade is an authentic short line railroad with the distinction of being one of the last “common carriers” (running freight and passenger trains weekly). The journey to Curriers Station from Arcade takes approximately 40 minutes each way and runs every weekend from Memorial Day weekend until the last full weekend of September, along with special event rides and seasonal offerings. Be sure to visit the historic station in Arcade and view all the exhibits, from antique railroad lanterns to switch locks and even an old switch stand.
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The Cottages of Crystal Cove
By Linda Tancs
Located off Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, California’s scenic Crystal Cove State Park boasts a Historic District comprising an enclave of 46 vintage rustic coastal cottages originally built as a seaside colony by campers in the early 20th century. At the southernmost point in the district you’ll find a famous landmark often referred to as the “Beaches” Cottage, so named for its beachside portrayal in the 1988 film starring Bette Midler of the same name. The cottage has been transformed into the Beaches Film & Media Center to commemorate Crystal Cove’s cinematic roots and is open for guided tours during the summer. Many of the iconic cottages are also available for rental by the public.
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Pennsylvania’s Official Museum
By Linda Tancs
The official museum of the Commonwealth, The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg has collected, preserved, researched and interpreted the cultural and natural history of the state since its inception in 1905. Affectionately known as “the Smithsonian of Pennsylvania,” it boasts over 80,000 square feet of exhibits. It features a mastodon discovered in a farmer’s bog, a 19th-century streetscape with recreations of a general store, summer kitchen and hardware store and a colossal bronze statue of Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn, in the center hall. Open most days, allow yourself a few hours to see it all.
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The Best of Everything
By Linda Tancs
Tlaquepaque is a word from the Aztec Nahuatl language. Loosely translated, it means “the best of everything.” It’s an apt designation for an arts and shopping village in Sedona, Arizona, that bills itself as the best shopping place in the city. Authentically fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, you’ll find it nestled beneath the shade of the sycamores on the banks of Oak Creek. It boasts over 50 specialty shops and exclusive art galleries featuring bronze sculpture, functional and traditional ceramics, blown glass creations, contemporary and Southwestern fine art paintings, weavings, décor pieces, large format photography, jewelry and more. Most shops are open daily.
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First Light on the Lakes
By Linda Tancs
The original Erie Land Lighthouse (once known as Presque Isle Light) was built in 1818 and is the first commissioned lighthouse on the Great Lakes in the United States. Its location was strategically chosen at the entrance of what was then an ‘s’ shaped entrance to Presque Isle Bay (a sandspit) and the port of Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1867, the current lighthouse was constructed 200 feet east of the original site. Although no longer an active aid to navigation, the site provides spectacular views of Lake Erie and Presque Isle and is open to visitors seasonally.
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The Nubble
By Linda Tancs
Affectionately referred to by locals as “the Nubble,” Nubble Lighthouse (formally known as Cape Neddick Light Station) is touted as one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. That’s likely due to its iconic and picturesque setting on a small, rocky island (hence, the name) just off the coast of York, Maine. For shutterbugs, that means excellent vantage points for stunning images, especially at sunrise and sunset. Visit in the spring or fall when crowds are thinner and the lighting is soft and diffused. Sohier Park offers unobstructed views.
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Farming History on Long Island
By Linda Tancs
Long Island, New York, is a hub for industries like life sciences, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, construction and information technology. So it might be difficult to imagine it back to its family farming roots. Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead was created to preserve and interpret the history of farming on the North Fork of Long Island. It began with preservation of the 19th-century Hallock family farm, where descendants lived and farmed for over 200 years. The museum owes the name Hallockville to the number of descendants of Capt. Zachariah Hallock along Sound Avenue in Riverhead in the 1800s, causing locals to refer to the area as “Hallockville.” Guided tours of the homestead are available from May to October.
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