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
America’s Newest National Park
By Linda Tancs
Chiricahua National Park in Wilcox, Arizona, is America’s newest national park. First protected as a national monument in 1924, Congress recognized that its volcanic rock spires, “sky island” biodiversity and Apache and homesteading history merit national park status. Chiricahua comes from an Opata word meaning “wild turkey,” the largest subspecies of which is thriving in the park after being hunted out in the 1900s. They’re frequently spotted near the visitor center. Sometimes called a “wonderland of rocks,” Massai Point sits at the end of the breathtaking 8-mile Bonita Canyon scenic drive, offering a 360-degree view of stunning rock formations like towering volcanic spires, balanced rocks and hoodoos as well as the surrounding valleys and mountains.
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Biloxi’s Presidential Estate
By Linda Tancs
Located in Biloxi, Mississippi, Beauvoir was the post-war home of Jefferson Davis, the former and only president of the Confederate States of America. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the house is renowned for its distinctive raised cottage design and sweeping views of the Gulf Coast. Inside, you’ll find curated exhibits, original furnishings and personal belongings. The 51-acre estate includes a library with a collection on 19th-century Southern history as well as a Confederate memorial cemetery. The estate is open daily.
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America’s Only Prohibition Museum
By Linda Tancs
The American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia, is the nation’s only museum covering the Prohibition era. You’ll learn about bootleggers and see genuine artifacts like moonshine stills. There’s even an authentic-style speakeasy tucked inside the museum that serves craft cocktails capturing the essence of the 1920s. Guided tours are offered daily.
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Halloween Capital of the World
By Linda Tancs
Talk about bragging rights: In 1937, the United States Congress officially designated Anoka, Minnesota, the Halloween Capital of the World. The story begins in 1920, when Anoka merchants and other interested citizens joined together in a move to stop troublesome Halloween pranks. They sponsored a first-ever community-wide Halloween celebration featuring a parade and bonfire. The event was so successful that no pranks were reported. Still going strong for over a century, Anoka draws tens of thousands of visitors each October with what is now a month-long Halloween celebration that includes parades, a 5k run, ghost tours, costume contests and a giant pumpkin exposition.
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Official Repository for Aquatic History
By Linda Tancs
The history of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, includes its status as a premier location for competitive aquatic sports. Its swimming heritage dates back to the Civitan raft off Las Olas Beach and the Olympic-sized Casino Pool which opened in 1928. Decades later the city became the site of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Its museum has been designated an “official repository for aquatic history” by the governing body for Olympic aquatic sports. The hall of fame, which inducts members each year, recognizes aquatic athletes, heroes, contributions and influencers in the following disciplines: swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, marathon, masters and Paralympics.
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The Carousel of Happiness
By Linda Tancs
Nederland is a little mountain town west of Boulder, Colorado. A gateway to the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area and Eldora Mountain Resort, it’s also where you’ll find the Carousel of Happiness, a restored merry-go-round. It features 57 hand-carved animals (only one of which is a horse, unlike most carousels) on a restored Looff carousel; Charles I.D. Looff was one of the great carousel makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It turns to the music of a 1913 Wurlitzer band organ. Stop by for a spin and learn about carousel history with the exhibits, which includes a 1905 patent for merry-go-rounds awarded to William F. Mangels. It’s open year round although days and times vary according to the season.
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A Presidential Outlaw’s Retreat
By Linda Tancs
Robin Hood is a legendary English outlaw in folklore, famed for living in Sherwood Forest. His political equivalent in the U.S. might be the nation’s tenth president, John Tyler, the first vice president to ascend following the death of a president. A confessed maverick, he refused to govern under the policies set by his predecessor and was ultimately excommunicated by his party. Perhaps not surprisingly, he named his retirement retreat Sherwood Forest Plantation. Located in Charles City, Virginia, he lived there from 1842 until his death in 1862. The house, circa 1720, is a classic example of Virginia Tidewater design and remains the longest frame house in America at over 300 feet. The Tyler family still maintain the plantation today. House tours are available by appointment. A self-guided grounds tour encompasses the exterior of the house and 21 numbered stations.
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Music City’s Walk of Fame
By Linda Tancs
Located on Demonbreun Street on Nashville’s Music Mile, the Music City Walk of Fame is a sidewalk tribute. It features in-laid granite stars honoring those from all genres of music who have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration and made a significant contribution to the music industry in connection with Nashville, Tennessee. It’s free to stroll and always open except for special events.
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Pennsylvania’s Only Seashore
By Linda Tancs
From its shoreline to the climax forest, Presque Isle State Park is dubbed Pennsylvania’s only seashore. A French word, “presque” means “almost an island.” The park’s coastline is formed by a migrating, recurved sand spit, created 11,000 years ago from moraine deposits of retreating glaciers. A National Natural Landmark, Presque Isle is a favorite spot for migrating birds (particularly waterfowl this time of year) as well as monarch butterflies. Check with the park office for seasonal beach opening hours.
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Mushroom Houses
By Linda Tancs
Both an artist and an architect, master builder Earl Young gained a reputation for constructing homes that blend in with their surroundings. For that reason, they’ve come to be known as Gnome Homes, Mushroom Houses or Hobbit Houses. Located in Charlevoix, Michigan, they’re made from locally sourced stone and feature cedar-shake roofs. The iconic dwellings (26 homes and four commercial buildings) include such shutterbug favorites as Mushroom House (the mushroom-like dwelling that gives all the houses their most common moniker), Half House (looking like two halves), Thatch Roof House and Owl House (resembling an owl). A self-guided tour map is available from the Visitors Center at 109 Mason Street. Be aware that the homes are privately owned and not open for interior tours.
