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
Christmas Fun in Baltimore
By Linda Tancs
A multicultural extravaganza of treats awaits you at the Christmas Village in Baltimore, Maryland at the Inner Harbor. Christmas Village is a collection of over 60 booths filled with seasonal goods, much like those found in traditional German Christmas markets. You’ll find German, Russian, Scandinavian and Egyptian ornaments, along with German comfort food classics like bratwurst with sauerkraut, potato salad, and, of course, spiced mulled wine. Admission is free indoors and outdoors on weekdays; a nominal fee applies to the festival tent on weekends. The event runs through 24 December.
Share this:
Gastronomical Artistry in New Jersey
By Linda Tancs
From the Eiffel Tower to towering Chinese pagodas, the world is your oyster (or shall we say, in this case, gingerbread) at the annual Gingerbread Wonderland exhibit at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township, New Jersey. Great event for armchair travelers–and tasty, too! Hundreds of edible structures will be on display from 5 December to 14 December.
Share this:
A Gem of a Town
By Linda Tancs
Scenic Norway, Maine, is a gem of a town–literally. The little village in the heart of the Oxford Hills region boasts a gemstone quarry where you can mine for tourmaline, quartz, rose quartz or crystal. No surprise that it’s called a gemstone capital of the state. Another hidden gem (pun intended) is the town’s illustrious history as the center of snowshoe production. Its once thriving industry earned it the moniker, “Snowshoe Capital of the World,” its goods even reaching the North Pole thanks to the Peary expedition of 1909. Ready for a treasure hunt? Then head for the hills.
Share this:
Grand, Gloomy and Peculiar
By Linda Tancs
Grand, gloomy and peculiar. That’s what cave guide Stephen Bishop said in the 1800s about south central Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave. Spelunkers might not agree with that assessment, but mammoth is certainly an apt description, considering it’s the world’s longest known cave system, the oldest part of which began forming over 10 million years ago. Over 400 miles of this national park have been explored; the main passageway alone is seven miles long. Short on time? Take the popular two-hour Domes & Dripstones Tour. As for that cave guide? He’s buried at the park’s Old Guide’s Cemetery.
Share this:
Idaho’s Sweet Willy
By Linda Tancs
To be in the doghouse is generally not a good thing if you’re the two-legged sort–unless, of course, you’re in Cottonwood, Idaho. That’s where you’ll find the Dog Bark Park Inn, a Beagle-shaped bed & breakfast guesthouse. Affectionately known as Sweet Willy, the 30-foot-tall canine takes the cake (er, biscuit) as the world’s biggest Beagle. Guests enter the unusual hotel through a private second story deck. It was named one of the most fun and exciting places to stay by London’s Times. Maybe you’ll agree.
Share this:
Boone’s Forest
By Linda Tancs
A legendary huntsman and pioneer, Daniel Boone dared to cross the treacherous Appalachians to explore Kentucky’s great wilderness. A great part of that terrain is commemorated in his name, the Daniel Boone National Forest. Over 700,000 acres of rugged terrain embraced by forested ridges, narrow ravines and thousands of miles of sandstone cliffs attract nearly five million visitors annually. Those guests may not need to trap, hunt and fish like Boone, but they enjoy the foothills nonetheless by backpacking, camping, picnicking, rock climbing and boating. Not sure where to start? Try the 269-mile Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail, which extends across the length of the forest.
Share this:
Free Flowing Yellowstone
By Linda Tancs
Yellowstone National Park contains most of the world’s geysers, Old Faithful a great favorite among them. Its regular, billowing eruptions are not the only thing that’s free flowing in America’s first national park, though. The park is also home to the longest free flowing river in the United States, Yellowstone River. From there it glides 676 miles to its confluence with the Missouri River without a single dam to break its stride. Along its many points of access you’ll find plenty of recreational opportunities, including some of the best trout fishing ever and some cool Montana agate to add to your collection.
Share this:
The Center of an Ancient World
By Linda Tancs
New Mexico’s ancestral Native American culture is the highlight of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a World Heritage Site with the densest concentration of pueblos in the Southwest. During the ninth century, massive stone buildings known as great houses were constructed by the Chacoan people, influenced by lunar, solar and cardinal directions. This thriving ancient civilization is central to the origins of several Navajo clans and ceremonies. Equally as thrilling is the park’s designation as one of the world’s newest International Dark Sky Parks, which means that the site is a mecca for stargazers.
Share this:
The Horseshoe Curve
By Linda Tancs
What do Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and dozens of Hollywood’s elite have in common? They’ve all traveled the Horseshoe Curve. Constructed entirely by hand by 450 Irish immigrant workers, the Curve is an engineering feat at the base of the Allegheny Mountains in Altoona, Pennsylvania. A National Historic Landmark, the 220 degree arc opened in 1854 to facilitate train travel across the state through rough mountain terrain. Access the curve via the funicular or a 194-step nature walk and enjoy the stunning views.
Share this:
Leaning Tower of Niles
By Linda Tancs
Wondering what to do on a long layover at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport? The Leaning Tower of Niles is always an option. Just 15 minutes away from the airport, Pisa’s half-sized replica was built some 600 years after the original by a local businessman. Unlike the original, it’s anchored in concrete to hold its characteristic tilt. After your visit, grab a bite to eat at the world’s first franchised McDonald’s about 10 minutes away. Who says layovers have to be boring?
Travelrific® Travel Journal 