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
A Race to the Chase
By Linda Tancs
Ever wonder where some cities get their unusual monikers? The town of Chevy Chase, Maryland allegedly got its name from a battle between the English and Scottish forces at the Cheviot Hills bordering England and Scotland. The feud was commemorated in the 15th century composition The Ballad of Chevy Chase (a chase is a tract of land used for hunting). You may want to make a race to the Chase to see its namesake rose. The red rambler blooms for only a few weeks around this time in the area.
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The World’s Largest Shortcake
By Linda Tancs
What does it take to bake a strawberry shortcake for 15,000 of your closest friends? According to the folks in Lebanon, Oregon, you’ll need 514 cups of sugar, 224 cups of shortening, 192 cups of eggs, 992 cups of flour, 576 teaspoons of salt, 2048 teaspoons of baking powder, 448 cups of milk and 18 cups of vanilla. The result is the world’s largest shortcake, unveiled annually at Lebanon’s Strawberry Festival. A cake that immense deserves its own security detail, and it gets it in the form of its official ushers at the Grand Parade, the Strawberrians. The festival is taking place today through 2 June at Cheadle Lake Regional Park.
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Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota
By Linda Tancs
Lanesboro, Minnesota is the rhubarb capital of the state. Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable? That depends on whom you ask and where you live. In the U.S., rhubarb has been ordained a fruit in New York. Tart like a lemon, it finds its way into pies, crisps, sauces, soups and drinks. On 1 June Lanesboro celebrates its annual Rhubarb Festival at Sylvan Park. The day’s events include a tasting, a stalk throw and toss, a growers’ competition and entertainment by–no surprises here–the Rhubarb Sisters.
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The Other Emerald Isle
By Linda Tancs
Ireland may be the place best known by the sobriquet “the Emerald Isle,” but Kodiak, Alaska could run a close second. Located on the second largest island in the United States, the city is 250 air miles southwest of Anchorage in the Gulf of Alaska. Adopting the motto “Alaska’s Emerald Isle,” the home of the Kodiak bear is, like its Irish soul mate, an area of lush natural beauty. Take it all in–the greensward, mountains, islands and wildlife–from atop Pillar Mountain. One of the biggest draws, taking place this weekend, is the Kodiak Crab Festival.
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Halibut Fishing Capital of the World
By Linda Tancs
Homer, Alaska is the southernmost town on the state’s highway system, the ‘end of the road’ you might say. And where land ends, the sea begins. That’s great news for Homer, a fisherman’s mecca. Recognized as the halibut fishing capital of the world, the local catch is limited to two fish per person per day. Fish as long as you like; your catch will be packaged and sent home for you. Best of all, the bounty is available year round and so are the roads, the scenic Seward and Sterling highways.
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Four Freedoms in New York
By Linda Tancs
In New York City a three-minute tram ride from 59th Street and Second Avenue brings you to Roosevelt Island, a seeming haven in the middle of the East River. Part of the City, the two-mile-long island has a population 12,000 strong, with an enviable mix of playgrounds, parks and recreational areas. The newest park pays homage to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Named for his famous speech on the “four freedoms” during World War II (freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear), Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park offers amazing views of the City skyline from the expansive lawn. The Presidential memorial is a place for peaceful walks and contemplation–a respite from the onslaught of bikes, boards, skates and amplifiers in Manhattan’s “other island.” Here, serenity rules.
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The Spirit of the Jerseys
By Linda Tancs
New Jersey’s State History Fair, the only statewide event where visitors can experience five centuries of the state’s history in one place, is taking place on 11 May at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville from 11 am to 5 pm. Activities include military encampments and displays covering the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and both world wars. You’ll enjoy period music and crafts, living history demonstrations and exhibits by historical societies and museums. If you (or your kids) think history is boring, then check out the historic character portrayals that will bring the past to life. The cast includes Molly Pitcher (who followed her husband through Revolutionary War battles), George Washington and British General William Howe.
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The Northernmost Curiosity
By Linda Tancs
If you’ve been looking for a toilet bowl atop a totem pole, your search is over. You’ll find it in Point Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States. At the military base there is a colorful totem pole topped off with what is reputedly a toilet bowl commemorating the first flush toilet in Barrow. Just 1291 miles away is the North Pole.
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Drinks on US
By Linda Tancs
Did you know that the earliest known recipe for a cocktail in the U.S. comes from a response to a newspaper editorial in 1806? What was the original cocktail? How many patents have issued for barware? These and other libation-related curiosities will be answered at the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans at the Riverwalk Marketplace. What better time to visit than during World Cocktail Week, now through 13 May.
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The Octagon Hall
By Linda Tancs
Kentucky’s only eight-sided house, Octagon Hall in Franklin boasts a storied past, its nooks and crannies serving as hiding places for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. This one-of-a-kind home, built by plantation owner Andrew Jackson Caldwell in 1847, has a storied present as well. Regularly featured on shows like Ghost Hunters, Kentucky’s marvel is reputedly haunted. Lest you think that you can book a night there to experience its ghostly apparitions, that privilege is reserved for reputable investigative teams.
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