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
World’s Largest Model Railroad
By Linda Tancs
Located in Flemington, New Jersey, Northlandz is home to the world’s largest model railroad according to Guinness World Records, boasting up to 100 trains traveling on eight miles of track, 40-foot bridges, huge canyons, and thousands of buildings nestled among cities and villages. You’ll need at least two hours to tour the 16-acre site, which includes a 94-room dollhouse and over 200 dolls. There’s nothing small scale about this family attraction.
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America’s Christmas Hometown
By Linda Tancs
It’s hard to miss the spirit of the season in a town called Santa Claus, Indiana. Enjoy the Christmas Celebration, which takes place on the first three weekends in December. The Christmas-themed attractions include the Candy Castle, Santa’s Post Office, and Santa’s Tree of Lights, which comes to life hourly at Kringle Place. While you’re in town, take a drive through the Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort. Munch on roasted chestnuts as you shop at the Christmas Store and craft stalls. Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin’?
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A Presidential Retreat
By Linda Tancs
Nowadays our U.S. presidents retreat to Camp David for a little respite. But in Teddy Roosevelt’s day, Sagamore Hill was a presidential oasis–actually, the homefront–for one of the first presidents to be extensively chronicled. Located in Oyster Bay, New York, the grounds comprise the stately Roosevelt home, the museum at Old Orchard (formerly, eldest son Ted’s home), a visitors’ center, and a nature trail leading to the national wildlife refuge on Cold Spring Harbor. Although the house is closed for renovations, why not take in a peaceful visit of the park grounds during this off-season. The museum and vistors’ center are open Wednesdays through Sundays.
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A Free Guide on the Freedom Trail
By Linda Tancs
Considered the oldest public park in the U.S., Boston Common is the starting point of the Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts. From there you can pick up a map of this 2.5 mile walking trail highlighting 16 historic landmarks, such as the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Old North Church and the Bunker Hill Monument. If self-guided tours aren’t for you, don’t fret. You can pick up a free guided tour of the trail by a National Park Service ranger at Faneuil Hall.
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On the Water’s Edge
By Linda Tancs
Havre de Grace, Maryland bills itself as unique on the Chesapeake. Just five minutes off I-95 between Baltimore, Maryland and Wilmington, Delaware, the little city by the bay offers a plethora of things to do. Why not take a stroll along the boardwalk, where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Or check out the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy system, a system of buoys placed along portions of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The region is rich in maritime heritage. Visit the lock house museum for the story of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal or take in a lecture at the maritime museum. You can even visit a museum dedicated to decoy carving, or take an educational excursion aboard the Skipjack Martha Lewis, one of the last remaining working dredge boats comprising the Chesapeake Bay oyster fleet.
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Boston’s Oldest Light
By Linda Tancs
For an unforgettable view of Boston Harbor, visit Boston’s oldest lighthouse–also the oldest and first one in the U.S.–at Little Brewster Island. This is the last lighthouse to retain a U.S. Coast Guard keeper. The historic Fresnel lens is worth the climb up 76 steps and two ladders. You’re sure to find a tour illuminating.
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A Home Run in Cooperstown
By Linda Tancs
Cooperstown, New York is the birthplace of baseball–the national pastime–and home to its museum. But did you know that it’s also a treasure trove for shoppers, opera and museum lovers, and theatre and concert goers? For instance, Fenimore Art Museum, one of the nation’s premier art institutions, is located here. This neo-Georgian dwelling houses a significant collection of American folk art and American Indian art, as well as important holdings in decorative arts, photography and modern art. The museum is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, presenting On the Home Front: New York in the Civil War.
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Pumpkin Fever in Delaware
By Linda Tancs
Ever wonder what happens to all those Halloween pumpkins? It might surprise you to learn that people from across the country converge east of Bridgeville, Delaware to launch pumpkins into the air during the annual Punkin Chunkin competition in November. Now through 4 November, teams will use their engineering skills and ingenuity to hurl their pumpkins to the greatest heights. A nationally recognized event, a share of the proceeds is earmarked for charitable giving. What better reason is there to chunk than that!
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Splendid Isolation
By Linda Tancs
Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas is one of the remotest places on earth. Named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande, native peoples have lived in and passed through this expansive park (the 8th largest in the lower 48 states) for thousands of years. Archeological wonders are also represented, including fossils like a world-record pterosaur and a 50-foot crocodile. No surprise that the park offers idyllic hiking trails, like Grapevine Hills with its beautiful rock formations. Over 150 miles of trails await for day hikes or backpacking trips. Visitor information is available at any of the five centers, two of which are open year round. The busy season is generally November through April. Get there now before the crowds do. The closest commercial airport is Midland International.
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Cape Cod’s Most Popular Destination
By Linda Tancs
Provincetown, Massachusetts is one of the few places on the East Coast where you can watch the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean. Located at the tip of Cape Cod and preserved almost entirely as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore Park, its heritage dates back to the Pilgrims’ first landing in 1620. Dune hiking is a popular attraction. You can take a 40-minute hike on your own at the Snail Road entrance or opt for an organized tour, complete with lobster bakes or sunset and champagne tours. Provincetown is a regional public transportation hub with fast ferry, bus and air service from Boston and frequent local shuttle service.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 