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
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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The Million Dollar Highway
By Linda Tancs
As far as scenic road trips go, you needn’t pack your bags for the Swiss mountain passes to get the grandest views. In fact, the “Switzerland of America” is right in western Colorado. Just head to US Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. Known as the Million Dollar Highway, the former toll road sports the same hairpin turns (sans guard rails, of course) and tremendous vistas you would expect in alpine Europe. The challenging drive takes you through three mountain passes; the highest is Red Mountain Pass at over 11,000 feet. The origin of the highway’s name is disputed. Perhaps that’s just as well because the views are, in any event, priceless.
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California’s Cleanest Beaches
By Linda Tancs
The beaches at Point Reyes National Seashore in California are frequently cited as some of California’s cleanest beaches. But it’s the views that undoubtedly impress visitors the most. Some beaches are just a spit of sand like Limantour Beach, but you’ll find a bountiful array of seasonal inhabitants like ducks, seals, gray whales and shorebirds. And then there’s Kehoe Beach, a mix of dunes and cliffs made of sandstone and granite. Some beaches even have drive-up access, like Limantour, Drakes Beach and Great Beach. The lure of heavy surf is particularly strong at Great Beach, a misnomer considering that they’re all pretty great.
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Jammin’ in the French Quarter
By Linda Tancs
New Orleans’ French Quarter Festival is celebrating its 30th year now through 14 April with over 800 local musicians, free special events, activities for the kids and a fireworks display along the Mississippi on Saturday night. Did I mention food? Perhaps it needs no introduction. This is New Orleans, after all–home of the poboys, jambalaya and gumbo, to name but a few of its delicacies. Sample them all at the more than 65 restaurants participating in the festival.
