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
Garden of the Gods
By Linda Tancs
The Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado is a registered National Natural Landmark. The natural landmark program recognizes outstanding examples of biological and geological resources across the country. Home of the Bighorn sheep, the Garden of the Gods is renowned for its blazing red sandstone rock formations piercing the sky. Rock climbers get great views of snow-capped Pikes Peak. For the less daring, take a free 30-minute, naturalist-led walk daily at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m.
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The Call of the Wild
By Linda Tancs
Just a 40-minute drive from Lake Placid, New York, Tupper Lake is one of those old, quaint lumber milling towns. Today you’ll find a different calling echoing from the virgin pines and hardwoods of this Adirondack tourist destination–the call of the wild. The Wild Center, a 31-acre site of trails and overlooks, gives visitors ample opportunity to interact with the natural world. The area boasts moose, river otters, peregrine falcons and native trout. A new exhibit, Planet Adirondack, features a floating interactive Earth, highlighting the effects of human engineering on the planet.
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Civil War Richmond
By Linda Tancs
It’s been over 150 years since the start of the Civil War. And the pulse of Civil War history can be found in Richmond, Virginia, onetime capital of the Confederate States of America. In downtown Richmond’s historic Court End neighborhood you’ll find the White House of the Confederacy, home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family for most of the war. A National Historic Landmark, the neoclassical mansion has been restored to its wartime appearance and includes half of the family’s furnishings. Guided tours are offered daily.
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Bigfoot Sightings
By Linda Tancs
If someone were to tell you of a Bigfoot sighting near the K&O railroad line and the Ninnescah River (southern Kansas) between Pratt and Murdock would you believe it? It would be easy to brush it off as an April Fools’ Day hoax, wouldn’t it? If seeing is believing, then maybe you should sign up for an expedition with the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. Open to non members, the four-day jaunts cover many areas of the country where Bigfoot has allegedly appeared, like Florida, Kentucky, West Virginia, California, Arizona, New Mexico and even British Columbia, Canada.
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Newport’s Gilded Age
By Linda Tancs
Newport, Rhode Island boasts a spectacular coast, a charming waterfront and imposing mansions from the Gilded Age. No wonder it’s widely considered to be one of New England’s greatest destinations. This episode of Travelrific Radio® highlights the sights not to miss.
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Where the Buffalo Roam
By Linda Tancs
President Theodore Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman and a budding naturalist in his youth. During his presidency he advanced his conservationist agenda with the preservation of millions of acres of land and the creation of wildlife refuges. His values are well defended at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Located in western North Dakota, the park monitors and manages elk, bison and feral horses to maintain sustainable populations. An entrance fee is required. Buy an annual park pass, available for 20 dollars. A lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 62 or over is available for 10 dollars.
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Sailors’ Delight
By Linda Tancs
In 1801 Captain Robert Richard Randall died, his will decreeing that his New York City estate become a haven for retired seamen. Following a protracted will contest, his desire was fulfilled through the purchase of land in 1831 along the harbor in Staten Island instead. Located on the north shore, that enclave is known as Snug Harbor. Thanks to its popularity among retired sailors, the property grew to include a chapel, more dormitories, and a Beaux-Arts-style music hall. Boasting over 250,000 annual visitors, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center offers a glimpse into the life of a mariner. For art aficionados, there’s the John A. Noble maritime art collection. A year-round venue for performance art, the park is also notable for its botanical garden, one of the largest in the New York area.
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Nation’s Largest Orchid Show
By Linda Tancs
In Chinese culture, the orchid has long been a symbol of refinement and nobility. No doubt its beauty and enchanting nature is reason enough why orchid cultivation has blossomed into an international industry. In the United States, the largest orchid exhibition is taking place through 22 April at the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show. The curated show sports a mother lode of exotic orchids in every shape, size and color imaginable. Of course, there will be orchids for sale, along with care demonstrations, mood music and cocktail evenings among the blooms.
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Treasures from the Sea
By Linda Tancs
If seashell collecting seems as thrilling as watching paint dry, then you haven’t been to Sanibel Island, Florida. The island’s east/west orientation brings a plethora of colorful shells ashore from the Gulf of Mexico. This is where shell collecting is elevated to an art form. There’s even an annual shell fair and show. Taking place this weekend at the Community Center, the indoor/outdoor event features 250 shells, some elusive, as well as masterful works of shell art at the exhibition.
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A Traveling Sisterhood
By Linda Tancs
Lunafest is a traveling film festival by, for and about women. This year’s collection of nine films explores topics as diverse as chemotherapy, break-ups, shyness and gymnastics training. Over 150 locations will participate in this event through June. Find one near you.
