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
Spinach Capital Hosts Festival
By Linda Tancs
Popeye, the fictional sailor of comic strip and other media fame, certainly made spinach look cool when he sang “I’m strong to the finich cause I eats me spinach.” The folks in Lenexa, Kansas would no doubt agree with that sentiment. Part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the city once dubbed the “spinach capital of the world” pays homage to this super green with a super-sized salad and a recipe contest. This year’s Spinach Festival takes place on 10 September from 9 to 5 at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Not into greens, you say? No worries. The annual event is equal parts art, crafts and antiques, from stained glass to puzzle boxes to copper tree art.
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Meet the Wing King in Buffalo
By Linda Tancs
At least 33 tons of crispy, delicious buffalo wings will be served this weekend at the National Buffalo Wing Festival in–where else–Buffalo, New York. Each Labor Day weekend, tens of thousands of people travel across the country to downtown Coca Cola Park in celebration of Buffalo’s signature dish. It’s there you might also pay tribute to the Wing King, Drew Cerza, the event’s founder. Do you have a favorite restaurant or sauce? Nominate them for the Hall of Flame, and give them something to cluck about.
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A Golden Nugget in Nevada
By Linda Tancs
There’s more than one golden nugget in Nevada worth a visit. Just eight hours from the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas is the Nugget Rib Cook-Off in Sparks, a family friendly barbeque boasting a rib-eating tournament drawing the world’s most competitive chowhounds. Now through 5 September, this annual event claiming over 500,000 visitors features one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Northern Nevada. The tournament is tonight at 6 p.m.; don’t worry, there will be plenty of ribs left to feast on at Rib Village, a VIP area offering unlimited ribs and drinks for up to 10 people per party.
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Vacation Rentals Just a Click Away
By Linda Tancs
Wyndham Rentals offers 90,000 vacation properties in 500 destinations through its extensive network of rental agencies. Looking for a detached bungalow in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria or the Czech Republic? How about a beachfront condo, ski-in/ski-out townhome or golf villa in North America? Is camping–or glamping–your passion? Chances are, they’ve got you covered.
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Doll Auction in Seattle
By Linda Tancs
A gorgeous French doll is waiting for you on 28 August in Seattle. Now, don’t get the wrong idea; this doll is of the collectible variety, along with a collection of dolls from Chicago and Germany forming the nucleus of this year’s doll auction at the Westin Bellevue. The collection includes early bisque dolls with sculpted hair, rare porcelain dolls, early wooden and cloth dolls, Kewpie dolls, miniature dolls, life-sized dolls, Teddy bears and a host of curiosities. Just a few blocks away is the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, a treasure trove of rare dolls that is shutting down as of 1 March 2012. Here’s your chance to get all dolled up.
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The Ultimate Reading Room
By Linda Tancs
Bibliophiles, take note. Would you like to view the only surviving copy of Benjamin Franklin’s first Poor Richard Almanack? How about the manuscript of James Joyce’s Ulysses or Bram Stoker’s notes for Dracula? These collections and more await you at the Rosenbach Museum and Library. Founded in 1954 through a testamentary gift by renowned book dealers Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach and his brother Philip, the facility is located at their 1865 historic townhouse on Delancey Place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The brothers played a central role in the development of private libraries that later became our nation’s most important public collections of rare books. The collection has since grown to include the papers of poet Marianne Moore and the drawings of Maurice Sendak. A guided tour includes Dr. Rosenbach’s rare book library, Philip Rosenbach’s fine and decorative art collections, and the recreation of modernist poet Marianne Moore’s Greenwich Village living room. As the Rosenbach is a historic house museum and research library, make an appointment with the librarian to view items from their collections.
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Brew Fest in Wyoming
By Linda Tancs
Wyoming’s official state microbrewery competition will be held this Saturday, rain or shine, at Kathy Glode Park from 1-5 pm. To the winner go the spoils–that is, the coveted Saratoga Steinley Cup. And that ain’t no bull. But while we’re on the subject, you can mosey on over to the Saratoga Bullfest at nearby Buck Springs Rodeo Arena. The Bullfest is an exciting bull riders-only event and will feature 30 of the region’s top cowboys.
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Hamburger Heaven in Ohio
By Linda Tancs
America’s oldest hamburger chain is White Castle, founded in 1921 by a short-order cook and an insurance executive in Wichita, Kansas. In those days, the duo’s little steamed burger sold for five cents. We’ve come a long way, baby. There’s an uncontested record for largest hamburger at 5000 pounds in Seymour, Wisconsin. You’d need a lot more burger than that to feed the average American his or her’s three burgers per week. If all this hamburger trivia is getting you hungry, then indulge yourself at this weekend’s National Hamburger Festival in Akron, Ohio at Lock 3 Park. As you might expect, there’s a hamburger eating contest or two. Try eating your way through bun and burger for 10 minutes or bob for burgers out of a kiddie pool filled with ketchup. Either way, you’re on your way to becoming burger king.
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Leave It to Beaver
By Linda Tancs
Everyone knows that beavers are industrious little creatures, prolific builders of dams to protect themselves against predators such as coyotes, wolves, and bears. Although dams can be very beneficial in restoring wetlands, they can also cause property damage from flooding. So what’s a property owner to do? How about using our furry friends’ handiwork as ceiling art? That’s what you’ll find at Beaver Lodge Cottage in Winvian, Connecticut, where a re-assembled dam adorns the ceiling above the bed. A new spin on applied art, indeed.
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Follow the Vines Along Delaware River Valley
By Linda Tancs
In summer it’s easy to see why New Jersey earns its moniker as The Garden State, offering a bumper crop of tomatoes, sweet corn, berries, plums, peaches and other delectables. Like wine. That’s right. Move over, Tuscany. You can sample and experience a bevy of award-winning fine wines of Hunterdon and Mercer counties, just one hour from New York City or Philadelphia. The Delaware River Valley Wine Trail boasts four vineyards: Old York Cellars, Unionville, Hopewell Valley and Terhune Orchards. Tasting rooms open at noon on weekends at Old York and Terhune and every day at Unionville and Hopewell Valley. Hopewell’s tasting room is a destination in itself, featuring a brick oven pizza stove and a wine bar overlooking the glorious vineyards. Check for special events at each location, too, like wine and music under the stars. With dozens of varietals awaiting your taste buds, you’ll be enjoying the ambience for years to come.
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