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 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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Watermelon Olympics in Arkansas
By Linda Tancs
The farmers in Hope, Arkansas, are proud to be growers of the world’s largest watermelons. In fact, they’ve been breaking world records since the 1930s, and an area farmer’s 268.8 pound melon still retains the title as the world’s largest watermelon in the Guinness World Records. So what better place to celebrate the summer fruit than in the famous birthplace of President Bill Clinton, among others. You needn’t be spitting mad to enter the melon spitting contest, but a little bit of oomph could go a long way toward landing you in the winner’s circle at this year’s Watermelon Festival in Fair Park today through Saturday. Or give it a toss at the Watermelon Olympics. Or just plain eat it. After all, watermelon has excellent levels of vitamins A and C and a good level of vitamin B6, not to mention the water content. Perfect for a hot summer day.
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Celebrate the Huckleberry in Montana
By Linda Tancs
In Trout Creek, Montana, the huckleberry–that purple berry resembling a blueberry–reigns supreme. So much so, in fact, that the legislature proclaimed Trout Creek the huckleberry capital of the State. This small northwestern town is proud to celebrate their prized bounty each year with a Huckleberry Festival. That means, of course, you can sample the huckleberry in every food imaginable, like ice cream cones, pizza, cheesecake, hot dogs and pancakes. Far from just another food fest, the annual event includes such activities as a 5K run, dancing under the stars, karaoke, dog agility demonstration, a pageant, an auction, children’s activities, a horseshoe contest, and an interfaith worship service. Don’t miss the fun between 12 and 14 August.
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Rendezvous in the Black Hills
By Linda Tancs
Motorcycle mania hits the Black Hills of South Dakota during the Sturgis Rally from August 8 to 14 this year. The origins of the race began with the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in 1936, with an official American Motorcycle Association (AMA) charter in 1937. AMA began promoting the racing events which started the now famous Rally in Sturgis on August 14, 1938. That weekend celebration in 1938 had a lineup of only nine racers and a small audience watching the races. Now the rally will hold 12 events, including motocross racing, a 1/2 mile race, hill climbs, road tours and short track racing. As you can see, the Sturgis Rally has grown quite a bit since the first rally in 1937! Is this the greatest motorcycle rally anywhere? You decide.
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Making Order Out of Chaos
By Linda Tancs
Wordsmiths will be battling it out in the National Scrabble Championship on August 6–10, 2011 at the Hotel InterContinental Dallas at 15201 Dallas Parkway in Addison, Texas. Not just any wordsmith, mind you. To compete you must be a rated player–in other words, an official brainiac. This year’s tournament has four divisions, with the best players duking it out in Division 4. So who will the W-I-N-N-E-R be?
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The Maine Event
By Linda Tancs
Maine. Lobster. Perfect together. So of course the Maine event (okay, I couldn’t resist the pun) in Vacationland is the annual Lobster Festival today through 7 August at Rockland’s Harbor Park, less than two hours from Portland. Today is Hometown Day, and admission is free to kickoff the festivities. Not that you’ll mind the eight dollars for adults and two dollars for children (ages 6 to 12) thereafter for your crack at nearly 20,000 pounds of Maine’s proudest export. So nip along smartly before it’s all gone.
