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
Little Sahara of the Midwest
By Linda Tancs
Aptly named, Oklahoma’s Little Sahara State Park bears a striking resemblance to Africa’s Sahara desert. It boasts over 1,600 acres of sand dunes, ranging in height from 25 to 75 feet, formed over time from terrace deposits dating back to prehistoric times when the Cimarron River covered the entire area. There’s an observation deck on one of the highest dunes that offers visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of the landscape. As you might imagine, the main attraction is dune buggy and ATV riding across the dunes. Visitors can either bring their own ATV or rent one off-site by a private vendor. This time of year the winds generally die down and, if you’re lucky, you’ll enjoy a winter wonderland.
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On the Reedy
By Linda Tancs
It might be hard to believe that the beautiful waterfalls and gardens at Falls Park on the Reedy were once covered by a four-lane highway. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, it’s the locals’ downtown park. The falls are revealed by the 345-foot-long Liberty Bridge that spans the Reedy River. Described as “floating on air,” its spectacular curvature is rivaled only by its unique construction—a concrete, reinforced deck supported by just a single suspension cable. The park is popular with visitors, who rank it among the likes of New York’s Central Park and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Open daily, there’s no admission fee.
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Linchpin of the Great Lakes
By Linda Tancs
Michigan’s Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie are referred to by the Army Corps of Engineers as “the Linchpin of the Great Lakes.” A feat of engineering, the locks comprise two canals and four locks that allow vessels of many types and sizes to safely traverse the 21-foot drop in elevation of the St. Mary’s River between Lake Superior and lakes Michigan and Huron. The observation platform located in Soo Locks Park provides a fantastic vantage point to watch the locking process of “Lakers” and “Salties” (ocean-going vessels). The Soo Locks Visitor Center is located near the entryway into the park and is open between mid-May and mid-October.
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Rare Warbirds in California
By Linda Tancs
Rare warbirds (vintage military aircraft) are just one of the treasures awaiting visitors to March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California. In fact, the facility showcases 115 aircraft from World War I to the present. The museum offers self-guided tours of its expansive 30-acre campus, but for a more in-depth experience, consider the 45-minute narrated Tram Tour of the outdoor “Flightline,” where numerous aircraft are on display. March Field is one of the oldest military airfields in the country; the museum is located just outside the base, so no base pass is required.
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Soul History in Memphis
By Linda Tancs
The golden age of soul is commemorated in Memphis, Tennessee, at Stax Museum of American Soul Music. It’s located at the original location of Stax Records, where legends like Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, the Mar-Keys, Booker T. and The MGs, Rufus Thomas and Isaac Hayes recorded. The building opens with a fully reassembled 1906 Mississippi Delta church, honoring the roots of Stax in Southern gospel music. You’ll also find period recording equipment in the control room and Studio A, an exact replica of the legendary converted movie theater where Stax artists cut records. Another gem is the Wall of Sound, where you can hear classics at the listening station and see the records and album art in floor-to-ceiling exhibits. And don’t miss Isaac Hayes’ glittering custom Cadillac Eldorado, fully equipped with unique amenities like a refrigerated mini-bar, television, 24-carat gold exterior trim and white fur carpeting on the floorboards.
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California’s Clam Comeback
By Linda Tancs
In the mid-20th century, Pismo Beach, California, deemed itself “The Clam Capital of the World.” In its heyday, the Pismo clam and the Pacific Razor clam made up most of the catch by clammers in the state. In fact, the largest Pismo clam recorded in California came from Pismo Beach and was 7.37 inches across and estimated to be 26 years old. Decades of overharvesting devastated the industry, but there’s been an unprecedented recovery with thousands of small clams reappearing on the beaches around Pismo Beach. A valid sport fishing license is required to take Pismo clams for anyone 16 years old or older. You must also have with you a measuring device to measure clam size; anything under 4.5 inches must be reburied. The legal limit is 10 clams, and they cannot be taken at night. Every October you can celebrate the Pismo clam at the annual clam festival, featuring clam chowder competitions and a clam-themed parade.
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Michigan’s Banana Belt
By Linda Tancs
Escanaba (also known as Esky) is a port city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The seat of Delta County, it’s located in an area that locals call the “banana belt” because of its temperate climate, located well south of Lake Superior’s lake-effect snow zone. A walking tour of its historic downtown area features sights like Sand Point Light, where one of the first female lighthouse keepers on the Great Lakes worked for 18 years. You’ll also find the House of Ludington, a Queen Anne-style resort that remains the oldest
continuing hotel and inn still operating within the city. And Carnegie Library is one of many community libraries funded by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Constructed of red Lake Superior (Bayfield) sandstone and brick in 1903, this fine example of Neo-Classical architecture is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Watching Over the White House
By Linda Tancs
Located across from the White House, St. John’s Church at Lafayette Square has welcomed every U.S. president to worship in its sanctuary beginning with James Madison. A National Historic Landmark, it features a bell tower with a bell cast by the son of Paul Revere. Consecrated in 1816, it has borne witness to many events in American history, such as the first State Funeral for President William Henry Harrison, the signing of the Webster–Ashburton Treaty and the baptism of former First Lady Dolley Madison. Tours take place after the last Sunday service, free of charge.
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The Largest Doors in the World
By Linda Tancs
The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is a massive building designed to assemble large, pre-manufactured space vehicle components. In fact, its interior space is capable of fitting over three Empire State buildings in it. The high-bay doors are the largest in the world (at 456 feet) and take about 45 minutes to completely open or close. From time to time NASA offers “up close” tours that include the VAB; check their website or call for opportunities.
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The Maroon Bells
By Linda Tancs
Located just 10 miles west of Aspen, Colorado, is one of the most photographed places in the state. Known as the Maroon Bells, they’re two 14,000-foot, bell-shaped peaks (Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak). The “fourteeners” are named maroon owing to the color they take on in certain light. Anchored by a reflective lake, the Maroon Bells Scenic Area is accessible by car or shuttle with a reservation. The RFTA shuttle service operates seasonally from late May through late October.
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