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
Horse-Drawn Wonders in Maryland
By Linda Tancs
Open seasonally, the Thrasher Carriage Museum in Frostburg, Maryland, offers a rare and extensive collection of horse-drawn vehicles dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Every walk of life is represented, including milkman carts, luxurious sleighs used by the Vanderbilt family and even President Theodore Roosevelt’s inauguration coach. The history of the vehicles is paired with docent-led discussions of the clothing, activities and lifestyles of Victorian era Americans. The array was once the private collection of James Richard Thrasher, an avid collector of goods of this kind.
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The National Lighthouse Museum
By Linda Tancs
The United States Lighthouse Service’s General Depot in Staten Island, New York, was the national headquarters, testing ground and distribution center for all materials and equipment used by light keepers and USLHS personnel from 1864 to 1939. Now the foundry building on that site hosts the National Lighthouse Museum, where visitors can enjoy self-guided exhibits exploring lighthouses, their lights and lightkeepers, as well as monthly lectures and special events. This time of year (May through October) you can also enjoy a boat tour, visiting lighthouses that can’t be seen from land as well as ship graveyards and bird sanctuaries. The museum is a short walk from the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
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The Palace of Depression
By Linda Tancs
As far as quirky tourist attractions go, the Palace of Depression in Vineland, New Jersey, fills the bill. As its name suggests, the structure was completed following the Great Depression triggered by the stock market crash of 1929. As the story goes, a grifter built a palatial residence out of mud, concrete and junkyard debris. After he landed in jail, the property eventually fell into disrepair and was razed by the city. Years later a group of locals decided to rebuild it consistent with old photos, using recycled materials and relying on public donations. Today’s version is a museum offering tours.
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Where the Battle Wasn’t
By Linda Tancs
It’s impossible to think of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, without reflecting on the Battle of Gettysburg. Considered the most important engagement of the U.S. Civil War, it marked a turning point for Union forces and inspired President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Given the area’s acclaim, it’s appropriate that a sister city in South Dakota adopted the moniker “Where the Battle Wasn’t.” Although you won’t find a famous battlefield there, you will find plenty of opportunities for hunting and fishing in this pea-sized town in the prairie.
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To the Heights in Massachusetts
By Linda Tancs
At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. On a clear day, you can see as far as 90 miles away. Nowadays, Mount Greylock State Reservation is bursting with spring color. Shortly, you’ll also be able to take the high road (literally) to the peak via Rockwell Road, which is open seasonally. The crowning attraction is the Veterans War Memorial Tower, a 92-foot-tall granite tower dedicated to those who served the U.S. during World War I.
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Surf’s Up in New Jersey
By Linda Tancs
Home to the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Surf Museum is also one of the largest museums on the East Coast dedicated to surfing. Over 50 surfboards are on display, along with clothing, memorabilia and other information on surf culture. The venue is located at Tuckerton Seaport.
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Honoring NATO
By Linda Tancs
One of the longest running festivals in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region, the Norfolk NATO Festival is the only one of its kind in the United States honoring the NATO Alliance and its member nations. The festivities include a parade of nations, an international village featuring cultural performances, international art and cuisine and a military tattoo sporting an international cast of over 900, including bagpipers, drummers, military bands, dancers, singers, drill teams and color guards. This year’s event runs from April 20 to April 22 in downtown Norfolk.
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The Wonders of Delmarva
By Linda Tancs
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula embracing the state of Delaware and the Eastern Shore counties of Maryland and Virginia. Its name derives from this tri-state reach (DelMarVa) of about 170 miles. It’s one of the earliest sites of European settlement and boasts a record of indigenous occupation since the last Ice Age. Among the many tourist destinations in the region, some highlights are Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, Ocean City in Maryland and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.
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Alabama’s Light Show
By Linda Tancs
Designated a National Natural Landmark, Dismals Canyon is a sandstone gorge in Phil Campbell, Alabama. The key attraction are the fly larvae known locally as Dismalites, a bioluminescent species similar to the glowworms found in Oceania. Past twilight the canyon lights up with these creatures, and guided night tours allow visitors to see these unique insects. April and May represent one of two peak seasons for viewing (the other being September and October). Reservations are highly recommended, and be sure to bring a flashlight.
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A Weird Museum
By Linda Tancs
If you love museums dedicated to oddities and weirdness, then the Museum of the Weird in Austin, Texas, is for you. Operating in the tradition of a dime museum (an emporium for oddities and curios), the facility features attractions like shrunken heads, mummies and a cyclops pig. You’ll find it on 6th Street in the heart of downtown’s entertainment district.
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