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
Inside the Scoop
By Linda Tancs
You’ll get the scoop inside the scoop at the pop-up Museum of Ice Cream in New York City. You can sample scoops of their signature flavors (including seven new varieties like malted chocolate and spicy mango) while you encounter interactive exhibits on the subject of ice cream. The fun includes a three-story slide and perhaps the largest Sprinkle Pool ever, featuring one hundred million sprinkles comprising antimicrobial, biodegradable material—the perfect pool for dipping. Located at 558 Broadway in Soho, the event will run until March 1. Reservations must be booked online; get your tickets before they sell out.
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A Big Little World in NYC
By Linda Tancs
Located in New York City’s Times Square, Gulliver’s Gate is a big little world. As its name implies, it’s a miniature world capturing over 25 cities from five continents. The intricate craftsmanship features a functioning airport and naval locks as well as hundreds of bridges, cars, buildings and windows covering an expansive 50,000 square feet. In addition, the general admissions price includes a souvenir key that unlocks interactive experiences within several models. Your self-guided tour may take a couple of hours. Enjoy the trip!
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Seattle’s Hidden Treasure
By Linda Tancs
There’s a side to Seattle, Washington, that you definitely haven’t seen. That’s because it’s hidden underground, a city entombed when the locale rebuilt on top of itself after the Great Fire of 1889. The result is a series of interconnecting tunnels revealing subterranean storefronts and sidewalks with plenty of stories to tell. You can experience it via a 75-minute underground tour beginning beneath Doc Maynard’s Public House and ending at Rogues Gallery. The easiest way to get there is by bus or light rail.
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The Little White House
By Linda Tancs
Florida’s only presidential museum, the Little White House in Key West was a sanctuary and working office for numerous U.S. presidents. It was foremost the winter White House for President Harry S. Truman and remains an occasional site for government functions. Tours are given daily. This is a great time to enjoy vintage Christmas decor from a bygone era. Merry Christmas!
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The Cajun Food Trail
By Linda Tancs
Cajun cuisine is a staple of Louisiana’s food culture. That’s especially true in the Cajun Bayou. Just 45 minutes south of New Orleans, it flows through wetlands and Cajun communities, the perfect place for a Cajun Bayou Food Trail. Along the route you can sample the Cajun delights of over a dozen restaurants. Stop by the visitor’s center in Raceland for a foodie passport and trail information. You can exchange your passport for a free, commemorative t-shirt once you’ve visited seven restaurants.
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A Christmas Village in Philadelphia
By Linda Tancs
German Christmas markets are legendary, but if you can’t make the trip, then consider Philadelphia’s Christmas Village. You’ll certainly be feeling the gemütlichkeit with over 80 vendors selling authentic European food as well as arts and crafts and ornaments from around the world. The event is located at LOVE Park through Christmas Eve.
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Lights Galore in Staten Island
By Linda Tancs
A world of light is waiting for you at Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. That’s where the stunning NYC Winter Lantern Festival is taking place until January 5. Over 1,000 lanterns will be on display over eight acres, sculpted into magnificent displays. The event also features a skating rink and cultural performances like a Tibetan folk dance and a form of Chinese Sichuan opera. Take the free Staten Island ferry from Lower Manhattan; free shuttles will transport you from the ferry terminal to the event.
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French Heritage in Illinois
By Linda Tancs
If it weren’t for the place names, you’d likely forget the influence of the French in what was once known as Illinois Country. Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, for example, served as the French seat of government and its chief military installation in Upper Louisiana from 1753 until 1765 when it was occupied by the British. Home to a succession of four forts, the present-day structure at the site is a partial reconstruction of a French colonial fort built in the 1750s, a massive stone fort that had replaced three earlier wooden forts, only to fall into ruin with the encroachment of the Mississippi River. The imprint of original foundations remains, along with two reconstructed stone buildings and a restored powder magazine, believed to be the oldest building in Illinois. Declared a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places, the site is located 4 miles west of Prairie du Rocher.
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Lost and Found in Charlottesville
By Linda Tancs
Almost lost to history, extensive archaeological work has revealed the original footprint of Highland, home to U.S. President James Monroe. It burned down in the 1800s, but the guest house remains, filled with family furniture and portraits. A devoted public servant for 50 years, Monroe was the most popular U.S. president of his era, a four-term Virginia governor, Secretary of State and Secretary of War (under James Madison) and an international diplomat, among other things. The grounds include the Highland Rustic Trails, interpretive trails that wind through the pasture and wooded hillside of the estate. In addition to traditional guided tours, the estate offers augmented reality tours featuring a wearable glass device imposing characters of the era (including Monroe) for a more authentic experience. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, Highland is part of William and Mary, Monroe’s alma mater.
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Where the Blues Began
By Linda Tancs
Clarksdale, Mississippi, hails as the birthplace of the blues. That’s where you’ll find the Delta Blues Museum, the state’s oldest music museum. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the facility, which includes photographic exhibitions, musical instruments, recordings, sheet music, posters, costumes, folk art, paintings and other memorabilia. Among its many highlights are displays devoted to Muddy Waters and Big Mama Thornton as well as guitars played by B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and Big Joe Williams.
