Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!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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World’s Largest Coffee Shop
By Linda Tancs
So, java lovers, where in the world is the largest coffee shop? The answer: South Korea. Boasting 2,190 seats and 3,600 square meters, Positive Space 566 in Gyeonggi-do takes the cake. Or should we say, bean. Opened in 2022, the shop’s four floors feature a variety of coffees and teas as well as baked goods, wood-fired pizza, pasta, salads and more.
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Stars and Stripes in Gloucester
By Linda Tancs
The city of Gloucester, England, has many ties to the United States. For example, Gloucester-born Button Gwinnett was an early signer of the Declaration of Independence. Also, the bells of Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts, were made in 1744 by the famous Rudhall foundry in Gloucester and installed in 1745. The city of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was named for its English counterpart in honor of their defiance against King Charles I during the English Civil War. Even Gloucester Cathedral has ties to America. In fact, it boasts both an American flag and Union flag in the nave. That’s because John Stafford Smith, the composer of the U.S. national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was born in the cathedral’s infirmary. Take a tour of the cathedral and learn more about Smith and his birthplace.
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A Symbol of Polynesian Heritage
By Linda Tancs
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taputapuātea is an archaeological gem in French Polynesia. Located in Raiatea, the marae (a sacred communal space) was once the center of spiritual practice uniting the “Polynesian triangle” of Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island. The ancient site, open daily, remains of great historical and cultural significance to indigenous Polynesians.
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Rainbow Houses of Houten
By Linda Tancs
A gem for shutterbugs, the so-called rainbow houses in Houten, Netherlands, are truly a rainbow burst of color off Lake Rietplas. This bicycle-centric community offers a variety of shops and eateries across three centers: Old Village, Het Rond and Castellum. The houses are easily accessible from Castellum station.
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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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