Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!African American History in the Sourlands
By Linda Tancs
Sourland Mountain is a ridge straddling the borders of Somerset, Hunterdon and Mercer counties in New Jersey. Among its charms is one of the most historic buildings, the 120-year-old, one-room Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Now known as the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, it recounts the culture and contributions of African Americans who lived in the Sourlands for hundreds of years.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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From Castle to Hostel
By Linda Tancs
St. Briavels Castle began in the 12th century as a significant means of defense against the campaigns of the Welsh. Strategically located in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, it reaped the benefits of the area’s renown as a center of the medieval iron industry and the manufacture of crossbow bolts. Under King Edward I, thousands of crossbow bolts were produced at the castle in preparation for the king’s defensive campaigns. Once the conquest of Wales was completed, the castle served as a debtor’s prison. These days, the castle’s gatehouse prison serves as a youth hostel. Due to this use, access to the interior is limited; visitors should call ahead. However, the exterior of the castle and moat can be viewed during daylight hours, and there is seasonal access (April to October) to the inner bailey and courtyard.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Between Pakistan and China
By Linda Tancs
Some might call the Karakoram Highway the ultimate road trip. Or maybe thrill ride is a better term. Connecting China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, it’s loaded with hairpin turns, pencil-thin roads and steep slopes. It’s also billed as the world’s highest paved international border crossing, reaching over 15,000 feet above sea level. Stretching about 800 miles, part of its path traces the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes formally established during the Han Dynasty of China. If you’re keen to test your stamina (as well as your nerves), then this might be the trip for you.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Land of the Gonds
By Linda Tancs
The area occupying India’s Kanha National Park was once the domain of one of Central India’s indigenous tribes, the Gonds. Now it’s a popular tiger reserve, one of the finest in the country. But don’t overlook its other jewels, like the endangered swamp deer. Conservation efforts have boosted the population so significantly that the species is now regarded as “the jewel of Kanha National Park.” Get ready for a visit during peak season, October to March. The park is accessible from popular destinations like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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An Agent of Change in Richmond
By Linda Tancs
The home of Maggie L. Walker in Richmond, Virginia, became a prime location in the heart of Jackson Ward (a National Historic Landmark), the center of Richmond’s African American business and social life at the turn of the century. At that residence she devoted her life to civil rights advancement, economic empowerment and educational opportunities for Jim Crow-era African Americans and women. She was no less an inspiration in her own right, being the first Black woman in the U.S. to found a bank. She also established a newspaper and spearheaded a variety of civic groups. Her home is a National Historic Site on North 2nd Street.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Whale of a Time in Iceland
By Linda Tancs
If you’ve dreamed of getting up-close and personal with a whale without risk, then Reykjavik’s whale museum is the place for you. Appropriately named Whales of Iceland, it showcases life-size replicas of 23 whale species found in Icelandic waters. Painstakingly reproduced, the exhibition includes an 82-foot-long blue whale, a full-size sperm whale and even an endangered North Atlantic right whale. You can download an audio tour to your phone or tablet or take advantage of the guided tour offered at 1:30 p.m. to all ticket holders.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Tip in Canada
By Linda Tancs
Point Pelee is the southernmost point of mainland Canada, a slip of land (the “Tip”) that tapers to a sharp point as it juts into Lake Erie. The area forms part of Point Pelee National Park, where you’ll see waves of Monarch butterflies this time of year. The park also enjoys the distinction of being the first place in Canada where the Northern Cardinal was recorded. More than 390 species have been recorded there overall, a go-to spot for birdwatchers thanks to the park’s location along major migratory flyways. The migration phenomenon is highlighted at an outdoor exhibit at the Tip. A seasonal shuttle bus runs there through October.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Into the Wilderness in Greenland
By Linda Tancs
A nature lover’s dream, the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland hits all the marks with its glistening lakes, fjords, mountains and low Arctic vegetation. Nearly 100 miles long, this trek through the backcountry runs between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut. Not for the faint of heart, it generally takes between nine to 11 days to complete the hike. At this time of year, expect cooler temperatures and overnight snow in the mountains. There are eight simple huts (some with restrooms) at various points along the trail that typically sleep up to six people. Given the limited number of guided hikes, you might want to download the maps and trail guides available from the Greenland GPS app for offline use.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Mud in Your Eye in Germany
By Linda Tancs
“Here’s mud in your eye” is a toast with a double meaning in Föhr, one of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea. A popular way to get there is by hiking through the tidal mudflats from Emmelsbüll-Horsbüll. After a trek like that you might want a cocktail to ease into some relaxation. The drink you’ll find on virtually any menu is the Manhattan. Conceived, of course, in New York City, its popularity in this second-largest German island of the North Sea cannot be understated. A popular explanation is that German immigrants brought the concoction back to their homeland when fortunes there improved. Whatever the case, you can sleep off your indulgence in one of the island’s unique beach sleeping baskets along its white, sandy beaches.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Sing-Sing in Papua
By Linda Tancs
A sing-sing is a gathering of tribes or villages in Papua New Guinea. In the Highlands, that’s characterized by the annual Goroka Festival, the longest-running cultural show coinciding with national independence celebrations in September. Held in Goroka (capital of the Eastern Highlands Province), the event attracts nearly 100 tribes from around the country who enchant visitors with energetic and colorful dance rituals.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 