Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!A Czech Icon
By Linda Tancs
Founded in the 9th century, Prague Castle is one of the most important cultural symbols in the Czech Republic. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest ancient castle in the world, it comprises palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles as well as knockout views of the city from the Great South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral. The castle’s season opening is on May 11, when you can visit for free. Be sure to see the falconry show in the castle gardens throughout the day.
Share this:
Sea and Desert in Almería
By Linda Tancs
Spain’s Almería province rivals any beach destination, with long, sandy beaches stretching from Pulpí in the east to Adra in the west bathed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the desert located north of the city of Almería (Tabernas), popularly cited as Europe’s only bona fide desert. A popular film location, the area is characterized by rugged badlands suitable for hiking. Go now before the temperatures climb.
Share this:
Best Sunset in the Hudson Valley
By Linda Tancs
For many, the best sunset view in the Hudson Valley is the one from the fire tower at Ferncliff Forest in Rhinebeck, New York, a 200-acre, old-growth forest preserve. Standing high above the treetops at 80 feet, the tower provides visitors with an amazing sunset view over the Catskills and Hudson River. The tower is easily visible driving east across the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. Follow the East Tower Trail in the forest for the most direct path to the structure. As with any climb, consider any physical limitations you may have before attempting it.
Share this:
The Heart of the Thousand Islands
By Linda Tancs
Alexandria Bay, New York, is a tourist village located on the St. Lawrence River in the heart of the Thousand Islands, an archipelago straddling the border between the U.S. and Canada. Its centerpiece on town-owned Heart Island is Boldt Castle, a full-size, Rhineland-style castle built by hotelier George Boldt for his wife. Accessible via boat tours (from May to October), a shuttle from the island also runs to the Boldt family’s yacht house on nearby Wellesley Island, featuring some of the original fleet, including an 1892 steam yacht.
Share this:
The Hills of Kampala
By Linda Tancs
Kampala is Uganda’s largest city and seat of the Buganda Kingdom dating to the 14th century. Like Rome, it was originally built on seven hills. Today, greater Kampala stands on at least 20 hills, all the better for panoramic views, like those from Uganda National Mosque. Some notable attractions are the Royal Mile (from the parliament building to Lubiri Palace), the Kasubi tombs (burial place of Buganda kings), the Independence Monument and Bahai Temple, the seat of the Bahai faith in Africa.
Share this:
Tulips in New Jersey
By Linda Tancs
If you can’t fly to Holland, then you can drive there—Holland Ridge, that is. Located in Cream Ridge, New Jersey, it’s the site of a massive tulip bloom, just like the Dutch variety. In fact, the Holland Ridge Farms Tulip Festival is reportedly the largest on the East Coast. You’d expect nothing less from fourth-generation tulip growers from Holland. The flowers are in high bloom. Better hurry.
Share this:
The Story of American Law Enforcement
By Linda Tancs
America’s first museum giving visitors a “walk in the shoes” experience of law enforcement opened late last year in Washington, D.C. Located in Judiciary Square, the National Law Enforcement Museum offers over 20,000 artifacts telling the story of American law enforcement since its beginnings. Seeking to encourage dialog between police and communities, the facility’s exhibits include a training simulator exploring the making of police decisions. The grounds also feature a memorial with the names of more than 21,000 officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known death in 1791.
Share this:
The Ocean’s Call in Brest
By Linda Tancs
A popular port city in Brittany, Brest is known for its rich maritime history. Nestled in one of France’s most beautiful natural harbors, it boasts incredible quayside views as well as architectural wonders like Pont de l’Iroise bridge, holding a world span record for a cable-stayed bridge. You can take a cruise across the entirety of the harbor, connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Goulet de Brest channel. Among its other charms are the National Navy Museum, housed in the medieval Château de Brest, and Océanopolis, a unique ocean discovery center in Europe with enormous aquariums and a seal clinic.
Share this:
Exeter’s Underground
By Linda Tancs
Predating the arrival of the Romans, Exeter is an ancient English city boasting Exeter Cathedral, one of England’s most beautiful medieval cathedrals and one of the finest examples of decorated Gothic architecture in the country. Perhaps less known but equally interesting is the city’s underground passages. Built to house the pipes that brought clean drinking water into medieval Exeter, these are the only passages of their kind open to the public in Britain. Early booking is advisable.
Share this:
Oxford of the East
By Linda Tancs
Voted India’s most livable city in 2018, Pune mixes contemporary metropolitan flair with striking, historical landmarks. Known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra, it’s also been dubbed “Oxford of the East” owing to the renowned educational institutions there. An iconic attraction is Aga Khan Palace, built by Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan in 1892 to house famine-ravaged people in the area. Later it would serve as the centerpiece of the Indian freedom movement when Mahatma Gandhi, his wife, secretary and others were incarcerated there.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 