Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Ireland’s Medieval Mile
By Linda Tancs
The colorful hues and commercial comforts along High Street in Kilkenny belie the city’s storied past as the medieval capital of Ireland. You’ll learn all about that on the Medieval Mile, a discovery trail running through the heart of the city linking St. Canice’s Cathedral (the second longest in the country) and a stunning Anglo-Norman castle. South of Dublin, Kilkenny is named after St. Canice (Cill Chainnigh – Canice’s Church), who founded a sixth century monastic settlement. The Round Tower beside the cathedral offers fantastic views over the city. At the center of it all is the new Medieval Mile Museum, located in a converted 13th century church featuring medieval sculpture and Renaissance-era tombs.
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Belgrade’s Central Park
By Linda Tancs
Kalemegdan is Belgrade’s central park and fortress complex in Serbia. Lying on a hill overlooking the Sava and Danube confluence, its pleasant grounds contain a treasure trove of history and archaeology. It boasts the Belgrade Fortress, a citadel first built by the Romans in the first century and then razed and restructured by its conquerors, reaching its present form in the 18th century. The fortress contains the Roman Well, built during the baroque reconstruction of the ramparts during the 18th century. The fortress area also hosts the Statue of Victory, erected in 1928 to commemorate the Kingdom of Serbia’s war victories over the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary. Other highlights include the medieval Nebojša tower (a four-level cannon tower built around 1460 to protect the entrance to the Danube port) and the Military Museum in the middle of the park.
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New York’s Salmon Capital
By Linda Tancs
The quaint village of Pulaski is the salmon fishing capital of New York and one of the premier salmon fishing destinations in the world. This time of year there’s potential for a major daily run of 1,000 to 3,000 king and coho salmon in the Salmon River. Charter boats will take you where the trophy fish are biting.
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Heaven on Earth in Kelmscott
By Linda Tancs
William Morris, a leader of the Arts and Crafts Movement, found much of the inspiration for his designs in the beauty of his Cotswold retreat, Kelmscott Manor. Describing it as “heaven on earth,” he was enchanted by the beauty of its gardens, meadow and stream as well as by the way the house harmonized with its environment. Now owned by the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Grade 1-listed manor house contains a collection of the possessions and works of Morris, his family and associates that includes furniture, original textiles, pictures and paintings, carpets, ceramics and metalwork. The manor is located along the Thames in the picturesque village of Kelmscott with easy access to the Thames Path. Better hurry; the manor is closed from November to March for conservation and maintenance.
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America’s Best Bike Tour
By Linda Tancs
Ernest Hemingway said, “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” So what could be better than a nearly level bike path along 150 scenic miles? That’s what you get on the Great Allegheny Passage (the GAP), a holy grail for bicyclists. Winding its way between Cumberland, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the trail comprises a series of retired rail corridors—the longest rail trail east of the Mississippi. Aided by interpretive signage, the path crosses the Cumberland Narrows, the Mason-Dixon Line and the Eastern Continental Divide and is dotted with a chain of cyclist-friendly trail towns.
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Sweden’s First City
By Linda Tancs
Hailed as Sweden’s first city, Birka is an ancient city located on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren. It was an important Viking Age trading center which handled goods from Scandinavia and Finland as well as Europe and the Orient. In addition to the museum, a guided tour will take you back in time to the Vikings by strolling through the ancient fields that have been excavated. Past the museum is another interesting site: the Monument of Ansgar. Known as the Nordic apostle, Ansgar was a missionary who brought Christianity to Sweden. Boats to Birka depart from Stockholm (Stadshusbron), Hovgården, Härjarö and Mariefred.
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A Living Landscape in Australia
By Linda Tancs
Anangu, the Aboriginals, have lived at and managed Uluru for thousands of years. Better known as Ayers Rock (a massive sandstone monolith), it’s a protected area located in the Northern Territory of Australia, part of Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. It’s not uncommon to see its inhabitants dot painting, performing inma (traditional dance and song), telling stories or gathering bush tucker. One of the highlights of a visit there is a sunrise or sunset viewing of the rock, with five areas specifically dedicated to viewing and photographing the spectacular hues. At Talinguru Nyakunytjaku you have the choice of three shelters, two viewing platforms and a few miles of walking track to find the perfect spot.
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Valley of the Moon
By Linda Tancs
Popularly referred to as the Valley of the Moon for its alien-looking landscape, Wadi Rum (Arabic for “sand valley”) is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan. Virtually all of its inhabitants are of Bedouin origin, the Zalabia tribe being largely responsible for tourism services like jeep and camel tours. It’s prized for its sunsets, offering both summer and winter sites for the best views. Other landmarks are the towering sandstone mountains, the ancient inscriptions at Alameleh and Anfashieh and many sand dunes and canyons for trekking.
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An Aircraft Enthusiast’s Heaven
By Linda Tancs
Talk about the luck of the Irish. A private collector’s extensive inventory of die-cast model aircraft is now on permanent display at Shannon Airport. Reportedly the world’s largest collection of die-cast model aircraft, the 1,500-strong collection features an array of commercial, personal and military aircraft, each at 1:200 scale. Highlights include a range of Concordes, Queen Elizabeth II’s BAE 146, Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose and the full Aer Lingus collection. The exhibit is located in a gallery off the departures lounge.
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An Ancient Forest of the Northeast
By Linda Tancs
Located in western New York, Panama Rocks Scenic Park is an imposing world of towering rocks, deep crevices, dens and small caves. Its impressive geology extends over 300 million years. After the Ice Age a forest grew over the site, eventually producing the maple, beech, black ash and hemlock seen today. In fact, the forest at Panama Rocks is recognized and included in The Sierra Club’s Guide to the Ancient Forests of the Northeast, and its hemlocks are over 500 years old. Open from May through October, the park’s formations are easily hiked via a Class 1 trail.
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