Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!The Gem Capital of Brazil
By Linda Tancs
It’s easy to understand why tourism is becoming a major industry in Brazil. Consider the charm of Carnaval, the glam of Rio de Janeiro and the majesty of the Amazon. But gem hunters have a different reason to sing the country’s praises: Téofilo Otoni, a city in northeast Minas Gerais state where minerals reign (or, some might say, rain) supreme. Its trade in precious stones (particularly aquamarine) renders the city the gem capital of Brazil. In fact, an International Gemstones and Minerals Fair is held there every year.
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A River Runs Through It
By Linda Tancs
Minutes from Nashville International Airport and next door to the Grand Ole Opry, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center beckons visitors with a glass atrium stretching seven football fields in length. Beneath the atrium lies a stunning display of indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls, viewable along an indoor Delta River tour aboard a Mississippi-style flatboat. Look out for Danny, the 80-pound catfish and mascot of the meandering indoor river. And what better time to visit Music City than during the holidays! The resort’s 30th annual “A Country Christmas” features more than two million lights and dozens of shows and attractions.
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Battery Travel
By Linda Tancs
Alkaline, nickel cadmium, lithium ion. Sounds like a chemistry class, doesn’t it? No wonder, then, that the transport of these battery-making materials is addressed by the Transportation Security Administration. You might be surprised to learn that typical, consumer-sized batteries are allowable in carry-on baggage. In fact, whenever possible the TSA encourages the safe packing of your batteries in your carry-ons rather than checked bags so that the items are easily accessible in the event that onboard conditions give way to potential hazards.
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A Fowl Creation in Flanders
By Linda Tancs
Things are just ducky in the eastern end of Long Island, New York–specifically in Flanders, where you’ll find The Big Duck. Created in 1931 by Riverhead duck farmer Martin Maurer as a shop for the sale of ducks and eggs, this 20 foot tall and 30 foot long duck-shaped structure sports eyes made from the tail lights of a Model T Ford and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today marks the annual holiday lighting of the duck, a tradition observed on the first Wednesday following Thanksgiving. And yes, duck memorabilia is available for sale.
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America’s First Transcontinental Highway
By Linda Tancs
Lincoln Highway, the first road across America, celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. Winding its way from New York to San Francisco, the transcontinental route comprises a patchwork of roads in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Explore every mile of this historic route using the Lincoln Highway Association’s interactive map. Happy trails to you!
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A Monumental Meetup
By Linda Tancs
Who says you can’t be in two places at once? At the Four Corners Monument in Arizona, you can do that and more. Four Corners marks the only spot in the United States where four states intersect: Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. Located on the Navajo Nation, the monument’s year-round visitors’ center offers demonstrations of Navajo culture.
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A Festival of Lights in Norway
By Linda Tancs
While the United States celebrates Thanksgiving today (and the start of the holiday season), Bergen, Norway, is gearing up for its own start to holiday cheer with the Festival of Lights. Taking place in the city center at Festplassen and Lille Lungegardsvann on 30 November, the event features fireworks and torchlight processions, one last chance to be bathed in light before the onset of December, the darkest month of the year. While you’re in town, don’t miss Gingerbread Town, the world’s biggest gingerbread city with miniature houses, trains, cars and ships made from real gingerbread.
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The Prize of Verona
By Linda Tancs
Verona, Italy is an ancient city, second only to Rome in the number of remains from the Roman Empire. During those times, Piazza Erbe would have been the town center, or forum, around which the looming towers of powerful nobles stood. One of those towers, Torre dei Lamberti, was built by the powerful Lamberti family in 1172. Today it offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the city and its gilded past.
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Fujisan’s Latest Milestone
By Linda Tancs
Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain (at 12, 388 feet), has been mesmerizing locals and wanderers alike since ancient times. So it might be surprising that this iconic ambassador only recently became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since June, Fujisan joins 16 other sites around Japan as a place of distinction. Other gems include Himeji-jō Castle, historic monuments of ancient Kyoto, Hiroshima Peace Memorial and the Ogasawara Islands.
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The Best Connections
By Linda Tancs
We’ve discussed airlines’ on-time performance records previously, a topic that’s even more critical when a multileg flight is involved. How much connection time should you allot to get off one plane and onto another? OAG has the answer. This trusted industry resource is perhaps best known for its airline schedules and flight status databases, with future and historical flight details for over 900 airlines and more than 4,000 airports. The information is available via subscription, but to busy travelers it may represent the best dollars they’ve ever spent.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 