Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!The Del Celebrates 125 Years
By Linda Tancs
Not far from San Diego, California in nearby Coronado, the Hotel Del Coronado (the “Del”) is an iconic red-turreted Victorian hotel built in 1888. Part of Historic Hotels of America, this National Historic Landmark’s Hollywood connections (helped by its proximity to Los Angeles) draw many a curious visitor. If only the walls could talk. Notable guests have included Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Clark Gable, along with a variety of political figures and royalty. The Del is celebrating 125 years with a series of special packages this summer, like a fourth night free or an upgrade to a cottage or villa at Beach Village. Look for the festive gold bow atop the turret, and say ‘happy birthday’ to the grand dame of beachfront luxury.
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Summer Lotus at Shimabara
By Linda Tancs
Japan’s Shimabara Castle is located in Shimabara, Nagasaki prefecture. The five-storied castle keep was originally constructed in the 17th century. Although it survived the Shimabara Rebellion (arising from a ban on Christianity) and feudal rule, its keep and outer towers were subsequently demolished in the 1800s and the grounds used for municipal purposes instead. Today’s bright white castle was reconstructed in the 1960s, a faithful reproduction that houses a museum featuring exhibits concerning the rebellion and feudal reign. Summer visitors are treated to a magnificent carpet of lotus flowers at the castle’s original base.
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Pikeville’s Famous Feud
By Linda Tancs
Pikeville, Kentucky lies in the heart of Appalachia, appropriately nicknamed “the city that moves mountains,” a reference to the cut-through that relocated the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. It’s probably better known, though, as the site of that infamous feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys. Rival families in the Tug Valley, their animus was fueled by opposing philosophies during the Civil War. For starters, a member of the McCoy clan was killed by some Hatfield boys for being a Union sympathizer. The ensuing years saw additional bloodshed between the families arising from forbidden romance, political intrigue and property disputes. A two-hour tour will take you to several locations where the feud ensued. So what do the descendants of these famous families have to say on the matter? Oh, they’ve mended fences, you might say. They united for a special taping of the game show Family Feud in 1979.
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Northwest Raspberry Festival
By Linda Tancs
July is a very berry month according to the food calendar. No less so in Lynden, Washington, site of the largest harvest of raspberries in North America. The annual Northwest Raspberry Festival takes place downtown on Front Street tomorrow and Saturday. You’ll have your choice of raspberry and ice cream sundaes for only one dollar as well as an array of baked goods and fresh berries for purchase. Why not kick off Friday with an all-you-can-eat raspberry pancake breakfast at the community center. Razz and shine!
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The Ramparts of Tuscany
By Linda Tancs
Just an hour outside Florence is an Italian gem called Lucca, a walled city in Tuscany with enough epicurean delights to rival the culinary masters in Rome. Easily accessible from Pisa (the closest airport), its medieval ramparts coalesce into greenways welcoming casual strollers and cyclists. The bricked Guinigi Tower, one of the few remaining within the city walls, has a hanging garden at its apex and sports beautiful panoramic views of the city. The summer festival is a big draw now. This year’s event features artists like Bryan Adams, Neil Young and Mark Knopfler.
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The Quietest Place in America
By Linda Tancs
Green Bank, West Virginia is a tiny speck of a town where you could hear a pin drop. That’s because it’s located in the National Radio Quiet Zone, an area designed to protect the powerful radio telescopes in the area from interference. Green Bank boasts the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the largest fully steerable telescope on Earth. If you seek a break from the world of Wi-Fi, then this is the place to be. Just one mile from the astronomy observatory you can stay at one of three original log cabins that were built in 1810.
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World’s Steepest Street
By Linda Tancs
Dunedin, New Zealand boasts the world’s steepest residential street, with an average slope of 1:5. Recognized by Guinness World Records, 1150-foot-long Baldwin Street gives any StairMaster a run for its money. Good thing a water fountain greets you at the summit! Best of all, though, it runs up Signal Hill, offering great views of Otago Harbor. Together with the peninsula, Otago Harbor is home to some of the rarest wildlife in the world and New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle.
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Arctic Summer Fest
By Linda Tancs
One of the most anticipated international indigenous festivals in Europe, Riddu Riđđu is held during the arctic summer each year in the Sea Sami village of Olmmáivággi in Norway. Taking place today through 14 July, the festival promotes Sami art and culture through music, film, handiworks, seminars and workshops.
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A Coronation Festival
By Linda Tancs
Last year saw exciting displays of honor and affection between Queen and country as Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. But the party isn’t over as the Queen’s coronation in 1953 is saluted this month with a unique event in the gardens at Buckingham Palace. From 11 to 14 July, 60 years of royal service and tradition will be celebrated amidst a company of Royal Warrant holders (purveyors of goods and services to the Queen and other members of the royal family) at the Coronation Festival. An invitation-only royal preview will kick off the event on 11 July, followed by a public evening gala on both Friday and Saturday night. The musical entertainment features performances by Katherine Jenkins, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and the English National Ballet.
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The Knights of Malta
By Linda Tancs
Over 900 years old, the Order of Malta is an ancient order that traces its origins to a monk’s humanitarian missions directed at pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. More than just a religious order, its Knights comprise a sovereign entity that prints passports and enjoys diplomatic relations–all without the borders of a country to call its own. The stateless state is located in Rome’s Via Condotti. That’s quite unlike its namesake, the island of Malta.
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