Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Where Conifers Reign
By Linda Tancs
England’s Bedgebury National Pinetum is home to an internationally renowned conifer collection, the most complete in the world, with over 9000 trees covering 350 acres. An hour away from London, Bedgebury is close to the Kent/East Sussex border. Voted “Best Picnic Site in the South,” the serene environs also beckon hikers, cyclists, horse riders and zipliners.
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Crocodile Rock
By Linda Tancs
There’s this thing called the Crocodile Rock. No, not the dance immortalized in Elton John’s song. It’s a painted rock on the Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland. You’ll find it in Millport, the only town there, reachable by car ferry from Largs on the west coast. Of course, there’s more to do than just look at a painted rock. This accessible island, inhabited since the end of the last Ice Age, also boasts Britain’s smallest cathedral with incredible acoustics. Now that’s something to sing about.
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Pumpkin Fever in Delaware
By Linda Tancs
Ever wonder what happens to all those Halloween pumpkins? It might surprise you to learn that people from across the country converge east of Bridgeville, Delaware to launch pumpkins into the air during the annual Punkin Chunkin competition in November. Now through 4 November, teams will use their engineering skills and ingenuity to hurl their pumpkins to the greatest heights. A nationally recognized event, a share of the proceeds is earmarked for charitable giving. What better reason is there to chunk than that!
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Sharing the Sky in Nepal
By Linda Tancs
From November to March, you can share the sky with birds of prey in Nepal. Known as parahawking, you’ll paraglide with a trained bird in the Pokhara valley. The 20 to 30 minute adventure will set you back around $185, but approximately $10 from every flight goes towards vulture conservation projects in Nepal. Go ahead, fly like an eagle.
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Ghosts in the Close
By Linda Tancs
Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh, Scotland is an underground labyrinth of now defunct closes and dwelling places that once rose seven stories high. The close was demolished to make way for council chambers in Edinburgh, leaving the remnants of the closes below ground. These remnants are a snapshot of life as it existed in the 16th through 18th centuries. Ghost stories abound, which makes this destination a good Halloween jaunt. Join one of their Supernatural History Tours.
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Splendid Isolation
By Linda Tancs
Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas is one of the remotest places on earth. Named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande, native peoples have lived in and passed through this expansive park (the 8th largest in the lower 48 states) for thousands of years. Archeological wonders are also represented, including fossils like a world-record pterosaur and a 50-foot crocodile. No surprise that the park offers idyllic hiking trails, like Grapevine Hills with its beautiful rock formations. Over 150 miles of trails await for day hikes or backpacking trips. Visitor information is available at any of the five centers, two of which are open year round. The busy season is generally November through April. Get there now before the crowds do. The closest commercial airport is Midland International.
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Cape Cod’s Most Popular Destination
By Linda Tancs
Provincetown, Massachusetts is one of the few places on the East Coast where you can watch the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean. Located at the tip of Cape Cod and preserved almost entirely as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore Park, its heritage dates back to the Pilgrims’ first landing in 1620. Dune hiking is a popular attraction. You can take a 40-minute hike on your own at the Snail Road entrance or opt for an organized tour, complete with lobster bakes or sunset and champagne tours. Provincetown is a regional public transportation hub with fast ferry, bus and air service from Boston and frequent local shuttle service.
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Holland in a Day
By Linda Tancs
You can experience over 200 years of Dutch culture at the Netherlands’ Open Air Museum, the biggest folk museum in the Netherlands. Located in a beautiful park on the outskirts of Arnhem, the property brings the past to life. Exhibits include old farmhouses, windmills, Dutch houses and plenty of craft demonstrations. Better hurry, the season ends on 28 October—unless, of course, you’d prefer to experience a winter celebration from days gone by. From 1 December 2012 to 13 January 2013 you can experience stew and green beans amidst an atmosphere of music and song. Try skating on the festively lit skating rink or whiz down the toboggan run at the Delft windmill.
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Hemingway Lives On in Hotel Chain
By Linda Tancs
Writer Ernest Hemingway made his mark around the world–and not just for his writing. He wintered in Key West, safaried in Africa and yachted in Cuba, to name just a few places. No wonder the much-anticipated Hemingway Hotels and Resorts is looking at these and other destinations where the great raconteur left an indelible imprint for luxurious getaways. You might not write like Hemingway, but you’ll be able to live like you do–at least on holiday.
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The Barbecue Capital of Texas
By Linda Tancs
Lockhart, Texas has about 15,000 inhabitants but welcomes over 250,000 visitors each year to its four barbecue restaurants: Blacks, Chisholm Trail, Kreuz and Smittys. Not surprisingly, the Texas Legislature has proclaimed that Lockhart is the barbecue capital of Texas. No doubt you’ll find barbecue nirvana. And remember, good barbecue doesn’t need sauce.
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