Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Do Not Disturb
By Linda Tancs
Those Do Not Disturb signs are as yesterday as dinosaurs at Seattle’s Hotel 1000, where infrared sensors let chambermaids know whether anyone’s home. The question is: does that technology protect Fido’s privacy, too? The hotel is, after all, pet friendly. At a wallet-friendly $40 per stay, your furry friend gets a bed, food and water bowl, chew toys and custom treats, among other things. It’s a dog’s life, indeed.
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A Hotel That Turns Heads
By Linda Tancs
The Marmara Antalya Beach and Resort Hotel in Turkey can turn heads. Perhaps your head–if you stay in one of their 24 club rooms that rotates 360 degrees to give you panoramic views of the Falez Hills of Antalya, the perenially sun-drenched Mediterranean and the hotel’s private beach and grounds. Sounds like a truly eye-catching experience.
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Hawke’s Bay Kidnappers
By Linda Tancs
Although it might sound a bit like something out of a comic strip, Cape Kidnappers is a luxe destination on Hawke’s Bay on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, a site said to be blessed with mucho hours of sunshine. The “kidnappers” part of the equation allegedly derives from an attempt in the 1700s by the local Māori to abduct the servant of a member of Captain Cook’s crew aboard the HMS Endeavor. Nowadays, you can steal away on your own at the resort occupying this site, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers. How about a tour of the 6,000 acre working sheep and cattle farm? Or maybe you’d rather commune with the 20,000-strong Booby gannet colony. Much rarer, of course, is the kiwi. Maybe you’ll see one on your discovery walk. Or discover your true handicap at the imposing golf course, hailed as one of the top 50 courses in the world, designed by the legendary Tom Doak. Whatever you do, better rattle your dags while the sun shines. It’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere, you know.
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Mighty Ice
By Linda Tancs
Unruly amounts of snow and ice pounding the northeastern U.S. this winter would be a most welcome visitor in northeastern China these days as Heilongjiang province celebrates its annual International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin. The arctic climate produces enough ice and snow to produce a slide that rivals that of Atlantis in the Bahamas, a palace to top the Taj and a sphinx to…well, you get the idea. That’s a lot of ice, baby. You can view this arctic architectural achievement until 28 February.
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An Exit Strategy
By Linda Tancs
New Jersey suffers its share of jokes: “I’m from New Jersey. Oh yeah, which exit?” So why not make lemonade out of those lemons. Or beer. That’s what the folks at Flying Fish Brewing Company in Cherry Hill have done. They have an Exit Series celebrating the State’s highway system. In fact, Exit 4 (the others so far are 1 and 11) captured the gold at the Great American Beer Festival. What’s your favorite exit? Hit the road and find out.
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Valentine’s Day is for Tigers
By Linda Tancs
Hearts, flowers and–dumplings? You bet. This year, Valentine’s Day ushers in the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Boiled dumplings are a tradition on New Year’s Eve and symbolize prosperity. So while all you food mavens are rolling those homemade chocolate truffles for your sweetie, why not try a dumpling recipe. May the new year be a happy and healthy one.
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The Wizard of Menlo Park
By Linda Tancs
History buffs know that the Wizard is none other than Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, phonograph and over 400 other inventions. Menlo Park is the site within Edison, New Jersey where the great innovator worked his magic. Although another museum in West Orange gets more attention (and more tourists), this little enclave on Christie Street has one of those first light bulbs and the letter to the editor giving rise to the Wizard appellation. You would have trouble finding the place but for the concrete tower topped off by a 3.5 ton bulb that rises like a phoenix above the trees on Lincoln Highway. Are you the next great American inventor? Stop by for a visit and maybe you’ll find your muse.
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Just Plane Art
By Linda Tancs
North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport might be better known for its snow-white rocking chairs in the atrium, but it’s art that’s at the heart of the airport’s enhancements for hassled travelers. Specifically, Just Plane (not plain!) Art is an exhibition of permanent and rotating exhibits highlighting local history. Take, for example, the 1/2 scale replica of the original Wright Flyer flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903–or the 15-foot-high bronze sculpture of Queen Charlotte in the airport’s Queen’s Courtyard, located in front of the terminal. The pre-Revolutionary War city is, after all, named after King George III’s wife. So enjoy the local lore and take some tedium out of travel.
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No Worries
By Linda Tancs
“Don’t worry, be happy” must have been the mantra of choice for the Prussian king Frederick the Great when he commissioned Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany. Sanssouci (from the French sans souci, meaning “without worries”) was commissioned in 1747 as the ultimate getaway for a harried king on the battlefield. The largest World Heritage Site in the country, the rococo-styled mega-mansion is perhaps equally known for its expansive park. Combining the best of European Baroque garden settings, it’s probably no wonder that the property is often referred to as the “Prussian Versailles.” In other words, when en vogue, do as the French do.
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London’s Biggest Hotel Set to Open
By Linda Tancs
London sports its fair share of iconic hotel properties: Savoy, Dorchester, Brown’s, Connaught, etc. Today greets the soft opening (soft in the sense of limited availability while the finishing touches are completed) of the largest hotel now to grace the City: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. At a mere 350 million pounds, the finished product offers 1021 rooms within walking distance of Waterloo and Westminster stations. Of course, the best digs will feature striking views of Parliament and the Thames. The springtime gala opening will show off a luxe spa, pool and fitness center. Start saving your quid.
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Travelrific® Travel Journal 