Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!A Flag, a Cup and a Horn
By Linda Tancs
Located on the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s Dunvegan Castle has been the seat of Clan MacLeod since the 13th century. As the country’s oldest, continuously inhabited castle, you might imagine that some family heirlooms have accumulated. Those include a flag, a cup and a horn. The Fairy Flag is a treasured clan possession, associated with a handful of tales concerning fairies and magical powers. Another relic is the Dunvegan Cup, a ceremonial cup gifted by the O’Neills of Ulster as a token of thanks to one of the clan’s most celebrated chiefs for support against the marauding forces of Queen Elizabeth I. A third historic treasure is Sir Rory Mor’s Horn, a drinking horn allegedly derived from a bull killed by Rory to save a man’s life. Capable of holding over six cups of liquid, custom has it that each successive clan chief should fill it with wine and drink it in one sitting to prove his manhood. Explore the clan’s history and legends by taking a guided or self-guided tour of the castle.
Share this:
The Wettest Place on Earth
By Linda Tancs
The Khasi Hills of the Indian State of Meghalaya boast the wettest place on earth, a title exchanged between the neighboring villages of Mawsynram and Cherrapunjee (now known as Sohra). Currently, Mawsynram’s annual rainfall is 11,871 millimeters compared with Sohra’s 11,777 millimeters. Don’t let the rainy weather discourage you from visiting. In particular, it’s worth donning the rain gear to experience Sohra’s living root bridges. Featuring a jaw-dropping entanglement of tree roots, the roots are trained by the Khasi tribe to grow in such a manner as to be in the form of bridges. One of the most popular attractions of the region, the most famous one is Umshiang, a double-decker bridge nearly 2 miles long and 2,400 feet high.
Share this:
Women’s History in New York State
By Linda Tancs
Together with other activists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton became a leader in the women’s rights movement. She initiated the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, where the Declaration of Sentiments that she co-authored was signed by 68 women and 32 men. The Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls commemorates this historic occasion. It features Stanton’s home as well as Wesleyan Chapel, where the convention was held. The visitor center is next to the chapel and provides historical context to the event.
Share this:
A Special Place in Eldorado
By Linda Tancs
The Eldorado National Forest is located in the central Sierra Nevada, less than two hours from Sacramento, California. Its mountainous topography is broken by special places like the Mokelumne River Canyon, arguably the star attraction of the Mokelumne Wilderness. The 105,165-acre wilderness has a long history of use by both Native Americans and European settlers. Ranging in elevation from 3,960 feet to 10,380 feet, it features old growth virgin forest at all elevations and a varied plant life. Geologically, it’s prized for prominent volcanic peaks and ridges overlaying massive granite features. In fact, the granitic valleys and highlands of the Mokelumne are part of the combined masses of granitic rock that have been uplifted by tectonic action to form the 400-mile-long Sierra Nevada range. The canyon is generally free of snow this time of year, but snowcaps typically linger into June in the higher elevations.
Share this:
Auburn’s Historic House
By Linda Tancs
William Henry Seward enjoyed a storied political career, having served as a New York State Senator, Governor of New York, a United States Senator and as Secretary of State in the Lincoln and Johnson administrations. Among his many achievements, he negotiated the purchase of Alaska and also became an influential lawyer. His longtime home in Auburn, New York, is a historic house museum. Given his political ties, one of the home’s most interesting collections is in the “diplomatic gallery,” where over 120 photographs and engravings represent every country with which the United States had a diplomatic relationship. The home is located at 33 South Street and is available for viewing by guided tour only.
Share this:
Japan’s Ramen Museum
By Linda Tancs
Ramen is arguably the national dish of Japan, with styles varying according to the region in which it is served. There’s even a museum dedicated to the stretchy noodle. Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum in Yokohama is designed like a food court, offering up different styles of ramen and featuring original recipes from its inception. You’ll learn about ramen history and have the opportunity to participate in a noodle-making workshop.
Share this:
Red Rocks and a Railroad
By Linda Tancs
Arizona is defined by canyons presenting unforgettable views. One of those treasures is Verde Canyon, where a distinctive confluence of high desert and wetland provides enviable wildlife viewing opportunities. You can do that on a four-hour return train ride aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad between Clarkdale and the historic ranch town of Perkinsville. Using 20 miles of heritage track built in 1912 to serve the copper mines out of Jerome, the well-appointed vintage train cars journey through a red rock canyon that follows the curves of the Verde River, offering spectacular views of unusual geology, abundant wildlife, lush greenery and Native American ruins. The climate-controlled cars run year round.
Share this:
Experiencing the Hemispheres
By Linda Tancs
Kiribati is an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Nations located in the central Pacific Ocean about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. In addition to boasting the biggest water-to-land ratio in the world, it bears the distinction of being the only country to fall in all four hemispheres. It comprises 33 coral islands, all but one of which are atolls. The majority of the atolls are surrounded by barrier reefs, creating picturesque lagoons for world-class fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming and other water sports. You’ll also find a fair share of historical and cultural experiences, like artifacts from the Battle of Tarawa during World War II and a demonstration of toddy cutting (a sap that comes from the blossom of the coconut before the spathe that contains it bursts). Fiji Airways serves the area from Nadi or Honolulu.
Share this:
America’s Famous Dessert
By Linda Tancs
Jell-O is “as American as apple pie” (as the saying goes). It was invented by a carpenter in LeRoy, New York, in 1897. He sold the rights to it to a fellow townsman who made it into what is now proclaimed as America’s most famous dessert. The history of this gelatinous wonder is explored at the Jell-O Museum in town. On exhibit are original advertising art, molds, toys, recipe books and other memorabilia.
*************
To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Share this:
The King of Drakesville
By Linda Tancs
In what would become Drakesville, New Jersey (present-day Ledgewood), European settlers pioneered Morris County’s iron industry in the 1700s. The area was originally named for Abraham Drake, who owned a mill and a tavern. One of his grandsons, Jacob, later achieved prominence as a colonel of the western battalion of the Morris County militia during the Revolutionary War and as a member of the first New Jersey Legislature. Despite the Drakes’ fame, the local economy really prospered under the helm of Theodore King, who invested in mining, real estate and hotels and founded a steamboat company as Lake Hopatcong began to court tourists. The pioneering spirit of these early settlers is commemorated through rehabilitated buildings located at Drakesville Historic Park in the Ledgewood historic district of Roxbury Township. You’ll find the King Store there, flanked by the King Homestead as well as the Silas Riggs House, a so-called saltbox house because of its extended, rear sloping roofline reminiscent of the design of salt containers of colonial times.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 