Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!New Jersey’s Tallest Waterfall
By Linda Tancs
It might not be the best known, but New Jersey’s Buttermilk Falls is the tallest waterfall in the state at around 90 feet. Located in Walpack Township, it benefits from being close to a viewpoint parking lot, so you needn’t even leave your car to get a good view. Part of the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, it includes the the Buttermilk Falls Trail, which begins with a climb to the top of the falls and an eventual connection to the Appalachian Trail.
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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.
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America’s Mountain
By Linda Tancs
Colorado’s Pikes Peak is affectionately referred to as “America’s Mountain” because, as the story goes, its summit inspired Katharine Lee Bates to pen “America the Beautiful.” It certainly is an iconic part of the country’s landscape, soaring to a height of 14,115 feet. You can reach the summit with a ride on the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railway in the world. Along the three-hour return trip you’ll see bristlecone pines, one of the longest-lived species on earth. In fact, some of those pines on Pikes Peak are estimated to be over 2,000 years old. The views are equally inspiring at the peak, where you’ll be rewarded with views including the Continental Divide, the Garden of the Gods and various cities like Woodland Park, Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. The railway’s base station is in Manitou Springs, a few miles west of Colorado Springs.
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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.
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Alpine Glory Near Seattle
By Linda Tancs
The jagged peaks of Washington State’s North Cascades National Park are crowned by glaciers—more than 300, the most of any national park outside Alaska. The park’s ecosystem is diverse, from the temperate rainforest of the west side to the dry ponderosa pines of the east. Another of its charms is the concentration of old-growth western red cedar trees, some estimated to be over 1,000 years old. You can find them on hikes like the one to Big Beaver Trail, which will take you through a long, glacier-carved valley. During the summer months you’ll find a variety of companies offering tours of the area, including ranger-led tours. The park is located less than three hours from Seattle.
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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.
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New Jersey’s Coastal Heritage
By Linda Tancs
A key attraction along New Jersey’s Coastal Heritage Trail, Cape May Point State Park is a respite from the bustling beach scene in Cape May. Home to Cape May Lighthouse, it’s also a well-known birding destination, especially in the fall during the premier hawk migration season. Several blazed trails lead visitors to various pond, coastal dune, marsh and forest habitats of the park where wildlife can be viewed from observation platforms. If you’re able, climb the 199 steps to the top of the lighthouse for a panoramic view of the scenic Cape May peninsula. The park staff offer a variety of historical and natural interpretive programs throughout the year.
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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.
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Church of the Presidents
By Linda Tancs
Once a summer retreat for the nation’s elite, Long Branch, New Jersey, also boasts a chapel visited by no less than seven U.S. presidents. Known as the Church of the Presidents, the 1879 structure marries Greek revival and Gothic architecture. Now a deconsecrated house of worship, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and located a block from the beach.
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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.
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New Jersey’s High Point
By Linda Tancs
New Jersey’s highest point is 1,803 feet above sea level. You can capture the panoramic view from that vantage point at High Point Monument in High Point State Park. What awaits you at the tower are farmland and forest, soft hills and lush valleys in three states, punctuated by the Delaware River. The park is no less spectacular. After all, the landscaping was conceived by the sons of Frederick Olmsted, who designed New York City’s Central Park. The park is located 7 miles north of the town of Sussex.
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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.
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Falling in North Africa
By Linda Tancs
The highest natural waterfalls in North Africa, Ouzoud Falls in Morocco is a stunning respite from the summer heat of Marrakech. Emptying into the El-Abid River gorge, the tiered cascades tumble from a height of 360 feet into a natural amphitheater of rugged, red-colored rock cliffs. To get there, you’ll journey high into the Atlas Mountains, passing through Berber villages and beautiful scenery. Even the name of the falls derives from Berber culture, meaning “the act of grinding grain.” You’ll enjoy several view points of the falls, including from restaurants along the falls’ path.
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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.
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The Isle of Women
By Linda Tancs
Helen Reddy sang a song entitled I am Woman, which became an anthem. Arguably, nowhere is that iconic song more applicable than the Estonian island of Kihnu. The whole island is, in fact, run by women, a development that evolved historically because seafaring men of the island simply weren’t around to take care of things. Its unique cultural heritage is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The summer festival calendar offers a great chance to experience the old seafaring traditions and local dance. While you’re there, take the whirlwind, 15-mile tour of the island’s four villages (Kihnu Reesuratas, or Kihnu Travel Wheel) for an orientation.
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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.
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Sunrise Mountain
By Linda Tancs
The crest of Sunrise Mountain lies along the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey’s Stokes State Forest. It’s a popular destination for panoramic views of the state’s pastoral farmland as well as mountain ridges and undeveloped forests. At 1,650 feet, it’s one of the highest points in the state. If you’re not up for a hike, you can drive up to the pavilion at the top of the mountain. Entrance fees are charged per vehicle from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
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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.
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Vertical Splendor in Colorado
By Linda Tancs
Colorado’s Black Canyon National Park is divided by the canyon into a North Rim and South Rim. Formidable in scope, only the rims (not the gorge) show evidence of human occupation since written history began. The more primitive side is North Rim, offering sweeping views of Black Canyon. You’ll get equally magnificent views of the canyon from South Rim, especially at Gunnison Point, one of 12 overlooks. It’s located near the Visitor Center, where three hiking trails are also accessible. One of the most astounding formations visible from many of the overlooks is Painted Wall, the highest cliff in Colorado. From river to rim it stands at 2,250 feet. That’s just a few hundred feet less than Burj Khalifa in Dubai, one of the tallest buildings in the world at 2,717 feet. The rims are not connected. Both rim drives have one access point from the highway; driving from one rim to the other involves driving along non-park roads and can take over two hours.
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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.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 