Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for short reads
The Second Greatest Show on Earth
By Linda Tancs
When circus magnate P.T. Barnum saw the view from the summit of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, he proclaimed it “the second greatest show on Earth.” The view is still thrilling visitors who take the Mount Washington Cog Railway (known as the Cog) to the Northeast’s highest peak. The world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway, it uses a Marsh rack system and both steam and biodiesel-powered locomotives (depending on the season) to carry tourists to the top of the mountain for panoramic views of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Canada and the ocean. The roundtrip journey from Marshfield Base Station (on the west side of the mountain) is just under three hours.
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The Wild Goose Auto Tour
By Linda Tancs
Established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife, Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is known as a paradise for bird watchers, the site being designated a Globally Important Bird Area as well as a designated site along the Great Missouri Birding Trail. One of its features is the Wild Goose Auto Tour, a 10-mile auto tour route where you can experience wildlife year round. As summer approaches, snakes and turtles are often seen crossing the auto tour. This time of year is also popular for viewing nesting songbirds as well as great blue herons and other wading birds. The refuge is located in northwest Missouri near Mound City.
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A Walk by the Sea in Croatia
By Linda Tancs
A landmark of Opatija, Croatia, Lungomare is a seafront promenade connecting the picturesque fishing village of Volosko with Opatija and further on with Ičići, Ika and Lovran. A popular path for locals and visitors alike, some of the scenes you’ll encounter include beautiful beaches and coves, the magnificent Villa Angiolina (housing the Croatian Museum of Tourism) and the iconic Maiden With The Seagull sculpture near the boat harbor.
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A Pivotal Place in Tennessee
By Linda Tancs
The Battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864, in Franklin, Tennessee, as part of the Franklin–Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War. It was one of the worst disasters of the war for the Confederate States Army. At its epicenter was Lotz House, where battle literally took place in the family’s front yard. Evidence of the conflict remain, with bloodstains and cannonball scars throughout the house. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, guided house tours take place throughout the day, as well as specialized tours like a ghost tour, a women’s history tour and a battlefield tour with a Civil War expert.
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New York’s Whispering Gallery
By Linda Tancs
A whispering gallery is usually a circular, hemispherical, elliptical or ellipsoidal enclosure, often beneath a dome or a vault, in which whispers can be heard clearly in other parts of the gallery. One famous example is the one in New York City’s Grand Central terminal. Located outside the entrance to the Oyster Bar & Restaurant, the near-perfect arches there provide a corner-to-corner acoustic oddity. Just stand with a friend in opposite corners of the gallery, face the wall, and whisper. You’ll hear each other’s voice as if you were standing side by side, no matter how much noise surrounds you.
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The History of Iron
By Linda Tancs
Located in Montaigu Park in Jarville-la-Malgrange, Le Féru des Sciences in northeastern France invites visitors to learn about how iron has been used through the ages and particularly in the region. You’ll discover how iron ore is mined and how iron is made, follow the history of iron and steel in the region and discover its innovations. The Forge Garden outside provides a pleasant respite and features installations and artifacts like an old section of staircase from the Eiffel Tower.
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The French Tuscany
By Linda Tancs
Sometimes referred to as “the French Tuscany,” Uzès is a medieval town in the Eure Valley with narrow, cobblestone streets and winding roads that date back to the Roman occupation in the first century. In fact, the quaint town was the origination point of a Roman aqueduct that carried water to Nîmes. The centerpiece of that engineering marvel, Pont du Gard, still stands and is the most-visited monument in France dating from antiquity. A footpath will take you around the remains of the aqueduct and some superb viewpoints.
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Forgotten by History
By Linda Tancs
Forgotten by history, Britain’s Fitzwilliam family of South Yorkshire was once one of the grandest families in the nation. Having made their fortune with coal, they owned over 100,000 acres in England and Ireland. Their stately home, Wentworth Woodhouse (now owned by a preservation trust), testifies to a bygone era of royal visits by the likes of Queen Victoria as well as King George V and Queen Mary. Take a guided tour of the house (featuring the State Rooms) and stroll the gardens, where you can follow a trail from the stables. There are regular bus services to the village of Wentworth and train stations at Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, all with linking bus services.
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Hawaii’s Cowboy Culture
By Linda Tancs
Located on Hawaii’s Big Island, Waimea (also known as Kamuela) is famous for its paniolo (cowboy) culture. You’ll find working ranches there like Parker Ranch, once the largest ranch in the United States. Visit the Paniolo Preservation Society, which chronicles cowboy culture from the first cattle gifted to the state in 1793 and the mentoring of early ranchers by Mexican vaqueros. The Society’s Heritage Center features a collection of beautifully crafted saddles, whips, bridles and spurs as well as a Hall of Fame honoring those who made paniolo culture legendary.
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The Wickedest Town in the West
By Linda Tancs
Jerome, Arizona, is a former mountain mining community. Located near the top of Cleopatra Hill between Prescott and Flagstaff, its rich copper ore deposits attracted miners, merchants, madams and more, earning it the nickname “The Wickedest Town in the West.” You can learn more about the town’s colorful history at Jerome State Historic Park. It features the Douglas Mansion (one of the grandest residences in the state), built by mining mogul James Douglas. Today, the house is a museum devoted to the Douglas family history and the history of Jerome.
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