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
A Unique Island Community
By Linda Tancs
The Thames Estuary is one of the United Kingdom’s major estuaries. It extends from the tidal limit of the River Thames at Teddington Lock to the North Sea. The region comprises a cluster of cities, towns and villages. One of those places is Canvey Island, the whole of which is below sea level. Originally a salt marsh before being reclaimed by sea waters in the 7th century, it eventually became home to around 200 Dutch immigrants in the early 17th century, who reportedly sought refuge from the Duke of Alba (Alva), notoriously known as the “butcher of Flanders” for disposing of those who allied themselves with or provided aid to the troops leading the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. The island’s Dutch connection is part of the history told in murals along the 14 miles of high sea walls safeguarding the locale against devastating flooding. The journey time from London via rail is about one hour.
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Cryptologic History in Maryland
By Linda Tancs
Cryptology is the art and science of making and breaking codes and ciphers. You can learn all about cryptology and those who devoted their lives to national defense at the National Cryptologic Museum in Maryland. Appropriately enough, it’s located adjacent to headquarters of the National Security Agency at Fort George G. Meade. One of the first public museums in the intelligence community, it serves as both a reference library and a tourist destination for those interested in code making and code breaking. The collection of cryptologic history is so comprehensive that the museum is often referred to as “America’s hidden treasure.”
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A Beauty in Aveyron
By Linda Tancs
Belcastel is a French beauty. That’s not just mere opinion; it’s been officially annointed by the authorities as one of the most beautiful villages in France (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France). Located in the Aveyron region of southern France, the bulk of the village and its medieval castle are situated on the steep north bank of the Aveyron River. More than just a historical landmark, the castle hosts several art galleries. It even features a royal suite, where visitors can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Aveyron countryside, the village of Belcastel, the drawbridge and moat and some of the chateau’s gardens and courtyards.
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A Place of Spirits
By Linda Tancs
Fewer than 1,000 people visit Canada’s Torngat Mountains National Park each year. It’s the nation’s newest national park, but its freshman status isn’t the reason for the low numbers. Located on northern Labrador’s Atlantic coast between Northern Québec and the Labrador Sea, it’s quite remote. In fact, the park is accessible only by boat, charter plane or helicopter during the summer. This is the land of the Inuit, named for the Inuktitut “Tongait,” or “place of the spirits.” Most visitors stay within the bear-fence-enclosed Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station located outside the park on Saglek Fjord, where Inuit guides lead excursions. Take advantage of that opportunity because there are are no roads, trails or signs in the park. There are, however, unmarked hiking routes and traditional Inuit travel routes. You’ll likely see polar bears, whales and caribou in their pristine natural environment, an untamed wilderness framed by towering peaks and glistening fjords.
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A Taste of Vinegar
By Linda Tancs
Touted as the world’s first and only museum dedicated to vinegar, the International Vinegar Museum in Roslyn, South Dakota, is a connoisseur’s wonderland. You’ll learn how vinegar is made and who makes it and discover 101 uses for vinegar. Hundreds of vinegars from around the world are on display, and there is ample opportunity to sample the goods and buy from the shop. Open from June through Labor Day, time your visit for the third Saturday in June, when you can enjoy the annual Vinegar Festival. The event features a parade, a Vinegar Queen contest, museum tours, cooking demonstrations and vinegar tasting.
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The Colonies’ Last Light
By Linda Tancs
A mile offshore of Rockport, Thacher Island is a small seacoast town about 40 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts. It’s home to Cape Ann Light Station, a National Historic Landmark with twin lighthouses. The site bears significance as the last light station established under colonial rule (in 1771) and the first station in the United States to mark a navigational hazard rather than a harbor entrance. The area was indeed hazardous. Looking to the southeast from the towers you may see an iron pole jutting out from the water, which marks an area called the “Londoner” because the reef just below the surface claimed hundreds of vessels mostly bound to Boston from London in the early 1700s. The original wooden lighthouses were replaced with identical granite lights in 1861. At 124 feet, they’re the tallest lighthouses in the state. The island is open to visitors from June to September and is accessible via small boat, kayak or the island’s launch service.
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Prairie Dog Town
By Linda Tancs
The first state park in Kansas, Kanopolis State Park is situated in the scenic Smoky Hills region of the state. In addition to sandstone canyons, you’ll find Prairie Dog Town. Prairie dogs were transplanted into the area after flooding in 1993 forced them from their prior home; wildlife viewing opportunities abound. The park is located on the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway northwest of Marquette along K-141.
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Little Missouri in North Dakota
By Linda Tancs
Open seasonally from May to October, Little Missouri State Park is a quiet oasis in North Dakota. Located on the western side of the Little Missouri River, most of its 6,000 acres consists of badlands terrain (some of the most rugged and picturesque in the state) that is only accessible by trail on foot or horseback. Indeed, you’ll find over 45 miles of trails where you might observe wildlife like mule deer (indigenous to the West), coyote, fox, bobcat and golden eagle.
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A Poet and a Patriot
By Linda Tancs
In the 19th century, it certainly wasn’t an everyday occurrence for a Revolutionary War general to stay in a poet’s house. But for renowned poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow it occurred when George Washington stayed at his house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the Siege of Boston beginning in 1775. As a result, the Longfellow House is a National Historic Site. He lived in the house for 45 years; visits are by guided tour only from May to October.
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Land of the Outlaws
By Linda Tancs
Oklahoma’s Robbers Cave State Park owes its name to a cave that served as a storied hideout for outlaws like Jesse James and Belle Starr. You’ll find the cave at the end of the road just past Group Camp 2. Today the 8,246-acre park is a favorite of rappellers, equestrians, hikers and outdoor lovers. The best way to enjoy the scenic, hilly woodlands there is to stay at a campsite or rent a cabin. The park runs north and south along Highway 2 near Wilburton, where you can stock up on supplies for your stay.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 