Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for travel writing
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.
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Scaling the Heights in Sydney
By Linda Tancs
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an Australian heritage-listed steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour. An iconic landmark, the span offers magnificent views of the harbor for pedestrians and cyclists. For the more daring among you, though, only a proper climb will do. You can do that with BridgeClimb, an experience offering a trek to the summit of the arch. Wearing a safety harness, you’ll ascend to a height of 440 feet for a bird’s-eye, panoramic view of the city. If that’s not enough, you can opt for an “ultimate” climb, walking the entire length of the arch from south to north and back again. BridgeClimb is located at 3 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, which is easily accessible by car and public transport.
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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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Mount Scenery
By Linda Tancs
Mount Scenery is the highest point on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba. Its name may be a bit of a misnomer, though, considering that the view from the top is often obscured by clouds. But don’t let that stop you from hiking to the summit. The newest hiking path, the Elfin Forest Trail, follows historical footpaths that Saban farmers took to their plantations. Just below the summit, the trail connects to the Mount Scenery Trail. Throughout the trek, you’ll experience the diverse flora that inhabits the landscape, like ferns, bromeliads, air plants and orchids growing on tree trunks in the tropical rainforest environment of the Elfin forest. On the lower slopes, you’ll find secondary rainforests, dry evergreen forests and grassy meadows closer to the sea. A popular option is to hike up the Elfin Forest Trail and descend on the Mount Scenery 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.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 