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
The Spy House
By Linda Tancs
During the Revolutionary War, Thomas Seabrook spied on British troops from his one-room cabin near Raritan Bay in Port Monmouth, New Jersey, earning it in later years the moniker the “Spy House.” One of the oldest surviving houses in the bayshore, it began as a small cabin in the 1700s and grew along with the prosperity of its owners, the Seabrooks and the Wilsons. The Spy House (also known as the Seabrook-Wilson House) is listed on the state and national registers of historic places. It’s also credited with being one of the most haunted houses in America, boasting up to five active apparitions. Given that the house remained virtually unscathed despite the ruinous effects of Hurricane Sandy all around it, you might think that its otherworldly visitors have been looking out for the joint.
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Empire of the Andes
By Linda Tancs
The Incas believed that Tiwanaku is where the first humans were created. Located in western Bolivia about 45 miles from La Paz, this ancient site was the capital of an Andean empire that flourished roughly between A.D. 500 and 900. Its ruins include a pyramid and two symbolic monolithic gateways (Gateway of the Sun and Gateway of the Moon). South of the main site is another architectural curiosity, Puma Punku. Its mysterious H-shaped megaliths weigh more than 400 tons. Take a guided tour for the best learning experience.
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A Monumental Architect
By Linda Tancs
Robert Mills is one of the earliest architects born and trained in the United States. One of his most prominent designs is the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Adhering to classical design, he focused mostly on public buildings like monuments, prisons, colleges and hospitals. A notable exception is the Classical Revival residence for merchant Ainsley Hall and his wife Sarah in Columbia, South Carolina. One of only five National Historic Landmarks in the city, the Robert Mills House is a well-kept testament to the architectural prowess of one of the nation’s best designers. Now a museum, the house boasts decorative arts of the early 19th century in styles including American Federal, English Regency, and French Empire.
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Mount Holly Boasts Historic Prison
By Linda Tancs
Burlington County Prison Museum, located in historic Mount Holly, New Jersey, is a National Historic Landmark. Until its closing in 1965, it operated continuously for 154 years, rendering it the oldest continuously used prison in the United States. It might be better known for its hauntings, though. After all, public hangings for capital crimes took place in the prison yard. Now a museum, the facility is open from Thursday to Sunday.
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A Distinctive Voice in the Gulf
By Linda Tancs
One thing you’ll notice among Canada’s Magdalen Islands is the array of distinctive voices peppering the locals’ speech. It’s part of the charm of this archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. So, too, are the harp seals. Now is the time to observe them in their natural habitat on the ice floes around the islands. Year-round service to the region is available by plane or bus. Ferry service is available off-season by reservation.
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A Tale of Two Monuments
By Linda Tancs
London’s oldest monument is Cleopatra’s Needle at Victoria Embankment. And no, it has nothing to do with Cleopatra and, aside from its shape, has nothing to do with a needle. Erected in London in 1878, it’s younger than Monument, constructed in the 1670s to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666. The Needle, however, was erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III around 1450 B.C. In that respect, at least, it is the oldest monument. But, alas, there’s no view from the top. For that, head over to the other Monument (via Monument Underground), where a 311-step trek to the balcony will net you amazing views and a certificate to boot.
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Trieste’s Point of View
By Linda Tancs
The House of Habsburg (later part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) found a pleasant respite on the peak of the rocky promontory of Grignano in the Gulf of Trieste on Italy’s northeast coast. On that spot in 1856 Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian commissioned an ornate palace befitting his rank. The result was Miramare Castle, an exotic blend of Gothic, medieval and Renaissance styles that remains remarkably intact. Only a half hour by bus from the central train station in Trieste, you can admire the jaw-dropping décor and furnishings of the predominately oceanview rooms at your own pace.
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The Sandwich Queen
By Linda Tancs
Ever wonder what the longest menu is to enter the Guinness Book of Records? That would be the 55-inch-long ode to the open sandwich at Copenhagen’s Restaurant Ida Davidsen. Boasting over 250 varieties of smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches), there’s something for every palate in this sandwich palace run by Ida Davidsen, the great-grandchild of founder Oskar Davidsen. The shop is open for lunch on weekdays only, excluding holidays.
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The Birthplace of Country Music
By Linda Tancs
Imagine being able to step into the shoes of some of the first families of country music and record your own rendition of the songs that launched their careers. You can do that at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Located at the junction between Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, it’s officially recognized by Congress as the birthplace of country music. The museum’s mission is to preserve and promote the 1927 recording sessions of legends like Jimmie Rogers and the Carter family, an event that Johnny Cash hailed as a seminal event in country music history. Even the Library of Congress has ranked the “Bristol Sessions” as one of the 50 most significant events in the history of recorded music. A special exhibition honoring the Carters runs through 28 February.
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A Bit of Swiss in Bedfordshire
By Linda Tancs
A nine-acre garden with a hint of Swiss graces the heart of England’s Bedfordshire. Located in Old Warden just outside Biggleswade beside an aviation museum, the 200-year-old garden is a recently restored gem of the Regency era. Known as the Swiss Garden, it is, as the name implies, an alpine-inspired haven hailing a bygone era when the cognoscenti vacationed in the Swiss Alps. The centerpiece is the thatched Swiss Cottage, complemented by other listed buildings as well as bridges, urns and arches. A high terrace walk provides ample views of the renewed landscaping. Enhance your visit with new interpretation and activity programs. The garden is open daily.
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