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
Maine’s Leading Lady
By Linda Tancs
First lit on January 10, 1791, the Lighthouse at Portland Head is Maine’s leading lady according to visitors to the Pine Tree State. Situated in Cape Elizabeth, this postcard-worthy icon adorns the shores of Fort Williams Park, a 90-acre retreat offering magnificent views of Ram Island Ledge Light and the islands of Casco Bay. The park is open all year; the lighthouse museum opens daily during the summer season until mid-October.
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Oxford’s Cathedral to Science
By Linda Tancs
Founded in 1860, Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History was created in the neo-Gothic style to evoke a cathedral–in this case, a cathedral to science. Its insect collection, five million specimens strong, rivals that of the Natural History Museum in London. It’s probably better known, though, for the dinosaurs, the dodo, and the swifts in the tower. Visitors are greeted by “Stan,” a complete replica of a T-rex skeleton found in South Dakota. Even more fascinating are the most complete remains of a dodo anywhere in the world, one of the museum’s greatest treasures. The museum recently reopened after a 14-month restoration of its glass roof.
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Ten Thousand Smokes
By Linda Tancs
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a valley within Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, a landscape created by the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. Open year round, hikers’ favorite destinations include the Baked Mountain Huts, Novarupta lava dome and Mount Griggs. But this time of year, Katmai is prized as one of the premier brown bear viewing areas in the world. This month’s viewing is particularly strong at Geographic Harbor and Funnel Creek. For guides and/or transportation to bear viewing areas, licensed commercial operators stand ready to assist you.
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A Series of Firsts at New York Port
By Linda Tancs
On July 31, 1789, the Second Session of Congress chose the village of Sag Harbor in New York as the first official port of entry into the United States. That was a smart choice, considering that the hamlet had more square rigged vessels engaged in commerce than the Port of New York about 100 miles away. This enterprising locale enjoys the distinction of having had the first custom house in the country, the first volunteer fire company in the State of New York and the first newspaper printed on Long Island. Its ascension as a whaling capital was fueled by the need for whale oil to light lamps. The Broken Mast Monument in Oakland Cemetery is a testament to the whalers lost at sea centuries ago.
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Queen of the Yorkshire Coast
By Linda Tancs
Scarborough, dubbed Queen of the Yorkshire Coast, was immortalized in the Simon and Garfunkel song, Scarborough Fair. Indeed, a fair did take place there for 500 years between the 13th and 18th centuries. It may be better known for the fair than for the fact that it’s Britain’s first seaside resort. Its beaches, like North Bay and South Bay, overlook the ruins of Scarborough Castle and are some of the cleanest and most beautiful in the country. Many of the hotels offer unrivaled sea views, like Red Lea, Weston, Clifton and Villa Esplanade. For a Caribbean feel, consider a daily or weekly hire of one of those explosively colorful pastel beach huts.
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The Holy Grail of Rail
By Linda Tancs
From Siberia’s wooden cottages to Moscow’s onion domes, the Trans-Siberian Railway journey is arguably the rail industry’s holy grail. A popular route via the Trans-Siberian Express takes travelers across one-third of the world, beginning in Moscow and ending in Vladivostok, a trading port founded as a military outpost in 1860. Along the way are history-laden stops like Ekaterinburg, founded by Catherine the Great, where Tsar Nicholas II and his family where executed in 1918. And Ulan Ude, a Siberian city that is the center of the Buddhist Buryat culture. Did you know that Lake Baikal, another stop, holds 20 percent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water? On an epic ride like this, the journey is just as important as the destination.
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England Observes WWI Centenary
By Linda Tancs
One hundred years ago today, Great Britain gave Austria-Hungary an ultimatum to stand down from hostilities. When Austria-Hungary didn’t comply, Great Britain entered World War I. To mark the event, a candlelight vigil will take place today from sundown until 11:00 p.m. at Westminster Abbey. That’s just one of several events taking place nationally as part of a global commemoration of the centenary of World War I. Together with the Imperial War Museums, a months-long cultural and events program (including a nationwide tour by the BBC) will connect contemporary generations with the pivotal battles, milestones and personal histories surrounding the Great War.
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Woodstock Lives on in Poland
By Linda Tancs
The Woodstock Music Festival of 1969 at Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York is one of the most popular music events in history. It’s been faithfully re-created in Kostrzyn, Poland (50 miles from Berlin) since 1995. This year’s festivities begin today and end on 2 August. Over 500,000 attendees are expected. Be there or be square.
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The Battle Cry in Catoira
By Linda Tancs
Over a thousand years ago the Vikings invaded the town of Catoira in Galicia, Spain. The Galicians have not forgotten. In fact, since 1960 on the first Sunday of August they celebrate a re-enactment of the event at a Viking Festival. Locals dress as Viking warriors aboard a replica 11th century ship headed for Torres del Oeste Castle. A battle ensues between the defenders and invaders where everyone eventually ends up soaked in wine. Well, that’s better than blood.
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Catching the Wind in Bonaire
By Linda Tancs
Part of the Dutch Antilles, Bonaire’s Caribbean flair includes pastel-colored Dutch colonials to complement an abundance of pink flamingos and fiery sunsets. This island, sans a single traffic light, has 86 official dive sites. But the strongest draw is windsurfing, thanks to continual winds, shallow waters and excellent weather. In fact, whether novice or pro, Bonaire (and Lac Bay in particular) has been recognized as one of the best places in the world to windsurf.
