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 Colony of Seals
By Linda Tancs
Ireland’s Garinish Island in County Cork is best known for its subtropical gardens in Bantry Bay. Try telling that to the attention-grabbing seal colony living in the harbor waters. Unfazed by the hum of ferries between the island and the main pier at Glengarriff, the 250-strong seal colony stands ready to strike the pose.
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Swiss Precision
By Linda Tancs
The quality of Swiss timepieces is legendary. And why shouldn’t it be? Those talented artisans have been perfecting it since its debut in the 16th century. The cradle of the industry is the Joux Valley. Of course that’s where you can expect to find a museum dedicated to the art of Swiss watchmaking. Recently reopened after a months-long renovation, Joux Valley Museum of Watchmaking is an interactive museum combining traditional exhibition space with hands-on training and demonstration. The current exhibit traces the changing face of watchmaking, celebrating the Technical College’s 111th anniversary graduating watchmakers.
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Where the Buffalo Roam
By Linda Tancs
President Theodore Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman and a budding naturalist in his youth. During his presidency he advanced his conservationist agenda with the preservation of millions of acres of land and the creation of wildlife refuges. His values are well defended at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Located in western North Dakota, the park monitors and manages elk, bison and feral horses to maintain sustainable populations. An entrance fee is required. Buy an annual park pass, available for 20 dollars. A lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 62 or over is available for 10 dollars.
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Sailors’ Delight
By Linda Tancs
In 1801 Captain Robert Richard Randall died, his will decreeing that his New York City estate become a haven for retired seamen. Following a protracted will contest, his desire was fulfilled through the purchase of land in 1831 along the harbor in Staten Island instead. Located on the north shore, that enclave is known as Snug Harbor. Thanks to its popularity among retired sailors, the property grew to include a chapel, more dormitories, and a Beaux-Arts-style music hall. Boasting over 250,000 annual visitors, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center offers a glimpse into the life of a mariner. For art aficionados, there’s the John A. Noble maritime art collection. A year-round venue for performance art, the park is also notable for its botanical garden, one of the largest in the New York area.
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Nation’s Largest Orchid Show
By Linda Tancs
In Chinese culture, the orchid has long been a symbol of refinement and nobility. No doubt its beauty and enchanting nature is reason enough why orchid cultivation has blossomed into an international industry. In the United States, the largest orchid exhibition is taking place through 22 April at the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show. The curated show sports a mother lode of exotic orchids in every shape, size and color imaginable. Of course, there will be orchids for sale, along with care demonstrations, mood music and cocktail evenings among the blooms.
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Two to Tango
By Linda Tancs
In Buenos Aires, Argentina you can shake off the winter blahs (and those chilly temperatures accompanying many parts of the globe) at the annual tango festival now through 16 March. Originally the dance of poor dockworkers, the popularity of the tango is evident in the number of worldwide festivals honoring this steamy Latin dance. So why not go back to the source and experience its flavor and flair for yourself in the city that made it famous. Rhythmically challenged or not, there are dance lessons, as well as exhibitions, concerts and dancing displays.
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Treasures from the Sea
By Linda Tancs
If seashell collecting seems as thrilling as watching paint dry, then you haven’t been to Sanibel Island, Florida. The island’s east/west orientation brings a plethora of colorful shells ashore from the Gulf of Mexico. This is where shell collecting is elevated to an art form. There’s even an annual shell fair and show. Taking place this weekend at the Community Center, the indoor/outdoor event features 250 shells, some elusive, as well as masterful works of shell art at the exhibition.
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A Traveling Sisterhood
By Linda Tancs
Lunafest is a traveling film festival by, for and about women. This year’s collection of nine films explores topics as diverse as chemotherapy, break-ups, shyness and gymnastics training. Over 150 locations will participate in this event through June. Find one near you.
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Train Tickets Simplified
By Linda Tancs
Individual tickets or railpass? Advance or same-day purchase? How do you find the cheapest ticket? Sometimes, the terms and conditions for international train travel can leave you dazed and confused. That’s where the helpful advice of The Man in Seat 61 comes to the rescue. Whether you’re interested in UK or continental Europe train travel, The Man has all the answers to demystify the ticket purchasing process. Seat 61, by the way, is his favorite first-class seat on the Eurostar.
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The Little Airport That Could
By Linda Tancs
Can you name a place where such luminaries as Amelia Earhart, General James Doolittle, several U.S. Presidents, Elton John, Diana Ross, Harrison Ford and Shania Twain would have gathered (not all at the same time, of course)? The answer is Trenton Mercer Airport in Trenton, New Jersey. Opened in 1929, the county airport averages 100,000 take-offs and landings each year, including flights to Florida. Its illustrious history includes a role in the production of the WWII Avenger torpedo bomber. Less than five minutes from the terminal building, the parking facilities are reasonably priced. The parking lot can be accessed from either airport entrance (Scotch Road or Bear Tavern Road) directly in front of the terminal.
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