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
Maritime Amalfi
By Linda Tancs
The Amalfi coast, Italy’s Campania region, is a stretch of coastline on the southern side of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, reaching from Positano in the west to Vietri in the east. Navigate the towns of this coastal region by boat, a popular and time honored tradition. Learn more at Travelrific® Travel Show.
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Just Peachy
By Linda Tancs
Where else but in Peach County, Georgia would you expect to find Georgia’s Peach Festival. Taking place in Byron and Fort Valley from 3 to 11 June, the highlight of the proceedings is the debut of the World’s Largest Peach Cobbler–11 by five feet and about eight inches deep –made from 90 pounds of butter, 150 pounds of sugar, 150 pounds of flour, 32 gallons of milk and 75 gallons of delectable Georgia peaches. What’s your favorite peach recipe? Post it here.
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The Giants of Montenegro
By Linda Tancs
Bordered by Serbia, Croatia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro may be earning stripes for its sparkling yacht-infused harbor, but its inland majesty is equally compelling. Just a few hours’ drive inland from the pomp of Porto Montenegro is Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO nature reserve in Žabljak featuring the massif Mount Durmitor. A year-round attraction, the massif of 50 peaks and 18 glacial lakes is a mecca for mountain tourism, sporting a canyon second only to Arizona’s famed Grand Canyon. You can get there via two international airports, Podgorica or Tivat–or by bus from Podgorica to Žabljak for less than 10 euros. The clime (or climb, as the case may be) is typically alpine, so dress accordingly.
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The Longest Wooden Pier in Europe
By Linda Tancs
It isn’t uncommon for a seaside city to boast of rejuvenative effects. In Sopot, Poland’s seaside city, they even say that the concentration of iodine in the air is heavier at seaside than on land. Whatever the merits of the claim, what is undeniable is that this small seaside resort sports the longest wooden pier in Europe at about 1676 feet. That’s quite a platform from which to view the town’s panorama of Art Nouveau townhouses, villas and historic parks. Not surprisingly, most hotels are situated along the shoreline, like the stately Grand Sopot. Spring and summer bring a slew of street and music festivals. Better hurry.
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A Place of Quiet Beauty
By Linda Tancs
Pebble Hill plantation in Thomasville, Georgia bills itself as “a place of quiet beauty.” There certainly is plenty of ground for quiet reflection. Amidst the hallmark pines that define the plantation’s landscape, The Main House is framed with numerous camellia bushes, dogwoods, magnolias, azaleas, tea olives, and Cherokee roses. Near the North entrance to the House is a wonderful crepe myrtle tree, perfect for contemplating life plans. The Uno Hill Barn grounds offer views of the serenity of the piney woods. Or you could just marvel at the plantation’s substantial famed collection of prints from the first edition of Audubon’s Birds of North America. There’s plenty to do; come early, stay late.
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King Biscuit
By Linda Tancs
They’ll be raising lots of dough from 27 to 28 May in Knoxville, Tennessee at the International Biscuit Festival. Celebrating the heart of comfort food in downtown Market Square, you can sample the fare along Biscuit Boulevard and decide who earns the title of Best Biscuit. For those who lose the crown this year, there’s always the bake-off. Last year’s winner saluted one of Elvis’s favorite dishes comprising peanut butter, banana and bacon. Every biscuit tells a story. The songwriting competition gives you a chance to share yours. Post your lyrics here.
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Jambalaya Jamboree
By Linda Tancs
Gonzalez, Louisiana is the “Jambalaya Capital of the World.” From 26 to 29 May the area hosts its annual Jambalaya Festival and World Champion Jambalaya Cooking event. A Cajun/Creole dish made from a mixture of meats, rice and seasonings, jambalaya is a southern Louisiana delight. The jambalaya cooking contest draws contestants the world over for the coveted title. Do you have a favorite jambalaya recipe? Share it here.
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A Haven for Wild Horses
By Linda Tancs
For hundreds of years wild horses have lived on the shores of Maryland’s Assateague Island, their native habitat preserved through miles of fencing to protect them against contact with contemporary means of transportation. You can use those means, though, to meander peacefully among the sanctuary and observe them as nature intended, along with eagles, osprey, falcons, dolphins, sting rangs and a host of other species living along the coastline. The Pony Express Nature Cruise is available now through 9 October. Get there via Chincoteague, Virginia or Ocean City, Maryland, the gateways to Assateague.
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Cheap Train Tickets in UK
By Linda Tancs
Given the relative uncertainty of travel costs in the UK, it’s worth exploring all of the options for cheap travel, like rail bookings using thetrainline. Use the Best Fare Finder to locate the best deal or the Ticket Alert for notification when advance purchase options become available. You can even download a free application to buy tickets from your mobile. Want a package deal? You can select among train, hotel and theatre options for a customized experience. There’s even a carbon calculator for the environmentally conscious among you.
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Fine Wines in the Foothills
By Linda Tancs
The foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Walland, Tennessee may seem like the least likely place to yield up an epicurious haven. Yet that’s exactly what you get at Blackberry Farm, one of America’s most celebrated intimate luxury hotels set on 4200 acres. Now through 22 May the greatest producers in the world of wine make for a rare gathering at the Farm at the second annual Hospice du Rhone event. Featuring Christophe Baron, Greg Harrington, John Lancaster, Robert Perkins, Sara Perez and Rene Barbier, these giants of Rhone will share their knowledge and special vintages with oenophiles. Life on the farm never tasted so sweet.
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