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
George Washington Remembered
By Linda Tancs
In December each year George Washington’s decisive victories against the British during the American Revolution are revisited. In particular, his Continental Army’s famous crossing of the Delaware River from a stronghold in Pennsylvania on Christmas Day in 1776 is recounted in various re-enactments. His plan was to attack the British at the Hessian-held town of Trenton, just across the Delaware River in New Jersey. The prospects were dim, considering the beleaguered condition of the soldiers and the raging weather. But the attack took the opposing forces by surprise, resulting in a victory that marked a turning point in the war. Washington Crossing Historic Park will host a dress rehearsal on 12 December from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. prior to the Christmas Day event at 1 p.m. Across another “pond” even more Washington memorabilia is available in England’s Northamptonshire at Sulgrave Manor, home of the President’s ancestors.
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Chocolate Cravings in London
By Linda Tancs
Chocolatier Milton Hershey observed, “Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing.” If the number of ongoing chocolate festivals is any indication, then he got it right. After all, how many caramel festivals have you encountered? This weekend London celebrates the sweet stuff at Southbank Centre. And it’s not all about bars, truffles and bonbons. You’ll learn about the many applications of this delectable confection from bean to bonbon, savory foods to cocktails. Admission is free–all the better for your chocolate spree.
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A Crowning Achievement in Świebodzin
By Linda Tancs
Świebodzin in western Poland still contains remnants of the town’s past as a medieval walled settlement, but perhaps its greatest feature is the newly unveiled statue of Christ on the outskirts of town. Capped with a gleaming gold crown, the imposing statue with outstretched arms reportedly rivals Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer. At a stunning 33 meters (one for each of Jesus’s years of life), the locals are hoping to attract pilgrims and the accompanying revenue.
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300 Years of History in Hamburg
By Linda Tancs
St. Pauli is a district of Hamburg, Germany as well known for its colorful inhabitants as for the icons of popular culture that have performed along its famous Reeperbahn–like The Beatles. During its 17th century beginnings, it was a suburb of Hamburg known as Hamburger Berg, populated with workhouses and hospitals. Stories make history, they like to say. Today the past is chronicled at the new St. Pauli Museum on David Street, a stunning collection of over 3 million documents to inform and amuse you. You’ve heard the expression, if these walls could talk. Well, they do.
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Light Show on the Lake in Smithville
By Linda Tancs
The colonial history of New Jersey, one of the 13 original British colonies, began after Henry Hudson sailed through Newark Bay in 1609 and claimed the land for the Dutch. Subsequently surrendered to the British, its early colonial roots are celebrated in the quaint hamlet of Historic Smithville, located off Exit 48 on the Garden State Parkway. Today through 2 January the village of shoppes and cozy eateries hosts its annual sound and light show on Lake Meone, a festive affair where over 100 Christmas trees seemingly float about to seasonal music. Enjoy it each weekend between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
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Holiday Cheer Coming to Whippany Railway
By Linda Tancs
All aboard for the Santa Claus Special at the Whippany Railway grounds in Morris County, New Jersey. Beginning on 5 December, the annual 10-mile, 45-minute train ride features gifts and merriment from Santa and his helpers. Located at Railroad Plaza in Whippany, the railway museum also offers a glimpse into local railroad history on Sundays only from April through October. The grounds include a Central Railroad of New Jersey club car, the Jersey Coast. You’ll also find the Pennsylvania Railroad caboose, the old railroad company being one of the wealthiest and most powerful in the world. Its likeness has even been imitated by the Lionel toy train company; a model has been in production since 1953. Plan to come back for the spring thaw.
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Hoover Dam Celebrates 75 Years
By Linda Tancs
The Hoover Dam, located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas on the Arizona/Nevada border, was a landmark at its inception 75 years ago in 1935, when it was built to control the flow of the Colorado River and generate power. Now this tourism staple has another dimension to offer visitors: a concrete arch bridge bearing the distinction of being the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Built for national security reasons, the imposing bypass bridge offers enviable panoramic views at an elevation of 900 feet. In addition to a sidewalk on the north side of the bridge for optimum viewing of the dam, the project will ultimately include a parking lot, trail, and interpretive plaza.
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The West’s Most Western Town
By Linda Tancs
Located in Arizona’s Sonoran desert, the city of Scottsdale‘s origins began in 1888 when U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott (hence, the name) made a down payment on 640 acres near the present-day downtown to start a farming operation. Its ranching and homesteading heritage earned the young community the moniker “The West’s Most Western Town.” Now the official city motto, the locale is a popular vacation and conference destination. And why not, with 330 sunny days each year.
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Quaint Quedlinburg
By Linda Tancs
The Harz Mountains is a mountain range in central Germany in the district of Sachsen-Anhalt. At its foot about 1300 houses showcasing centuries of architectual history grant Quedlinburg status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its quaint half-timbered houses are a medieval testament to a bustling 10th century political and social mecca presided over by King Heinrich I. For spectacular views, ride the narrow gauge steam train of the Selke Valley Railway on the line from Magdeburg at Quedlinburg station.
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Tour Operator Pitches Hands-On Travel
By Linda Tancs
You won’t find the word culturious in the dictionary, but if you did, it would probably be defined as a state of mind. That’s what the folks at Tauck are promoting with their cultural immersion tours known as Culturious. Covering destinations like Costa Rica, Cinque Terre and Namibia, the small group tours are calculated to stretch your mind as well as your legs. Physical activity ranges from walking to kayaking, bicycling or horseback riding. You’ll expand your horizons by participating in activities like making a meal with a French chef, picking coffee beans on a Costa Rican plantation and watching a restoration specialist in Florence follow her passion. In other words, you’ll have an authentic travel experience. Isn’t that the point of travel, after all?
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