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
Captivating History in Brittany
By Linda Tancs
Just a couple of hours away from Paris by train, Saint-Malo (named for a Welsh saint who fled to Brittany) is a historic walled city overlooking the English Channel. Its ramparts were built in the 12th century to protect the residents from Vikings, but it’s perhaps more famed for its population of pirates. Sanctioned by the king of France, this special class of pirates built the city’s wealth by pillaging ships passing through the Channel. A popular spa and wellness destination, the locale also experiences some of the highest tides in Europe, making its breakwater defenses an iconic part of the cityscape.
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Human History in Zion
By Linda Tancs
Utah’s Zion Human History Museum displays artifacts and archival materials from the permanent collections of Zion National Park. Visitors can learn about human history in the area, from the Southern Paiute from thousands of years ago to the Mormon pioneers of the 1800s. Once the park’s main visitor center, the facility is prized as much for what’s outside as for what’s inside. Check out the back patio for a dramatic view of the West Temple and the Towers of the Virgin. In front of the building you’ll enjoy views of Bridge Mountain. When the canyon shuttle is running, the museum is stop #2. Otherwise, you’ll find it one half mile north of the park’s south entrance on the main park road or 11 miles west from the east entrance.
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Bonaire’s Underwater Park
By Linda Tancs
Bonaire National Marine Park is one of the oldest marine reserves in the world. It includes the sea around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire from the high water line to a depth of approximately 200 feet. The area includes Lac Bay, a shallow water lagoon featuring a fringing coral reef, seagrass meadows and the largest mangrove forest in the Dutch Caribbean. Boasting nearly 100 dive sites, the park is a popular diving destination year round, with sites accessible by boat or from the shore.
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Skyride to Paradise
By Linda Tancs
One of the most scenic attractions in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Skyride to Paradise Point in St. Thomas is an aerial tram ride to Paradise Point, an overlook with a restaurant and gift shops. In less than 10 minutes you’ll be 700 feet above St. Thomas harbor, where the view also includes historic downtown Charlotte Amalie, the island capital. On a clear day, you might even see St. Croix and Puerto Rico. The daily launch is dependent on the weather as well as cruise ship schedules. Check ahead to avoid disappointment.
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Rock Concerts in Tennessee
By Linda Tancs
The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee, give new meaning to the term “rock concert.” It’s both a subterranean music venue offering expectedly good acoustics and a spelunking destination. The cave system covers over 8,000 linear feet of known cave passages. Underground shows are hosted in a section of The Caverns historically known to locals and cavers as Big Mouth Cave. Daily guided tours explore the wider expanse of the cave system, spanning three football fields in length. Cave tours for thrill seekers take guests even deeper inside and include the adventurous “Tombstone Pass.”
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Gem of the Salish Sea
By Linda Tancs
Adjacent to British Columbia and Washington State, the Salish Sea is an inland sea named after the Coast Salish people, the first inhabitants of the region. Touted as a gem of the Salish Sea, Galiano Island is closest to Vancouver, which makes it easily accessible via ferry. Bluffs Point Lookout is a popular attraction, along with Bodega Ridge Trail, which rewards hikers with spectacular vistas of Trincomali Channel, Vancouver Island and the Strait of Georgia. Steps from the ferry dock, Sturdies Bay is home to most of the amenities on this island, including a resort hotel, art galleries and dining options.
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A Man-Made Wonder of the West
By Linda Tancs
A man-made reservoir covering an impressive 186 miles in length and nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline (longer than the west coast of the U.S.), Lake Powell is a popular vacation destination for boating, waterskiing, fishing, camping, hiking and exploring the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Located on the Colorado River and straddling the border between Utah and Arizona, it features the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, once the highest arch bridge in the world. It also boasts 96 major canyons, some of which are up to 20 miles long. Antelope Canyon is reportedly the most photographed. Other popular canyons include Gunsight Canyon and Navajo Canyon, which offers views of Navajo Tapestries, the multi-colored streaks of iron oxide and manganese residue that have “draped” down the sides of the canyon wall.
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Pigs on the Beach
By Linda Tancs
It isn’t everyday that you get to encounter pigs on a beach. For that kind of unique opportunity, you’ll want to head to St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. You can swim with, pet, feed and cuddle well-tended pigs of all sizes on a secluded picturesque beach. Known as Pigs in Paradise, the tourist attraction is reachable via water taxi from the cruise port.
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Little Sahara of the Midwest
By Linda Tancs
Aptly named, Oklahoma’s Little Sahara State Park bears a striking resemblance to Africa’s Sahara desert. It boasts over 1,600 acres of sand dunes, ranging in height from 25 to 75 feet, formed over time from terrace deposits dating back to prehistoric times when the Cimarron River covered the entire area. There’s an observation deck on one of the highest dunes that offers visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of the landscape. As you might imagine, the main attraction is dune buggy and ATV riding across the dunes. Visitors can either bring their own ATV or rent one off-site by a private vendor. This time of year the winds generally die down and, if you’re lucky, you’ll enjoy a winter wonderland.
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An Emblem of Catania
By Linda Tancs
A black basalt statue of an elephant is an emblem of Catania in Sicily. Known as the Elephant Fountain, the pachyderm sits atop a fountain located in the center of Piazza del Duomo. Its most curious feature is the Egyptian-style obelisk set on the marble saddle of the elephant’s back. As far back as the ninth century, the city was known as “the city of the elephant.” In ancient times, it was thought to possess magic powers, including the ability to predict the eruptions of nearby Mount Etna. The mysterious elephant is now featured on various insignia, such as the coat of arms of the city and the university as well as various clubs and organizations.
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