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
New York’s Palisades
By Linda Tancs
On the west side of the Hudson River, New York’s Palisades region is rich in spectacular views. That’s especially true at Bear Mountain State Park. Situated in rugged mountains, you’ll enjoy panoramic vistas from Perkins Memorial Tower (in season). This time of year appeals to cross-country skiers and ice skaters, but a year-round visit awaits at the Trailside Museums and Zoo. The attraction features native turtles, snakes, frogs, toads, salamanders, skinks and many species of fish along with geologic formations. The park is an easy day trip from New York City.
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Bubblecars in Lincolnshire
By Linda Tancs
Bubblecars are a form of microcar, typically characterized by their three wheels and an engine capacity under 700cc. They are a significant part of British motoring history, so it should come as no surprise that the Bubblecar Museum near Boston in Lincolnshire is dedicated to them. The only public museum of its kind in the country, over 50 microcars are on display, many featuring period backgrounds. You’ll find examples of the prominent English manufacturers like Bond, Reliant, Bamby and Meadows Frisky. And yes, you can take a ride in one.
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Jewish Budapest
By Linda Tancs
The heart of Jewish Budapest is the Great Synagogue on Dohány Street. Dominating the historic Jewish quarter on the Pest side of the city, it’s the largest synagogue in Europe and the second-largest in the world. Built in the 1800s, it has a Moorish motif unique for its time, highlighted by eight-pointed stars and a geometric façade. The interior is no less ornate with its balconies, rose windows and colossal organ behind the ark. Adjacent to the synagogue is the Jewish Museum, which houses a Holocaust room and historical exhibitions. Often hailed as one of the top 10 sights in Budapest, you’ll benefit from a guided tour of the facility and the district.
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The History of Height
By Linda Tancs
The first tall building in New York to use metal-cage construction was the Tower Building in 1889. Demolished in 1914, you might think of it as New York City’s first skyscraper although it wasn’t the tallest building at 11 stories. It’s fair to say that the city has continued its love affair with tall, slender buildings since then. You can explore the history of the city’s skyline at the Skyscraper Museum. The facility is located at Battery Park City, with the skyline of Lower Manhattan conveniently providing its backdrop.
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The Civil Rights Trail
By Linda Tancs
Established in 2018, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail spans 15 states and the District of Columbia. It charts the course of the Civil Rights Movement, beginning with the site of school integration and ending at the Supreme Court. Along the way is a collection of churches, courthouses, schools, museums and other landmarks defining the quest for social justice. Nearly a quarter of the 100-plus sites are in Alabama, considered by many to be ground zero for the movement. Famous sites include the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama; Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas; the Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth’s where sit-ins began; the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee; and Dr. King’s birthplace in Atlanta. Check the trail’s website often for the addition of new cities and sites.
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A Memorable Walk in Portugal
By Linda Tancs
One of the best preserved trails in Europe, Rota Vicentina meanders through the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal. There are two main routes, the “historical way” and the “fishermen’s trail.” The longer of the two is the historical way, a 142-mile journey from Santiago do Cacém to the Cape of St. Vincent that passes through forests, towns and villages. At 77 miles, the Atlantic coast-hugging fishermen’s trail, as the name implies, provides access to fishing grounds. For the less adventurous, one-day circular routes provide a less demanding trek although they still enhance the two main trails. You’ll find them in Almograve, São Luís, Troviscais, Santa Clara, Sabóia, Bordeira and Carrapateira. Avoid the summer crowds and go now. Unlike other places in Europe, southern Portugal is one of the few places where the weather is fine for trekking in February.
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Pretty in Pink in Vietnam
By Linda Tancs
You’ve heard of hotspots, but how about a hot pink spot? Literally and figuratively, Tân Định church in Vietnam fits the bill. One of the oldest churches in Ho Chi Minh City, it’s known for its vibrant pink façade (inside and out) and Gothic pillars. It first opened to the public in 1876 and remains one of the city’s top attractions as well as a local favorite. You’ll find it on Hai Ba Trung Street.
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A Local History Museum in London
By Linda Tancs
Gunnersbury Park boasts an opulent stately home in Regency style located in the London Borough of Hounslow. Once owned by the Rothschild banking family, it now houses a local history and heritage museum for the London boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow. You can thank Maria de Rothschild for that, who sold the park and its mansion houses to Ealing Borough Council and Acton Borough Council in 1925 to be preserved as a public space. Some popular features are the 19th-century carriages owned by the Rothschilds, the Victorian kitchens and the Greek-style Doric Temple, one of the oldest buildings in the park. You can get there easily via Acton Town or South Ealing tube stations.
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Crystal Clear in Malawi
By Linda Tancs
The crystal-clear waters of Lake Malawi are legendary. One of the deepest lakes in the world, its southern expanse is dominated by Lake Malawi National Park, the first freshwater national park to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Scientifically, it’s important for its fish diversity, with 1,000 species half occurring within the property and estimated as the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world. It also boasts more than 350 species of mbuna (rockfish) endemic to the region, a population considered of equal value to science as the finches of the Galapagos Islands or the honeycreepers of Hawaii. Boats are available for hire, and the fish will feed from the hand.
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Art in Brick City
By Linda Tancs
Brick City is a nickname for Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, so-named reputedly for the tall, brick buildings that arose decades ago as affordable housing for the growing populace. Brick City Stories is a virtual place created by The Newark Museum of Art (the state’s largest museum) to connect with the local arts community. It’s one of many features offered by the museum, which houses a formidable collection of American art, decorative arts, contemporary art and arts of Asia, Africa, the Americas and the ancient world. Located on Washington Street, you’ll find ample programming for adults, educators, youth and families.
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