Linda A. Tancs's Blog: The Long and Short of It, page 29

The Wickedest Town in the West

By Linda Tancs

Jerome, Arizona, is a former mountain mining community. Located near the top of Cleopatra Hill between Prescott and Flagstaff, its rich copper ore deposits attracted miners, merchants, madams and more, earning it the nickname “The Wickedest Town in the West.” You can learn more about the town’s colorful history at Jerome State Historic Park. It features the Douglas Mansion (one of the grandest residences in the state), built by mining mogul James Douglas. Today, the house is a museum devoted to the Douglas family history and the history of Jerome.

Seven Mile Beach

By Linda Tancs

Seven Mile Beach is the name of a barrier island on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, New Jersey, divided between the boroughs of Avalon to the north and Stone Harbor to the south. Avalon has the distinction of being coined New Jersey’s version of the Hamptons (on the eastern end of Long Island in New York), the East Coast version of Beverly Hills. In fact, a newly-built home in Avalon was listed months ago for $25 million! If the real estate is too rich for your appetite, then enjoy the beaches, as visitors have been doing for more than a century.

A Trifecta of Delights in Jerez

By Linda Tancs

The Andalusian town of Jerez de la Frontera sports a trifecta of delights: wine, flamenco and horses. Sherry hails from this region of Spain, where you can participate in tastings and visit production sites. The town is also considered to be the home of flamenco, hosting an annual two-week winter festival that attracts flamenco artists from all over the world. Another gem is the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, one of the most prestigious classical riding academies in the world. Their premier event is the show, “How the Andalusian Horses Dance,” an equestrian ballet accompanied by quintessential Spanish music and 18th-century styled costumes.

Mountain Vistas in Maryland

By Linda Tancs

Constructed in 1949 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Chesapeake & Ohio Railway steam locomotive no. 1309 was built to handle the railroad’s heaviest coal trains throughout Kentucky and West Virginia until it was retired in 1956. The largest operating steam locomotive of its type in the country, it’s now the star attraction at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland. The historic train runs through the Allegheny Mountains on a scenic route between Cumberland and Frostburg, climbing grades up to 2.8% on a 16-mile trek.

Up Close with Marine Life

By Linda Tancs

Coral World Ocean Park is an educational and conservation center in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The venue is prized for its encounters, like opportunities to experience a diver’s view of the ocean floor and a coral reef without the special training. You can also swim with dolphins, juvenile sharks and sea lions and learn about conservation. Since the park’s opening in 1977 it has been dedicated to coral reef education, research and conservation. In fact, the facility’s underwater observatory was the first of its kind to be constructed in the Western Hemisphere.

Sky High in Michigan

By Linda Tancs

Touted as the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, Skybridge Michigan is a thrill walk along a 1,200-foot-long, 118-foot-high pedestrian bridge between McLouth and Disciples Ridge peaks, overlooking Michigan’s Boyne Valley. Guests ride the historic Hemlock Scenic Chairlift to the summit to access the bridge and its breathtaking views. Take the paved loop to see the bridge from all angles.

New Jersey’s Preeminent Military Museum

By Linda Tancs

The history of New Jersey’s militia and National Guard begins with Dutch, Swedish and British colonization and continues with the War for Independence, the Civil War, two world wars and the present day. It’s chronicled at The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey, which is located both at Sea Girt’s National Guard Training Center and at Lawrenceville Armory. The museum boasts one of the largest collections of New Jersey-related Civil War research material in the country, including copies of diaries, letters, newspaper clippings, memoirs, regimental histories and articles. Among its many prized artifacts is the Intelligent Whale in Sea Girt, a primitive post-Civil War submarine powered by six crewmen. Ideally four sailors would crank the propeller while the other crewmen labored to keep the submarine on course and off the bottom. At least one crew member was tasked with leaving the sub through the wooden door in the submarine’s hull floor and transporting and attaching a mine to the hull of an enemy vessel. Admission is free.

Ozark Art and Nature

By Linda Tancs

Formerly a decommissioned cheese factory, The Momentary is a satellite art campus of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. It’s one of the most endowed museums in the country, having been founded by the Walton family (of Walmart fame). It showcases immersive art installations, curated food experiences and live music. While you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to visit the parent campus, Crystal Bridges, featuring a world-class collection of American art, stunning architecture and 120 acres of Ozark forest with 5 miles of trails. General admission is free!

Bubble Planet

By Linda Tancs

An experience for all ages, Bubble Planet is all about bubbles. Fully interactive, the traveling exhibit comprises a series of rooms, such as a bubble bath ball pit and an undersea LED room. You’ll find colors, lasers, lights and, of course, bubbles interspersed with virtual reality. Be prepared to spend at least an hour. Venues are located in both Europe and North America.

Ship Island

By Linda Tancs

Boasting the best beaches in Mississippi, Ship Island is a barrier island off the Gulf Coast. Once an important port for French Louisiana, it was named in 1699 by French explorers who were impressed with the protected, deep-water anchorage it offered their ships. Due to the number of colonists who entered its shores, it has been referred to as the “Plymouth Rock” of the Gulf Coast. Part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, it features a historic fort, swimming area, beautiful beaches, two pavilion areas, restrooms and a concession store. The island is accessible only via ferry service that runs seasonally until October.