Linda A. Tancs's Blog: The Long and Short of It, page 39

The Wright Skyscraper

By Linda Tancs

Preeminent designer Frank Lloyd Wright was best known for his domestic architecture. So it may come as a surprise to learn that he also designed a skyscraper. Located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Price Tower (a 19-story historic landmark) is Wright’s only skyscraper and one of two vertically-oriented buildings he designed. The other building, the SC Johnson Wax Headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, is the only building designed by Wright that is still being actively used as corporate headquarters. Price Tower Arts Center offers tours of the structure, including a visit to the restored 19th-floor executive office of H.C. Price and the H.C. Price Company Corporate Apartment. 

A Tribute to Stonehenge in Texas

By Linda Tancs

Ninety percent as tall and 60 percent as wide as the original Stonehenge in England, Stonehenge II in Ingram, Texas, is a tribute to the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire. The stunning replica was created by Al Shepperd and his neighbor Doug Hill. It’s located beside the Guadalupe River on the campus of the Hill Country Arts Foundation.

Whimsical Art in New Jersey

By Linda Tancs

Named for an amusement park in Italy, Luna Parc is a hunting cabin-turned-art studio in Sandyston Township, New Jersey. The brainchild of eclectic artist Ricky Boscarino, the site features more than 100,000 items. The artist repurposes common objects like bread tabs, bowling balls and crutches to create madcap art; the front façade alone is as madcap as it gets, like a cartoon come to life. One of the most stunning rooms is the bathroom, where mosaic work is composed of more than 1 million pieces of glass. The venue is open to the public only certain times of the year.

Chicago’s Lightscape

By Linda Tancs

Lightscape is an enchanting holiday light show at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois, where a one-mile path of the 385-acre site is transformed into a light and sound installation this time of year. A particular favorite is the Cathedral of Light, a towering cathedral-window arch of 100,000 lights that extends along a 110-foot tunnel. Along the pathway, you’ll also find marshmallow-toasting fire cauldrons and refreshment stands. This year’s event runs until January 7, 2024.

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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045. 

Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.

Florida’s Underwater Playground

By Linda Tancs

Encompassing nearly 70 nautical square miles in Key Largo, Florida, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the first undersea park in the United States. As the name implies, the coral reef (the only living coral reef in the continental United States) is a key draw. The reef can be viewed via glass-bottom boat tour, snorkeling or scuba diving. Be sure to stop by the visitor center, which has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. The park is named for the late John D. Pennekamp, a Miami newspaper editor whose efforts contributed to the establishment of Everglades National Park and led to the preservation of the reef system bearing his name.

The Lords of Verucchio

By Linda Tancs

Verucchio is a small town in the province of Rimini, Italy. It’s known as the “cradle of the Malatesta family,” an Italian family that dominated Romagna from 1295 to 1500. One of the largest fortifications of the period is Rocca Malatestiana, also known as Rocca del Sasso (Fortress on the Rock) due to its position at the top of the rocky crag that dominates the whole area. The watch tower is an easy landmark, embedded with a clock to mark the hours below in the heart of the old town with Piazza Malatesta and the town hall.

The Horn on Crawford Hill

By Linda Tancs

Recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its role in confirming the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe, the Horn Antenna in Holmdel, New Jersey, is located on the former Nokia site on Crawford Hill (the highest elevation in Monmouth County). The story begins with the research work of two radio astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson. While using this antenna in 1965, they discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation that permeates the universe, contributing evidence for the Big Bang theory. The antenna’s horn shape allowed for precise pointing that aided greatly in conducting radio astronomy observations. Although no longer in use, the site is open to the public.

Playing Games in Oklahoma

By Linda Tancs

It’s hard to imagine that a town with a population less than 500 could boast the world’s biggest anything, but that’s the case in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Thanks to WinStar World Casino and Resort, the quaint little town hosts the world’s biggest gaming floor. You’ll find the world’s largest collection of electronic games with over 8,500 of the best electronic games available, nearly 100 table games, a 55-table poker room and even a bingo hall. It’s about three times as large as the biggest casino in Las Vegas. 

The Ruby Mountains

By Linda Tancs

The Ruby Mountains are a mountain range primarily located in Elko County, Nevada. The color has nothing to do with geology; during the Gold Rush days, gems were discovered that were thought to be rubies but were actually garnet. Nowadays the prize is the vistas often compared to the Swiss Alps. Its alpine peaks culminate in a maximum elevation of 11,387 feet on the summit of Ruby Dome. Accessed via Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway, you’ll see dozens of alpine lakes, canyons, forest and wildlife. At the top of the byway you can pick up hikes of varying lengths along the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail.

Monkey Business in Thailand

By Linda Tancs

The most honored population in Lopburi, Thailand, is its thousands of macaques, thought to bring good luck to the area and its people. No wonder they get their own festival each year on the last Sunday of November. The highlight of the event is the colorful displays of food (for them, not you), including sticky rice, fruits and salad. One of the oldest cities in the country, you’ll find some spectacular attractions (besides the monkeys) like King Narai’s Palace and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, a historic temple. The city is about a three hours’ drive north from Bangkok.