Linda A. Tancs's Blog: The Long and Short of It, page 58

The Sunsphere

By Linda Tancs

Held in Knoxville, Tennessee, the 1982 World’s Fair was the first one in the South. Hosting 22 nations, it was located in an abandoned railroad yard next to downtown Knoxville. Its symbol was the Sunsphere, which featured a restaurant and an observation deck. Largely vacant and underutilized for most of its post-fair life, the Sunsphere is enjoying a resurgence with the reopening of the fourth level observation deck. It offers a 360-degree view of the original 1982 World’s Fair site (now World’s Fair Park), downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains.

A Masterpiece in the Making

By Linda Tancs

Targeted for completion this year, the England Coast Path will become the world’s longest coastal walking route, hugging the entirety of the English coast for a whopping 2,800 miles. The path will pass through 23 English counties, highlighting along the way a variety of cliffs, castles, beaches, cities and nature reserves. The trek will offer something for everyone of all abilities and will be signposted. Let your own ambition be your guide.

America’s First National Lakeshore

By Linda Tancs

America’s first National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hugs the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Its name hails from the sandstone cliffs painted in shades of red, pink, black, green and other colors due to minerals leaching out of the rocks from groundwater. Water seeping out of the porous sandstone cliffs in winter freezes into curtains and columns of blue, white or yellow ice. Viewing the various ice formations has become a popular winter activity that can be enjoyed from mid-December until early April.

Waterfall Capital of the World

By Linda Tancs

The city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, boasts more than 130 waterfalls, earning it the title “Waterfall Capital of the World.” One of the most popular falls is Albion Falls, a cascade waterfall about 62 feet high flowing down the Niagara Escarpment in Red Hill Valley. Despite its size, it will freeze completely if the weather is cold enough, making a winter trip just as interesting as any other time of year. In fact, many of the falls will freeze completely from top to bottom, offering stunning views.

The History of Computers

By Linda Tancs

As its name implies, the Computer History Museum recounts the history of computers. Located in Mountain View, California, the facility presents stories and artifacts of Silicon Valley and the information age. In addition to oral histories provided by computer pioneers, the museum’s vast collection, from calculators to the internet, explores artifacts like analog computers, mainframes, supercomputers and robotics.

Folk Art in Los Angeles

By Linda Tancs

Around 1894 Italian immigrant Sabato Rodia arrived in the community of Watts in South Central Los Angeles, California. He distinguished himself there by building a series of 17 major sculptures out of steel covered with mortar and embellished with mosaic tiles, glass, clay, shells and rock. Completed in 1954, the so-called Watts Towers are an icon of the community, the world’s largest single construction created by one individual and a paramount work of folk art. Designated a Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Monument, the works are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are a National Historic Landmark, a State of California Historic Monument and a State of California Historic Park. Public guided tours are available on weekends.

The Heart of Tequila Country

By Linda Tancs

Mexico is the official home of tequila. Its origin lies in the blue agave fields of Jalisco, where the plant is native to the region. Tequila is made by roasting the heart of blue agave and then crushing or squeezing it to release a liquid that is distilled to produce tequila, the authenticity of which is protected by international trade agreements. You can take guided tours of distilleries in Jalisco to learn the art of tequila production.

An Iron Will in Connecticut

By Linda Tancs

The Berlin Iron Bridge Company was a Connecticut company that built iron bridges and buildings, many of which are now listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. One of the last bridges built by the company was the 1895 wrought-iron lenticular truss bridge over the Housatonic River located in Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford, Connecticut. It’s one of five remaining iron bridges in the state. Cross the bridge to Lovers Leap Trail, where a rock formation gives the park its name. According to tradition, it was there that the daughter of an Indian chief and her lover plunged to their deaths.

The Brela Stone

By Linda Tancs

Croatia’s Makarska Riviera is a quiet enclave under an hour by bus from Split. The first town you’ll encounter is Brela, ringed by the Biokovo mountain range, the second-highest in the country. It’s known for its pebble beach and the postcard-worthy Brela Stone (Kamen Brela). An icon of the Dalmatian coastline, Kamen Brela is a large, tree-covered rock off of Punta Rata Beach. Be sure to take a walk along the town’s seaside promenade, blessed with shady, scented pines, for even more incredible views.

Capitals of Culture in 2023

By Linda Tancs

In keeping with tradition, we begin the New Year with an announcement on the EU Capitals of Culture for 2023: Timișoara (in Romania) and Elefsina (in Greece). Timișoara was on the short list of Romanian contenders for the annual honor roll. It’s famed for its baroque architecture on Victory Square, the Bega Canal that cuts through the length of the city and the Orthodox Cathedral, the tallest church in the country and one of the tallest orthodox churches in the world. Elefsina is the fourth Greek city to win the title, the others being Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras. Birthplace of the leading tragic poet Aeschylus, the city was sacred in antiquity and boasts significant archaeological sites like the sanctuary where pilgrims were initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries and a Roman courtyard.