Journeys Near and Far

Exploring Historic Occoquan

The tiny Virginia hamlet "at the end of the water"

This year I spent Halloween in historic Occoquan, Virginia.  It was perfect timing -- not only did I get to see the town decked out in all of it's Fall finery, but I was there for the Harvest Festival, in which children (and dogs!) paraded down the street in a variety of adorable costumes.

An Exciting Past

This little town has quite a history.  Founded in 1734, it was originally a trading post and named after the Dogue Indian word meaning "at the end of the water."

The picturesque town does indeed hug the peaceful Occoquan River, and despite the cliché, if ever a town could be called 'quaint', this is it.

Occoquan is known for the mail stage route that ran through the town as early as 1805, the Occoquan Post Office being the main delivery point for letters and packages between the North and South.

A fire in 1916 destroyed much of the town, and it was hit again in 1972 by Hurricane Agnes.  The residents and merchants restored the historic buildings, however, many of which are believed to have ghosts!  

Ghostly Inhabitants

You can learn all about these feisty spirits by taking a Historic Occoquan Ghost Tour, or do it yourself by reading about the building history and hauntings, and then exploring the town on your own.  The tour lasts about an hour and is a lot of fun.   Call 703-494-6983 to double check dates and times (they may be closed for the winter).

Atlantic City's Salt Water Taffy

Historians Finally Agree on the Origin of Atlantic City's Sticky Treat

During a recent stroll along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, I wondered about the origin of Atlantic City's famed Salt Water Taffy, and decided to learn more about it.

Salt Water Taffy, like the world-famous Boardwalk, is synonymous with Atlantic City.  Many people don't know why they picture these colorfully-wrapped confections when Atlantic City is mentioned, but the beach resort has much in common with these chewy treats.

While stories abound about Salt Water Taffy's origin, it seems that historians have finally come to agree that a man named  David Bradley was the candy's creator.

The year was 1880, and Bradley, a young candy merchant, arrived at work one morning to find that this his candy stand, located just a few steps from the ocean, had been swamped by a storm.  Later that day, when a child came to ask for some taffy, Bradley replied sarcastically, "You mean Salt Water Taffy, don't you?"

The child's mother, who had overheard, thought this would be a great new name for his candy.  When Bradley asked her who would want to buy taffy soaked with ocean water, she suggested he use fresh water and just add salt.

The new name for this sticky treat stuck and the rest was history.

Throughout the years, this famous confection has been pulled, perfected and modified in a variety of ways.  Now, visitors to the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk can find taffy in wild, outrageous flavors, such as root beer, buttered popcorn, chocolate chip cookie and caramel corn, to name a few.

One of the most famous shops selling Salt Water Taffy is the family-owned James' Original Salt Water Taffy, which has been manufacturing the candy in Atlantic City since the 1920s.  Another Atlantic City icon, the Boardwalk Peanut Shoppe, sells seashore-themed items such as a miniature lifeguard boat filled with a variety of sweets.

One of my favorite places to shop for taffy is at the 6,000 foot It's Sugar located on the Pier at Caesars.  The store is a destination unto itself, offering taffy in dozens of flavors, racks upon racks of sugary delights, and a counter where kids of all ages can make their own candy bars.

No one knows what Bradley would think about this taffy phenomenon if he were here today.  But he certainly would have a lot to chew on.

For more info:

Visit the Atlantic Convention & Visitors Bureau website, and the New Jersey Tourism website.   You might also enjoy the articles I write as the Atlantic City Travel Examiner.

Photo courtesy of the Atlantic Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Chocolate Show New York City: Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

A Weekend of Decadence Savoring Chocolate of Every Kind

I've just learned that the 12th Annual Chocolate show will be returning to New York City from October 30th to November 1st.  What's happens at a chocolate show?  I wasn't sure, so I contacted the folks who are running it to see what it's all about.

If you're one of the many folks who can't get enough of this decadent treat, read on...

Gourmet Chocolate

This event will showcase more than 65 exhibitors including chocolatiers and pastry chefs.  Every 45 minutes a new chef will cook up one of their master chocolate culinary creations in one of the two Viking Culinary Theaters.  You'll learn new cooking techniques from the likes of Matt Gennuso of Chez Pascal, Johnny Iuzzini of Jean Georges, and Maricel Presilla of Gran Cacao. 

Chocolate Cookbooks and More

At the chocolate bookstore (by Barnes and Noble), you'll be able to pick up new chocolate cookbooks or books about the history of chocolate such as Max Brenner's Chocolate:  A Love Story and Francine Segan's Movie Menus.  At least nine authors will be signing throughout the weekend.

KidsZone

Got kids?  For a small donation to Share Our Strength, they can create Chocolate Witches Hats, listen to a reading of the Chocolate Queen and even watch a performance of Charlie and the Golden Ticket.  (Does all this remind anyone of Johnny Depp?)

Beauty Products

I've heard of chocolate massages (the spa at the Hotel Hershey comes to mind) but here, in the Chocolate Beauty Pavilion, trained Beauty Chocolatiers will show visitors an alternate use for this exquisite treat:  extensive lines of chocolate soaps, lotions, scrubs and lip glosses, and yes -- chocolate massages (for a small donation).

Chocolate Fashion

Another alternate use for chocolate -- and this one comes as a surprise to me -- is is to wear it.  Just in time for Halloween, see chocolate Halloween Costumes on display as you enter the show!

The only thing that bothers me about this chocolate show is that I can't be there!  So if you go, please leave a comment about it, I'd love to know what you thought of the experience.

The show will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, Friday, October 30th from noon to 8 pm, Saturday, October 31st  from 10 to 8 pm, and Sunday, November 1st from 10 to 5 pm.  Buy your tickets in advance to be sure you'll get in.

If you're not in New York City, take heart -- here is the international show schedule:

JAPAN: January- February, 2010
Shanghai, CHINA: January15-17, 2010
Madrid, SPAIN: April 9-11, 2010

Photos courtesy of the Chocolate Show.

The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places

Travel the World in Search of Ghosts

Just in time for Halloween, I've had the opportunity to review the revised edition of Jeff Belanger's Encyclopedia of Haunted Places:  Ghostly Locales from Around the World. 

Belanger, the founder of Ghostvillage.com, the largest supernatural community on the web, has been studying and writing about the supernatural since 1997, and has authored ten books including The World's Most Haunted Places and The Ghost Files.

I haven't decided yet exactly how I feel about ghosts.  Do they exist?  I don't know.  But I'm open to the idea.  There are a few things for sure, though.  I love visiting haunted castles and inns on my travels, I think ghost stories are entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoy ghost tours.

It's easy to find ghostly tales and destinations in the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places.  The directory is packed with detailed information and intriguing stories that Belanger compiled about haunts around the world. 

In this book you'll find stories about:

• Dracula's castle, once the residence of Prince Vlad Tepes, aka "Vlad the Impaler" in Bran, Romania
• The Catacomb Museum in Paris, where more than 6 million bodies are housed
• The White House, where the ghost of Abraham Lincoln is said to appear
• And so much more

Wawel Castle, Krakow, Poland

Just for fun, I selected three haunted places I've visited recently to see if I could learn more about them from the book than I learned while at the sites themselves. 

First I looked up Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland.  Seat of the Polish kings for half a milenium, this castle is not only the home to the spirits of the royals who were laid to rest in the vaults under the cathedral, but to Smocza Jama, a dragon who lived in the 200-foot-long cave on the hillside.

I knew this story from having toured the castle and cave, but I didn't know that King Kazimir, who ruled in the 11th century, is said to have found a glowing stone in one of the tunnels that feeds and protects Krakow.  Nor did I know that King Sigismund I the Old's jester, Stancyk, supposedly appears on the castle battlements whenever Poland is in danger.  Interesting.

Scenic Sunday: Tikal, Guatemala

 
Tikal, Guatemala

I stand beside the Temple of the Giant Jaguar.  Here, at the ruins of  Tikal, citadel of the ancient Maya, I feel ever connected to the past.  These buildings stand in silent testimony that a once powerful civilization existed here.

Lying  just north of Flores in the jungle of El Petén, Tikal is one of the world's most beautiful archaeological sites, and one that inspires much thought.   As I walk in the footsteps of so many who have gone before me, I wonder what their lives were like, what their hopes, wishes and dreams were. 

Not long ago, these temples lay forgotten, entombed in a jungle so dense that howler and spider monkeys danced on their steps. 

If you can manage the tricky climb to the top of Temple 4, a scenic vista awaits.  Does it look familiar?  This view was used to represent the rebel base in the classic Star Wars film! 

What would the ancient Maya have thought of their civilization, lost to the ravages of time, slowly crumbling with the elements?   

It happens.  Even a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Arthur Frommer's talk at the Adventures in Travel Expo, Part 2

There are great deals to be had if you know where to look

Yesterday, in Part 1 of this post, I wrote about Arthur Frommer's speech at the Adventures in Travel Expo that I attended last weekend in New York City.  Frommer warned that passengers need to be wary of the extra charges being enforced by airlines and resorts in this "new era of à la carte travel pricing". 

But there are many positive things happening as well.

Exploritas & Untours

Elderhostel, that esteemed organization that offers adventures in lifelong learning to older folks, is now inviting a new generation of lifelong learners to explore the world.  They have a new name, Exploritas, and they have changed their age policy -- the minimum age has been eliminated.  While they won't exactly be catering to 20-somethings, Frommer sees this as a real boon to older folks who want to take these trips with their 40 and 50-something children, or even their grandchildren. 

"This is an extremely important development in the world of travel," Frommer says.  "At from $125 to $150 a day, their programs are well-priced."

I haven't taken an Elderhostel trip (although now I'll be able to), but I've heard others say they are reasonably priced as well, with a learning component that most tours don't have.  They're a great way to explore a new place while pursuing your interests.

Another company Frommer recommends now (and I think he always has) is Untours, where tourists (or should I say "untourists"?) can arrange one or two week stays in Europe in which they live like the locals in an apartment, cottage, or farmhouse.

The news?  Untours has just started accommodating people in the United States and they're adding Buenos Aires as I write this.

Twitter's Follow Friday: My Picks for October 16, 2009

This week's traveling Twitterers

It's Follow Friday on Twitter again, and this week I have two travel Twitterers I'd like to recommend. 

If you're not using Twitter, I suggest you try it out -- it's free, and a great way to gather cool travel tips, connect with others who have similar interests and, in general, just have fun. 

But it's not necessary to join Twitter to get to know these travel folks -- you can always visit their websites or blogs.

EarthXplorer

The first travel Twitterer I'd like to recommend is JD Andrews, a producer of travel and other types of videos who is known as

EarthXplorer on Twitter. 

Based in Miami, JD  is popular in the Twitterverse, with more than 26,000 followers, and he's an experienced traveler, having spent 19 years traveling to 71 countries in 6 continents. 

In the bio on his web site, EarthXplorer Productions, you can learn more about JD's work.   He showcases some nice travel videos  there and posts interesting videos on his blog of the same name.

I like following JD because he tweets a good mix of travel information, links and retweets, as well as inspiring quotes, and he interacts frequently with other Twitterers. 

You can follow EarthXplorer on Twitter @EarthXplorer. 

Arthur Frommer's talk at the Adventures in Travel Expo -- Part 1

Traveling Better, Smarter, Cheaper in the Months Ahead

Last Saturday at the Adventures in Travel Expo in New York City, budget travel guru Arthur Frommer gave an informative talk about traveling better, smarter and cheaper in the months ahead. 

Frommer began his talk by speaking about some of the negative happenings in the travel world, mainly discussing how the  airlines nickel and dime passengers with so many extra charges. 

"We are now living in a new era of travel -- an era of à la carte pricing," he said, before discussing Ryan Air, a company that has led the way by initiating charges for extra baggage, online check-in, priority boarding, payment handling, sports equipment, music equipment (i.e., a guitar) and even diaper bags (infant equipment). 

I don't know about you, but when Ryan Air announced they were considering charging a fee for using the bathroom, I decided not to fly them unless I absolutely have to. 

"Its not uncommon," Frommer said, "to see Ryan Air passengers sitting on the airport floor, taking heavy items out of their suitcases and putting them into their carry-ons, only to discover now that their carry-on is too heavy." 

He said British Airways has initiated charges (or is about to) for passengers who want to reserve specific seats more than 24 hours in advance, so if you want to pick that aisle or window seat ahead of time you'll need to shell out an additional $30 to $50. 

These add-on charges apply to resorts as well, who often add fees for the fitness center, safe, etc. even if you don't use them.

Frommer said the American airlines are watching what Ryan Air is doing, and will surely copy it. 

Some tips?  He suggests:

• Travel only with a small backpack that contains 2 changes of clothing, which you can carry on-board and therefore eliminate any airline baggage checking fees
• When booking a resort, ask if there are any additional charges, then request an email to confirm this

Fortunately, there are positive changes happening in the world of travel, and the bulk of his talk focused on these.  Come back tomorrow for part 2 of this post, where I will relay what Frommer said about the many travel bargains to be found and the good developments that have taken place in the last few weeks.

Do you have any travel tips that can help avoid some of these extra charges?  What are your thoughts on this new "era of à la carte pricing?"  Let us know!

Scenic Sunday: Washington Irving's Sunnyside

 Washington Irving's Sunnyside, Tarrytown, New York

I first read Washington Irving's stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle" in the eighth grade, and ever since have loved Irving's description of the "sequestered glen of Sleepy Hollow, whose dreamy influence seems to hang over the land."

Irving bought Tarrytown's Sunnyside in 1835, then enlarged and renovated this beautiful cottage that overlooks the Hudson River.  A prolific author of fiction, history and biography, Irving also held diplomatic posts in Great Britain and Spain.

Nicknamed "The Snuggery", Sunnyside felt warm and inviting.  I visited over Christmas; it's cheerful English-style holiday decorations consisted of decorative green garlands on the mantle but no Christmas tree --  sadly, Irving never got over the death of his sweetheart, Matilde, and mourned her until he died in 1859 at the age of 76.

Today Sunnyside remains much as it was when Irving last saw it:  rolling lawns (snow-covered at the time of my visit) that slope down to the Hudson River, which flows swiftly along to meet the sea at New York Harbor.

If you're interested in the Hudson Valley, you might also like these posts:

• Holidays in the Hudson Valley

• A Lyndhurst Fairytale Christmas

• Philipsburg Manor

The Adventures in Travel Expo

Planning your next vacation?

If you're in the New York City area, you can get some help this weekend at the Adventures in Travel Expo, which is coming to the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 10th and 11th.

This will be the third year in a row that I'll be attending, and I'm looking forward to it, as I always gather lots of good information on new places to see and things to do. 

The travel seminars are my favorite part of the show. On Saturday, I plan to learn about biking and walking vacations  in Tuscany, a talk given by the president of Vermont Bicycle Tours, and then I want to hear Arthur Frommer"s talk, "Traveling Better, Smarter, Cheaper in the Months Ahead."  I guess we could all pick up some good tips in that one, right?

There will be many other interesting seminars this weekend as well, such as "Never Hug a Pregnant Tiger Shark:  Adventure Do-s and Don't-s Learned the Hard Way" by Holly Morris, Host of Globe Trekker, and  "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" given by Patricia Schultz, author of the book by the same name.

In addition to the seminars there will be hundreds of adventure travel exhibitors as well as live entertainment.  African drummers, anyone?  How about bellydancing, Irish or Indian dancing?, There will also be hands on activities such as climbing a rock wall and scuba diving in the indoor pool.

If you can make it to the show, go.  If you love travel you'll be glad you did.

By the way, on the topic of planning vacations, I've been learning how to create a custom travel itinerary over at NileGuide.com, has anyone else done that yet?  It's lots of fun.  Since we're talking about New York City here, I want to let you know that I've finished my first custom itinerary called First Timers' New York City.  Take a look at it and let me know which places you would choose for newcomers to the Big Apple.

If you like travel shows, you might also like these posts:

• 6 Top February Travel Events

• Adventures In Travel Expo, New York City

• Adventures in Travel Expo 2008

Photo courtesyof Adventures in Travel Expo.