Pamela Dittmer McKuen

Chicago

Journalist and Writer at Freelance

Travel and lifestyle journalist, and lover of all things beautiful. SATW. and MTJA. View my portfolio at https://t.co/IBkU2E15ol.

Articles

Antalya, Türkiye: A modern era for an ancient world on the Mediterranean Sea. And cats.

1 month ago | loopnorth.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

Turkey’s fifth largest city offers an alluring mix of ancient history and modern comforts, making it a must-visit for tourists. Explore its rich archaeological sites, beautiful vineyards, and the charming company of friendly neighborhood cats. Apr. 22, 2025 – Flying over the jagged Taurus Mountains from Istanbul and nearing the coastal city of Antalya, I spotted hundreds of elongated, white-roofed buildings.
Fargo: Unique charm and quirky culture ‘north of normal’

Feb 21, 2025 | loopnorth.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

Its enterprising spirit and artsy vibe may surprise you. 21-Feb-25 – One of the most gruesome murder scenes in cinematic history is near the end of the noir classic Fargo. A hired kidnapper is disposing of his accomplice’s body by feeding it through a woodchipper. Pulverized blood and brawn spew into the snow, and that’s enough for now. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you get the idea.
Nashville hits all the right notes

Feb 3, 2025 | loopnorth.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

Music City celebrates 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry. 3-Feb-25 – Nashville radio station WSM-AM first hit the airwaves on October 5, 1925, and a few weeks later hosted a live music show with a local fiddle player. The program was called “WSM Barn Dance” and quickly gained traction among country music fans and performers alike. The renamed “Grand Ole Opry,” now celebrating its 100th anniversary, is the world’s longest-running radio show.
Double the Options

Dec 27, 2024 | meetingsmags.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

The Southwest terrain of Arizona and Utah is so vast and varied, it defies tidy description. On one hand, you have spectacular natural environments with red-rock landforms, sweeping mountain ranges, aspen and ponderosa pine forests, and sprawling deserts. On the other are vibrant cities packed with amenity-rich hotels, multitudes of meeting venues, troves of art and culture, and energetic nightlife.
Saint John’s Resort: A heavenly getaway for gastronomy, golf, and a good cause

Oct 22, 2024 | loopnorth.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

Just miles from downtown Detroit, the newly revamped Saint John’s Resort combines luxury and philanthropy, donating all profits to education and humanitarian efforts. 23-Oct-24 – A few miles west of downtown Detroit lies Saint John’s Resort, a luxury boutique hotel that originated in the 1940s as a Catholic seminary. The scenic 200-acre campus recently underwent a multi-million-dollar transformation to include two new restaurants and reconfigured championship golf courses.
Deluxe, delicious, and daffy getaway to the ‘Gateway to the West’

Sep 17, 2024 | loopnorth.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

Greater St. Louis is not only the largest metro area in Missouri, it’s the second-largest metro area in Illinois. Its core city, St. Louis, sits on the Missouri side, west of the Mississippi River. It was where Lewis & Clark started their famous exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, and it is where I went to explore Gordon Ramsay’s new restaurant. 17-Sep-24 – When I learned Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay was opening his first restaurant in St. Louis, I had to make the trip.
The art and artistry of Fort Wayne, Indiana

Aug 18, 2024 | loopnorth.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

The waterfront city pops in living color while honoring its storied past. 19-Aug-24 – It is impossible to traverse the streets and alleys of Fort Wayne, Indiana, without encountering some form of art. Murals, sculptures, and light displays – more than 250 and counting – wrap the city in color and creative thought. Even storm drains and bicycle racks are reimagined beyond their obvious utility.
Mushroom Rock State Park in Kansas Is Far From Flat and Boring

Aug 1, 2024 | thrillist.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

TravelState ParksPresented ByA Great Plains park is home to ancient sandstone monoliths resembling portobellos and chanterelles. Presented ByDavid Radzieta/iStock/Getty ImagesDavid Radzieta/iStock/Getty ImagesJaw-dropping waterfalls, dazzling canyonside vistas, trippy desert mirages—state parks have something for everyone to appreciate. Get out and explore the outdoors in your city’s backyard with guides to the most incredible and underrated state parks in America. Read more here.
No One Knows What These Giant Mushroom Rocks Were Used For

Aug 1, 2024 | flipboard.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

1:491 hour agoFormer Kansas City pharmacist convicted of diluting chemotherapy drugs released from prisonKMBC • 1hCourtney, 71, was released from a facility in Colorado and will be transferred to home confinement. Wichita (Kansas)10 hours agoOne dead after shooting in east Wichitaksn.com - by: Carina Branson • 10hWICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – One person is dead after a shooting in east Wichita Wednesday night. It happened just after 11 p.m. near the intersection of …
Loop North News - Elkhart Lake escape

Jul 9, 2024 | loopnorth.com | Pamela Dittmer McKuen

You’ll relax, romp, and rejuvenate at this Wisconsin waterfront playground just three hours north of Chicago. 10-Jul-24 – According to truth or legend, Native Americans living along the banks of spring-fed Elkhart Lake believed it had curative powers. The conviction transcended generations and established the small Wisconsin namesake town as a resort community for tourists and wellness seekers more than 150 years ago. Is Elkhart Lake really therapeutic? It depends on who you ask.