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1 month ago | 
journal-topics.com | Randy Mink
Joe Wiegand, as Teddy Roosevelt, leads a hike for tourists in Medora. (Randy Mink Photo)It may be just a tiny dot on the map in this largely rural state, but Medora looms big for vacationers scouting out frontier flair in North Dakota. Its most famous attraction -- the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park -- is named after the guy who more or less put the scrappy cow town on the national map in the latter part of the 19th century. Medora counts a mere 125 permanent residents, a number...
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2 months ago | 
leisuregrouptravel.com | Randy Mink
Franklin captivates visitors with Civil War stories and an idyllic Main Street lined with enticing shops and restaurants. A sense of well-being prevails. When asked about my favorite kind of food, I often answer, “Southern.” By that, I mean hearty fare like biscuits and gravy, slow-cooked barbecue, shrimp & grits, fried catfish, fried chicken and fried pimento cheese.
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Mar 10, 2025 | 
leisuregrouptravel.com | Randy Mink
An underrated national park and other attractions pay homage to Teddy Roosevelt. A new presidential center celebrating his legacy is set to open in July, 2026. It may be just a tiny dot on the map in this largely rural state, but Medora looms big for vacationers scouting out frontier flair in North Dakota.
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Mar 5, 2025 | 
leisuregrouptravel.com | Randy Mink
The Pera Palace Hotel, in business since the late 19th century, retains its Old World panache, captivating patrons with elite amenities and Belle Epoque charm. Just about every major European city has a historic luxury hotel that begs nostalgia-minded folks like me to come take a peek or maybe bed down for a night or two.
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Mar 3, 2025 | 
leisuregrouptravel.com | Randy Mink
Bursting with reminders of America’s past, Philadelphia beckons history buffs with both iconic crowd-pleasers and off-the-radar gems like the Masonic Temple. As one of the oldest cities in America, Philadelphia overflows with sites that enthrall history lovers. Most famous are the ones clustered in and around Independence National Historical Park in the Old City. The vicinity is known as America’s most historic square mile.
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Feb 26, 2025 | 
journal-topics.com | Randy Mink
Not only is the town named after him, but so is its premier tourist attraction. Indeed, the spirit of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show pervades Cody, Wyoming. Anyone looking for a taste of those rip-roaring days of yesteryear will find it here, a place that celebrates all things Western. Many visitors to the town of 10,000, founded in 1896 by Colonel William F.
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Feb 19, 2025 | 
destinationreunions.com | Randy Mink
For a fun family conclave away from home, consider the Diamond Lakes region of western Arkansas, where Mountain Harbor Resort will satisfy everyone in the clan. Surrounded by Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita is Arkansas’ largest lake, and the state’s largest marina resides at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa. So, not surprisingly, this unspoiled vacation region looms large as a magnet for family gatherings in west-central Arkansas.
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Feb 18, 2025 | 
leisuregrouptravel.com | Randy Mink
Murfreesboro, Arkansas is home to the only place where anyone can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source. For the lucky, it’s finders keepers. Those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty revel in searching for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Yes, real diamonds. They’re there for the taking for treasure hunters with patience, sharp eyes and the right tools.
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Feb 11, 2025 | 
leisuregrouptravel.com | Randy Mink |Hizam Ongca
Just a hop, skip and jump from the lights of Broadway, this venerable hostelry in Midtown Manhattan has welcomed some of the brightest minds in New York CityA legacy of arts and literature spanning more than 100 years continues to draw culture vultures to the 181-room Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection. A landmark that has welcomed authors, poets, illustrators, playwrights, actors and other storytellers over the past century, the oldest operating hotel in New York City (est.
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Feb 11, 2025 | 
leisuregrouptravel.com | Randy Mink |Hizam Ongca
The Casablanca Hotel enjoys an enviable location in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Design elements take guests on a magic carpet ride to North Africa. An oasis of calm just steps from the madness of Times Square and lights of Broadway, the Casablanca Hotel sets it itself apart from any other hotel in America by subtly capturing the flavor of North Africa. Moroccan motifs, clearly evident but not overdone, evoke visions of a bygone era and a faraway place.
