Randy Mink

Managing Editor at Leisure Group Travel

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Articles

Nashville: 10 Reasons Why

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Randy Mink

Nashville is just plain fun. On my recent trip to Music City, I loved every minute. Here are 10 highlights:A Piece of Greece in NashvilleRyman Auditorium, nicknamed "Mother Church of Country Music," is a former church that hosted the "Grand Ole Opry" radio show from 1943 to 1973. Today it is a museum/concert hall. (Photo credit: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.)The Parthenon, the centerpiece of Centennial Park, and its statue of Athena (Greek goddess of wisdom) are the only full-scal...
Little Medora Preserves North Dakota’s Western Spirit

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...
Historic Franklin, Tennessee Brims with Southern Charm

Mar 13, 2025 | 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.
Little Medora Preserves North Dakota’s Western Spirit

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.
The Pera Palace Hotel: Echoes of the Past Enchant Istanbul Guests

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.
Top 10 Historical Attractions in Philadelphia

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.
Vestiges Of The Old West Simmer In Cody, Wyoming

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.
Lake Ouachita Has All the Ingredients for a Great Reunion

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.
Prospecting for Gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park

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.
New York’s Algonquin Hotel: A Literary Landmark

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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