Ice cream sundae, Leopold's
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Local flavor: Leopold’s Ice Cream in Savannah

Leopold’s has been scooping up their fresh house-made ice cream in Savannah since 1919. Making a stop here is one of the "must" things to do in Savannah, GA. The store was founded by three Greek immigrant brothers and their legacy continues…
Plains Georgia Main Street

Sundays in Plains with Jimmy Carter

The piercing blue eyes which compelled Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat to sign the Camp David Accords were only five feet away from me and staring keenly into mine. Their owner had just asked me where I was from and, for a moment, I was speechless…
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Local Flavor: Navajo fry bread tacos

One of my early food memories is from when I was nine years old and my mom took us on a trip of a lifetime out West. In Arizona we went to a rodeo where I had my first taste of Navajo fry bread. Just like it sounds, it was a hunk of dough that…
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Is Pizzeria Bianco the best pizza in America?

Ask someone about their favorite pizza and you're likely to end up in a heated discussion. Some prefer New York, others Chicago's deep-dish while New Haven white clam pizza often gets a nod. For years I've been reading that Pizzeria Bianco…

Photos: The Rocky statue travels around the world

In August 2011 we started out from the Rocky Steps in Philadelphia to begin our journey around the world, along with a statue of Rocky Balboa to encourage us to "go the distance." So far "Little Rocky" has been to over 30 countries on 6…
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How to choose a dude ranch vacation

For years I’ve dreamed of a vacation out west, but I had no idea how to choose a dude ranch.  I’ve always loved the beauty and romance of the wide open spaces. As a kid I avidly watched John Wayne movies; my secret fantasy was that I’d…
things to do in buffalo

10 (*MORE*) things to do in Buffalo

When we visited Buffalo, New York this year we faced an abundance of choices for things to see. We already wrote about 11 things to do in Buffalo, well here are 10 more. 1) 40,000 city planning fans can't be wrong The heart of downtown Buffalo…
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What are kolaches? Hint: There’s lots of butter in them

What are kolaches? While driving through the small village of Calvert, Texas we saw a sign that declared "America loves kolaches" attached to a building housing Zamykal Kolaches. That was the 3rd sign we'd come across in Central Texas…

Ghost town: The Minidoka Japanese internment camp in Idaho

In February, 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt signed an Executive Order placing all people of Japanese ancestry into relocation centers. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had occurred only two months before; the two events were related. After…
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A foodie taste of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Biscuits, barbecue, burgers and more, the central part of North Carolina including Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh is a foodie's paradise. Although it goes by the more prosaic label Research Triangle, it is really a great place to get your fill…

Last stop for Michigan Central Station in Detroit?

The abandoned Michigan Central Station in Detroit is one of America's most haunting architectural ruins. It shouldn't be surprising that in the Motor City a train station would eventually fall into disuse. But the building that was left…

Bacon and biplanes: A way cool fly-in breakfast

Sometimes the best travel trips come from the people we stay with, another argument for renting apartments rather than staying at hotels. That's how we ended up at a cozy spot overlooking Goodyear Lake just outside Cooperstown, NY. Of course…
plains georgia main street
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Get retro at the Plains Historic Inn

The turquoise Princess phone in the corner was the first clue that the Plains Historic Inn in Plains, Georgia was going to be different from any other place we'd ever stayed. The second was the note from former President Jimmy Carter welcoming…
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Chargrilled! A guide to Buffalo hot dogs

Buffalo, New York may be the hot dog capital of the world. Buffalonians insist that their hot dogs be grilled over charcoal, just like at an old-fashioned backyard barbecue, and hanker for the foot-long hot dogs that were the Holy…
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Moonwalking at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum

August 5th was the birthday of a person who will be remembered centuries after the memories of pop stars and sports figures have faded: Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, who died in 2012. While his achievements are honored…
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Southern Food: How to make cornbread

Cornbread is one of the signature foods of the American South.  Cornmeal is a staple ingredient in the South and it shows up on the table in a multitude of shapes and preparations, but all are essentially a variation on basic cornbread. While…
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Road Trip Tales: A one-lane twist on Route 66

There is no better classic American road trip than a drive on Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. Although much of the road has been replaced by interstates, there are still plenty of spots to drive on the old rutted concrete…

Going to prison on vacation at Eastern State Penitentiary

Much to Larissa's chagrin it is hard for me to pass up a prison tour. I've dragged her along to some of the classics from Alcatraz to Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin and even to the interrogation center used by the East German…