Articles written by Victor Block


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  • Civil rights sites recall struggle for freedom

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Feb 1, 2022

    As the Civil War drew to a close, soldiers of the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiments occupied a plantation on James Island, South Carolina, which earlier had been held by Confederate forces. They were among the approximately 185,000 U.S. Colored Troops, as they were called, who fought with the North. Visitors may relive that chapter of history, and the story of African slaves who lived and toiled at the plantation. This is one of numerous sites around the country which recount pages from...

  • Fascinating ethnic enclaves without leaving the U.S.

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|May 1, 2021

    Women chatting in Greek stroll by signs that identify the Spartan Gas Station and Alexander the Great Apartments. They pass restaurants where diners are feasting on pickled octopus, squid salad and gyro sandwiches. Nearby, a man wearing a diving suit emerges from a river and clambers into a boat, clutching a sponge he dredged up from the bottom. At this time of limited travel, it may be impossible to visit other countries that are on your bucket list. However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy...

  • Get going again with a group vacation trip

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Feb 1, 2021

    My wife and I had long dreamed of visiting Costa Rica. We knew about its reputation for magnificent landscapes, abundant animal and bird life, and preservation of the magnificent environment. We could have spent hours searching the Internet for flights and hotels, reserving a rental car and taking care of the many other details that are required. But we didn't. Instead, we made a single phone call that took care of all of the necessary planning. In addition, we knew that we would be following...

  • Archaeological sites offer unique experiences

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Nov 1, 2020

    People who ascend a high mountain ridge in Wyoming are greeted by a collection of rocks carefully laid out in a geometric design. Visitors to southwestern Ohio marvel at the sight of a mammoth earthwork shaped like an undulating snake. A maze of stone walls, chambers and other structures perched on a hill in New Hampshire lives up to its nickname of "America's Stonehenge." If you're under the impression that archaeology is a dull, mind-numbing subject of interest only to scientists, think again....

  • Sleeping here is like sleeping with history

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Oct 1, 2020

    How would you like to spend a night or more at a hotel once frequented by Clark Gable, Ingrid Bergman, Marilyn Monroe and a long list of other Hollywood luminaries? Or snuggle down under the sheets at a former stagecoach stop along the famous Chisholm Trail which played host to George Custer, the cavalry commander in the Civil and American Indian Wars, and Jesse James, who needs no introduction. A hotel can be more, much more, than just a place to catch a good night's sleep. Properties...

  • Cruises for out-of-the-way places and interests

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Oct 1, 2019

    Civil War buffs Tom and Elaine Preston wander through reconstructed forts where a major battle of that conflict was fought. Betsy and Andy Cross follow a guide slogging through a dense rainforest. Lauren Davis and Jim Goodman enjoy an exciting Go-Kart track and exhilarating water slide. As inviting as these disparate experiences are, they have something in common. All take place during cruises that appeal to people who are seeking something a bit different. The Prestons are passengers on an...

  • "As seen on the silver screen" tours

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Mar 1, 2019

    Bob Burrus is channeling John Travolta. He enters Lenny's Pizza in Brooklyn and orders a slice. After devouring the snack, he emerges onto 86th Street and struts down several blocks as the song "Staying Alive" plays in his head. Bob is reliving the opening scene of the 1977 motion picture Saturday Night Fever. And he's not alone. As he mimics one of his favorite movie sequences, others around the country are fantasizing theirs. From Maine to Hawaii, locations where movie scenes were filmed...

  • Great gifts for people on the go

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Dec 1, 2013

    With Christmas fast approaching, have you finished your gift list, checked it twice and finished your shopping? Or do you still have some presents to buy? If you need ideas for what to get for folks who travel a lot for pleasure or business, a "gift of go" can be the perfect solution. Shopping is convenient, no further away than your telephone or computer. Whether scratching your head about what to buy for someone who visits a different Caribbean island every winter or for Aunt Matilda who's...

  • scottsdale cowboys indians desert oddities and much more

    Victor Block, Senior Wire|Nov 1, 2013

    Women wearing the latest fashions strolled into Gucci and Neiman Marcus intent on adding to their chic wardrobe. Not far away, my wife Fyllis, wearing blue jeans and boots, was learning to lasso cattle. My afternoon was spent exploring a rugged wilderness of giant cactus and towering mesas. The first impression of Scottsdale, Arizona, is the diversity of attractions. The shopping alone provides an introduction to the something-for-everyone variety. Along with top-of-the-line stores are shops...

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