When I travel, I love to find the spots locals frequent and places with historic significance – or both. I enjoy learning about the areas I visit and experiencing the past and present as the locals do. A hotel that dates back 100 years or more is so intriguing to me and I am fortunate to have several in my sales territory that spans Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota.


Minnesota
Let’s start with the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, Minnesota which opened in 1875 by businessmen who knew that a gathering place with hotel rooms would serve this thriving wheat trading center on the Mississippi River. This hotel, now owned by the Red Wing Shoe Company, has it all- beautifully furnished rooms, two restaurants, pub, shops and a spa. Whenever I visit Red Wing in the summer, I marvel at the lovely flower baskets that adorn the downtown and there in the middle of it all is The Saint James Hotel.

The same could be said about The Saint Paul Hotel, a grand AAA Four Diamond property in the center of St. Paul.   Walking distance to the Ordway Theatre and Excel Energy Center, this hotel can accurately be described as “grand” and continues to provide stellar service to its guests as it has for over 100 years.

North Dakota
Heading north to Fargo, I enjoy The Hotel Donaldson, in the center of downtown on Broadway. This hotel recently completed a renovation with modern amenities and original art. The menu at the HoDo is always intriguing including a prix fix lunch that I would expect to find in NYC.

South Dakota
Heading west to Rapid City, the Hotel Alex Johnson opened the summer of 1928 and has been welcoming visitors from across the world who want to see the glorious Black Hills and the attractions like Mount Rushmore. Another downtown haven, the Hotel Alex Johnson is a blend of two themes- Native American and Germanic Tudor, representing the heritage of many South Dakota natives. Locals say “meet you at the Alex.”

Wyoming
I recently stayed at the Historic Plains Hotel in Cheyenne and, I must say, for a hotel built in 1911 its charm impressed me. The Capitol Grille has a menu with plenty of variety and I noticed in my time there several local groups meeting.  This downtown hotel of 100 rooms also has a spa next door and a women’s boutique, The Reata Collection, where you can find unique items for many  tastes.

When in Wyoming, I also enjoy restaurants in The Irma Hotel in Cody, The Occidental Hotel in Buffalo and The Wort Hotel in Jackson. Each of these hotels has a story to tell and as I watched the locals co-mingle with the tourists, you know the stories of the past and the present are of memorable quality.

These historic venues each have their own charm and personality as well as the loyalty of those who live in the community. I’d strongly encourage travelers to experience what I have at these special spots.