Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Locals Know Best
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33: Leavenworth, Washington, Christmas Town Year-Round | 14 Dec 2021 | 00:39:26 | |
Today, on the Locals Know Best podcast, I’ll be speaking with Tom Potter about all of his favorite outdoor adventures in a town you may know as one of the most picturesque Alpine-style villages in the United States, Leavenworth, Washington! I’m very excited for this episode because Leavenworth has always been in the back of my mind as an excellent fit for this podcast, and even more so for one of our holiday episodes. Leavenworth is not only incredibly jam-packed with outdoor activities, it boasts tons of holiday cheer to boot! We will, of course, talk a bit about the holiday season and how it affects and influences this Christmas-loving town. But Tom also does a fantastic job explaining why Leavenworth is so much more than an adorable Bavarian town engulfed in holiday lights! About Tom Potter (Aka: T-Pot)Tom is a local Leavenworth entrepreneur.
When he first arrived in the area, he spent several years working in the bars and restaurants throughout the village to fund his recreational habits.
During that time, he inadvertently found himself planning vacations for people, so they wouldn't waste a minute of their stay.
Eventually, The T-Pot Experience was born, an all-inclusive trip planning service he operates that focuses on bringing you the best of the best of Leavenworth.
With this host and concierge service, he helps visitors make the most of their time in the area, specializing in unique experiences based around outdoor recreation, food, wine, and scenery. Learn more about Tom Potter and how to plan Leavenworth excursions with him at thetpotexperience.com. What We Cover in This Episode
"Come to Leavenworth to enjoy the mountains, enjoy the recreation here, get a little taste of Bavaria. It's a unique gem in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains of Eastern Washington. As you pull into town, you'll just be amazed by how they've stuck to the Bavarian theme, and the mountain access is about as good as I've ever experienced." Tom Potter Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode How to see the Leavenworth, WA Holiday Lights from Anywhere: Where to Stay in the Leavenworth, WA Area:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 32: Portland, Maine, The Way Life Should Be | 30 Nov 2021 | 00:41:09 | |
Today, on the Locals Know Best podcast, I’ll be speaking with Kristan Vermeulen about how to make the most of a day outdoors in Portland, Maine. Join Kristan and me as we visit Portland, Maine, during both the off and on-season, eating tons of tasty treats along the way! Activities we discuss in this episode include hitting the water in multiple vessel options, skiing, dog sledding, oyster shucking, hiking, and more! About Kristan VermeulenKristan is originally from Maryland and was a Director of Public Relations for the Department of Defense for six years while living there. However, a full-time job opportunity, as well as her husband, ended up bringing her to the great state of Maine, and she hasn’t looked back since! She now runs her own public relations business and is also the host of a podcast called Makers of Maine, which has recently expanded into Makers of the USA. On her podcast, she interviews various makers and small business owners, including artists, glass blowers, potters, woodworkers, fashion designers, and more. And as a publicist, she has featured her small business clients on national media outlets, including Forbes, Health, Real Simple, Redbook, TODAY, Good Morning America, and FOX Business News. In both roles, she’s had to quickly learn what Maine means to outsiders and locals regarding the attractions and lifestyle it offers, which has swiftly turned her into an authority on both Portland and Maine as a whole. Throughout this episode, you’ll notice that her background in the great outdoors, public relations, and podcasting has uniquely set her up as an expert on why the area’s entrepreneurial spirit goes hand in hand with adventuring in and around Portland. Learn more about Kristan and her podcast Makers of the USA. What We Cover in This Episode
The ongoing saying of Maine in general: it’s the way life should be. And I truly believe in that statement, because it is a place where you can go and see everything in terms of environment and outdoors, from, you know the sailing, being on the water, to going and hiking, to canoeing down the Allagash or you know skiing at a ski resort close by, or go dog sledding. It is a way for folks to see life and this world so differently. … Like if you want to go and travel, you could do it right in your backyard. Like, you don’t have to go to Europe. You don’t have to go to the Bahamas. You can come right here to Maine. So I would say that. Come to Maine to experience the way life should be. Kristan Vermeulen Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in the Portland, ME Area: Portland, ME Area Outdoor Businesses, Destinations & Activities Mentioned in the Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 23. Let’s Peace Out and Go Kayaking in Asheville, North Carolina | 22 Jun 2021 | 00:35:56 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Samantha Kellgren about how to have a fantastic day outdoors around one of the most admired spots in the United States – Asheville, North Carolina. Join Sam and me as we bike, hike, kayak, and tube all around this part of North Carolina known for delicious beer, stunning nature, and attracting visitors far and wide. About Samantha KellgrenSam is a wife, mom, business owner, and marathoner. She runs her own health and mindset coaching business called Simply Well Coaching, which helps Type-A women change their life by changing their minds. Learn more about Sam’s coaching business at Simply Well Coaching or check out her Ambitious Women: Less Hustle More Flow Facebook group. What We Cover in this Episode
Quotables “We [were] ready for something different. We were ready for mountains. We say we were nature starved. And anytime you say that in Chicago, people will mention like one place, you can go like out in the suburbs. It’s like, no, no, we want like real nature that is accessible. We wanted to be able to get out for a hike whenever we wanted, not to have a drive to do it and make it a big thing.” Sam “I mean, once you come here, we’ve gone on so many, you know, either like a camping trip or something, or we’re just out for a drive, and we’re driving back, and I’m like, this would be our vacation. This is where we would vacation. We would vacation in this area, and we get to… every day like I’m so… I feel so lucky to live here.” Sam “Well, if you like beer, it is definitely a beer city. I don’t remember the like, you know, per capita breweries, but I think there’s over 50 breweries at least at this point. So… you’re always within walking distance. But it’s really a small town, but still a city.” Sam “What does my husband say?… He says it’s the most you will see of drinking in moderation. It’s like, everyone’s drinking, but you don’t witness a lot of like insanity. People are out at breweries, but it’s a real family-oriented event, you know, to like hang out at the brewery or out of the park.” Sam “But I think what a big draw is, is that you can be staying downtown and be hiking in under 20 minutes. And if you want to go real far up the Blue Ridge, you can feel like you’re in a different state, and that’s 45 minutes away. The accessibility of everything, I think, is really a huge draw for here.” Sam “There’s a lot of good food. I think that when, when we first moved, people were like, oh, you’re gonna miss the, you know, Chicago food and drink, like, oh my God, it’s known for it! And I don’t miss it.” Sam “New Belgium is the place to be, I’d say for that post kayak kind of beer and entertainment. … I mean, it’s amazing there. They’ve got this huge lawn. They just reopened it. They were the first to close during COVID, but they’ve just now reopened it, which to me signifies, like, okay, things are okay. Cause it is where you go to meet up with people, hang out on the lawn. “ Sam “It’s community. I mean, all of these, any place by the river, any of these breweries, ends up just being like a fun place to hang out and meet people.” Sam “And I laugh when I say, oh, it’s all drinking in moderation because my husband and I are back home by eight, cause we have a toddler. So I’m like, what do we know? Maybe it does get like debaucherous after eight pm. But it’s not what the town’s known for. It is perfectly fine and acceptable; we had our two-year-old’s birthday party at Asheville Brewing. Like that’s, that’s kind of the vibe here. It’s very family-friendly. It is very much open to just meeting and connecting.” Sam “I feel like it’s this little pocket. It’s not too overrun. There’s, like you said, there’s alternatives for everything. There’s the New Belgium and the Sierra Nevada, which are bigger names, or there’s these smaller breweries that you would not have heard of unless you have someone that lives here, that you would not seek out on its own. There’s plenty to do, a mix of, do you want to walk around downtown or River Arts District, or do you want to go out and not see anyone and go on a hike? So it’s going to be whatever you want to make your trip. You can make it totally downtown and people-friendly, or you can be like, I want a peace out and be by myself and go kayaking where I’m not going to see anyone, and you can do both of those trips.” Sam Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where the Locals Stay:
Get the best deals on outdoor adventure tours in the Asheville area on Viator.com Restaurants & Breweries Mentioned in this Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 22. Woodstock, Georgia, It Should Be On Everybody’s List | 08 Jun 2021 | 00:37:38 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Kressa Peterson about a perfect day of outdoor adventure in Woodstock, Georgia. Join Kressa and me as we camp, bike, run, kayak, paddleboard, swim in waterfalls, and even jump out of planes in the “all-around beautiful little town” she calls home! Kressa is a wife, mom, grandmother, Spartan Racer, ex-Sporthorse saleswoman, and entrepreneur. Her most recent venture was creating the Shower Toga, a clean-up and changing garment that acts as your very own personal locker room. It provides all the privacy you need to shower anywhere, anytime. And a few years back, Kressa presented the product on Shark Tank and walked away with a deal with/from Mark Cuban! These days, she and her husband can be found traveling the nation in their fifth wheel.
Save 15% off any Shower Toga order by clicking here and using the promo code LOCALS15 at checkout. What We Cover in this Episode
"Woodstock, Georgia, still has that small-town feel. They haven’t lost that quaintness that, to me, you only get from small towns, and they haven’t lost that during the time that they’ve been growing and building and expanding. And, I think that’s a hard balance for any town to keep that feel in the midst of so much expansion, which is going on all over the country." "You also have the mom-and-pop stores that haven’t been run out of business because the people in Woodstock are wonderful, and the community supports those small businesses. And I love that. I love knowing that I can go into a dress shop, and it’s owned by another small business entrepreneur, just like myself. And she’s getting enough business in that boutique or dress shop to maintain a wonderful quality of life for her family. And that’s because of the community." "…the area is absolutely beautiful. There are so many places to go and places to hike, and there’s waterfalls out there. And then, within 30 minutes, there’s lots of different places to camp and feel like you are literally hours away from civilization. So, there’s a lot that it has to offer for anyone." "…there are good and bad days to living in RVs for sure. It is a roller coaster ride. But right now, I still love it. I feel free. I don’t feel so tied down." "Woodstock is truly one of those places that, within a 25-mile radius, you can have amazing food, meet amazing people, have access to all of the shopping that you could ever want, go on incredible hikes, do water activities, and go into the mountains. … It’s just an all-around beautiful little town that has so much to offer. And it should be on everybody’s list. It really should be." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where the Locals Stay:
Outdoor Destinations Mentioned in this Episode’s “Perfect Day”:
Restaurants and Bars Mentioned in this Episode:
Instagram Photo Spots Mentioned in this Episode: Thanks for Listening! We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 21. Earning a Fat Sandwich (or Two) by Hitting the Trails in Northeastern New Jersey | 25 May 2021 | 00:32:02 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Mike Nicosia from Northeastern New Jersey. We’ll discuss why his hometown area should not be overlooked when thinking about hitting the trails in New England.
Join Mike and me as we hike to the best views in Northeastern New Jersey, learn about a haunted spot and a local unsolved mystery, eat some local staple foods, and ultimately discover why the area has "more to offer than people give it credit for!" About Mike NicosiaMike is the founder of Conquerwild.com, a site that focuses on product reviews, how-to guides, and informational content for campers and hikers. He's also a screenwriter, animal lover, and advocate for eco-friendliness. Learn more about Mike at ConquerWild. What We Cover in this Episode
Quotables
Well, you know, there's the whole kind of stigma around New Jersey. Everybody knows it's kind of been the butt of a joke to an extent. People hear Jersey... there's the joke about it being "Dirty Jersey." People call it the armpit of the United States. It's terrible. People associate it with the show, The Jersey Shore, which, while that show is extremely entertaining at times, it doesn't really reflect the true culture and beauty of the state. So Northern New Jersey is a whole other aspect of the state that people don't really get to see in media and everything. And we actually have a bit of the Appalachian Trail that runs through it. So there's some really beautiful natural locations, some great hiking spots, and some great history as well that make this part of the state unique. Mike
Jersey is known for their diners. I'm pretty sure that we have more than any other state... you go anywhere in New Jersey, there's a diner on every corner. And most of them are definitely worth your time. But Tops Diner has been voted the number one diner in America by Time Out Magazine, and they have some great selections. Mike
...there's also Lambert's Tower along this trail, which is a 70-foot tall tower that was built in 1896. And it's kind of known to be haunted, actually. And I have a bit of a haunting experience there ... Honestly, the one true experience that I have, I can say as a paranormal experience, in my opinion. Mike
If you're in New Jersey, you absolutely have to get some Disco Fries. Mike
...I'm a hiking guy. So you always have to hit the trails when you're with me. Mike
I like this hike because it kind of has everything you want to hike. There's some good climbing, some rock scramble, a beautiful view of Wanaque Reservoir. You've got some caves along the way, some great wildlife. But the coolest thing to me is the view of the Wanaque Reservoir, which actually has a very interesting UFO story associated with it. Mike
...since we've hiked so much today, I think we've earned a fat sandwich or two. Mike
I hate to say it, but I mean, I don't hate to say it because, you know, we all like to have that kind of fun. As much as I want to distance myself and the New Jersey state from like the show, The Jersey Shore, sometimes you gotta have some fun, sometimes that's what you need to do. Mike
You know, I have to say with the fact that New Jersey is often the butt of the joke, it's so easy to overlook this area with the amount of things that people say about it, with the amount of negative media around it. But honestly, sometimes it's the hidden gems that bring you the most beauty and the most fun honestly. And in New Jersey, we know how to have a good time. If that could be the moral of the story, that's that. But at the same time, there are places to find peace, there are places to enjoy nature, there are places to Instagram. Overall, I think the state has more to offer than people give it credit for. And, you know, even when people are thinking of New Jersey in a positive light, they usually think of the shore, they think of more Southern Jersey, they think of Seaside Heights, Atlantic City, Wildwood, which are all beautiful places. But honestly, the Northern part of the state, in my opinion, is the most beautiful. You've got the mountains, you've got expansive wildlife, you've got forest, and you've got history. And to me, that's priceless. MikeLinks to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where the Locals Stay:
Outdoor Destinations Mentioned in this Episode's "Perfect Day":
Diners, Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, and Hot Spots Mentioned in this Episode:
Instagram Photo Spots Mentioned in this Episode: Thanks for Listening! We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates.
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| 20. Getting Lost in Greenery in Brooklyn, New York | 11 May 2021 | 00:30:42 | |
Today, I'll be speaking with NYC native Becca Siegel about how to make the most of a day outdoors in Brooklyn, New York!
Join Becca and me as we bike, walk, hike, eat and drink our way, unexpectedly, through one of the largest metropolitan areas on the planet! About Becca Siegel
Becca is a traveler, adventurer, content creator, and travel/lifestyle writer who aims to inspire professionals to be adventurous and confident through remote work, travel, and entrepreneurship.
She has spent several stints living abroad, starting with her semester in Hong Kong as a college junior, which introduced her to the idea of traveling and exploring the world.
She lived in Shanghai, China, for two years as an ex-pat and traveler, and more recently traveled to 5 continents with her husband Dan to work remotely from all different types of environments while running their business.
Her background in foreign languages (Spanish & Chinese), teaching, living abroad, and travel helped her create the lifestyle brand @halfhalftravel with her husband, Dan. Her creations have been featured in Cosmopolitan, INSIDER, Lonely Planet, Oprah magazine, and CondeNast Traveller.
She loves to inspire travelers to visit NYC and especially Brooklyn! Learn more about Becca at Half Half Travel. What We Cover in this Episode
Quotables I actually, I was never a runner before, but in 2020, starting in July, I ran 200 miles. Which is a personal achievement, but it’s also a way that I got out, and I got to learn more about the streets of where I live within a two to three to four-mile radius of where I live … and I got to just really enjoy my city and my borough and the neighboring neighborhoods through running and biking last year. So this has been an amazing way to spend time outside and also kind of like to feel like a tourist in your own city to always be seeing something new. BeccaAnd then, where I’m going to take you is a secret, and this is that Prospect Park has New York city’s largest forest. So, it’s actually New York’s only forest. It’s a proper forest. And in the center of the park, it’s called a forest because it qualifies in some way. There are waterfalls. There are tall trees. And actually, if you look up, you cannot see any other buildings. So this is my secret that I’m bestowing upon you … we’re going hiking in Brooklyn. BeccaHonestly, I like going to Prospect Park and trying to get lost, because it’s a big place. And I think the joy of doing something like that in the biggest city in the United States is saying like, I have the opportunity to get lost in greenery right now. Just put your phone in your pocket, try to get lost. BeccaYou don’t have to spend a ton of money to enjoy yourself with food and drink in New York. BeccaFood in Brooklyn comes at many different types of budgets. If you’re on a waitlist for a restaurant, or if you’re dying to eat at a top 10 type of place, and it’s going to break your daily budget, don’t do it, because you can get a slice of pizza for a dollar and it’s going to be great. And you can get tacos in some neighborhood that might not be the “it” neighborhood, but it’s an authentic neighborhood, and you won’t spend more than $10 just in cash. So for anyone who is daunted by the idea of being in New York and having to spend a lot of money, there are so many ways to eat really well and have a great time and have an authentic experience without even taking more than a 10 out of your wallet. BeccaIf you don’t come to Brooklyn, you won’t know what you’re missin’. Becca Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where the locals stay in Brooklyn:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates.
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| 19. Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, Off Most People’s Radar | 27 Apr 2021 | 00:25:02 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Carol Hoffman about many of the incredible adventures possible in Shawnee National Forest country in Southern Illinois. Join Carol and me as we zip through the canopy, ride horseback, hike, bike, spend time on the lake, rock climb, rappel and paint with Alpacas, all in Illinois’ only National Forest! About Carol Hoffman Carol is a birdwatcher, hiker, and all-around nature enthusiast. She has been promoting the scenic beauty of Shawnee forest country for 25 years. Learn more about Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park at SouthernmostIllinois.com or call their toll-free number for more information at 1-800-SEE-IT-HERE. What We Cover in this Episode
Quotes Carol: Within that area, you’ll find a lot of hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, outdoor opportunities… The topography is very different than the rest of the prairie state of Illinois. We have a lot of Rocky Bluffs, scenic overlooks, dense forests, so a lot of the opportunity is very different than the rest of the state. Carol: Giant City [has] a lot of different opportunities very close together that can be easily reached in under 30 minutes. Whether you [want] to be up in the canopy of the trees, or on horseback, or on a lake, or hiking in the forest, it [has] all those opportunities right there together, easily accessible. Giant City State Park is a treasure trove of outdoor recreation, breathtaking views, hiking among plants and animals, fishing, hunting, boating, kayaking, swimming, even rock climbing, and rappelling are options in Giant City State Park. Carol: This is not an amusement park where everything is safety checked. This is mother nature. So you do have to take care and caution on your own, out on the trails. Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode:Where to stay when visiting Shawnee National Forest: Carol: It depends… Do you want to stroll right on the trails in the park, or do you want to be in the small town and walk downtown? In Giant City State Park option: Giant City State Park CabinsCarol: Giant City State Park has 34 cabins in the park, three different styles of cabins to choose from. They range from the older, rustic, one-room cabins to a little bit more elite cabins that are out on the bluffs at the park. The cabins are kind of rustic. There are no cooking facilities in them. You can grill out at picnic grounds, of course, in the park, but the lodge is walking distance and a great place to have a nice [breakfast, lunch, or dinner]. In Giant City State Park option: Giant City State Park LodgeCarol: The lodge is a rustic, cabin-feel atmosphere, you know, high beam ceilings and a very rustic, outdoorsy feel. So that’s an experience in and of itself. It has a little gift shop and a lounge and sitting area to enjoy the park. Downtown Anna option: Davie School InnCarol: If you wanted a more upscale option… in Anna, there is the very unique Davie School Inn that is right at the edge of [Giant City State Park],... and walking distance to downtown. [It’s] a renovated school transformed into a boutique inn. Other Shawnee National Forest Cabin Rentals & Cabins Near Shawnee National Forest:Check out listings for other Shawnee National Forest Cabins options on Airbnb. Giant City State Park Camping: Little Grassy Lake Campground and Marina Outdoor Adventures Mentioned in this Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 18. Raleigh, North Carolina, a Small Town Feel with a Big City Vibe | 13 Apr 2021 | 00:27:28 | |
Today, I'll be speaking with Caroline Makepeace about how to make the most of a day outdoors in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Join Caroline and me as we bike, paddle, eat and drink our way through the big city with a small town feel! About Caroline Makepeace Caroline is the co-Founder of y travel blog, along with her husband, Craig.
Over the past 10 years, they've been showing people how to travel more and create better memories. And together, they have built y travel blog into one of the biggest travel blogs in the world!
She has experienced almost every travel style after traveling (mostly nomadically) for 23 years, including living in 5 different countries and traveling to over 50.
She and her husband have also proven travel is possible after kids. They've created a full-time family travel lifestyle with their 2 daughters since 2013.
More recently, they were awarded a green card for their extraordinary ability in the art of travel blogging and are now living in their dream home in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Their new venture, This is Raleigh, showcases the vibrancy of this incredible city. Read more about Caroline's traveling experience at y travel blog or her learn all about Raleigh at This is Raleigh. What We Cover in This Episode
Quotes
Caroline: It's a wonderful lifestyle. I think it's very outdoorsy, very jovial, fun, vibrant, friendly, welcoming. Very welcoming, Raleigh really is.
And it just has a sense of vibrancy here. People are very friendly. People are very happy and very content.
When we were going back and forth and moving back to Australia and every time we came back, it just hit me, as soon as I'd arrive. Oh my gosh. Everyone is so friendly here.
I mean, I'm from Australia. I find people in Australia to be quite friendly, but it's just so obvious how friendly and welcoming people are. I mean, every person has a sign in their yard, you know, everyone's welcome here, and it really is that in Raleigh. It's very special in that way.
It also feels like you live in a forest. It's called the city of Oaks. And I mean, we're just surrounded by trees, and we're immersed in this kind of green lifestyle, which I think really adds to people's sense of happiness and contentment.
There's a lot of fun things happening in Raleigh. There's always a festival on. There's always a music event on. And it's really grown a lot over the last couple of years, and the food scene has just exploded. And you know, it's a great location. We're just over an hour to the beach. We're three to four hours to the mountains. And then we're halfway between New York and Florida, which is really important for us because you know, we love to travel so much. So that accessibility to lots of exciting places to visit is important for us in where we choose to live. Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where the locals stay in Raleigh, NC: Outdoor Destinations Mentioned in this Episode's "Perfect Day":
This is Raleigh Article mentioned in the Episode
Raleigh, North Carolina Neighborhoods & Surrounding Cities Mentioned in this Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 17. Central Sierra Nevada, California, You Don’t Come up Here for Fancy | 30 Mar 2021 | 00:34:10 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Doug Noll about all of his favorite outdoor activities and places in Central Sierra Nevada, California. Join Doug and me as we adventure through each of the four seasons in the Central Sierra Nevada area of California and explore all of the best local spots for skiing, whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, boating, and water skiing. About Doug Noll Doug is a lawyer turned peacemaker, author, trainer, and mentor. He has created online courses in emotional competency, de-escalation, leadership, and decision-making that help people resolve deep and intractable ideological conflicts. He’s also an all-around adventurer! A fully certified ski instructor, former whitewater guide, airplane pilot, helicopter pilot, mountain biker, 2nd-degree black belt, sailor, you get the picture…. if it’s adventurous, he’s probably tried it! Learn more about Doug at DougNoll.com. What We Cover in This Episode
Quotes What’s interesting is the people over on the coast, you know, the Bay area or down in Southern California, San Diego, they sort of look at this region, as there, there be dragons. Nobody ever comes up here because they don’t think about the fact that the vast majority of the state is open space. The crowds are on the coast. When you get inland, it’s not crowded, and we have this natural beauty all around us. Doug NollIf you’re really looking for a different experience, where there’s not a lot of crowds, and you’re looking for real beauty, this is the place to come. It’s out of the way, it’s a bit of a drive for people. But it’s worth it. Doug NollYou could spend a whole summer just in this region, not go more than a hundred miles, and just see some amazing places. Doug NollIf you’re an outdoorsman or an outdoorswoman, and you really like doing active stuff, skiing, biking, sailing, whitewater, paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, water skiing, you’re crazy, it’s crazy not to come here because it’s so beautiful. It’s so accessible. And … the nice thing is that it’s not glitzy and it’s not expensive. Doug Noll Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where the locals stay in Central Sierra Nevada:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 16. Las Vegas, Nevada, Look a Little Bit Further | 16 Mar 2021 | 00:34:34 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Ashly Ryan about her perfect day beyond the strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. And then, at the end of our chat, we talk about a few alternative day trips in the area as well! Join Ashly and me as we make the most of a day outdoors around Las Vegas, Nevada. About Ashly Ryan Ashly is half of Happy Nomad Couple, a duo who loves the travel together on a budget.
In 2017, they quit their jobs to backpack around the world. In one year, they visited 22 countries on five continents.
As of now, they've traveled to over 30 countries together, and by the end of this year, they'll have seen all seven wonders of the world!
They keep track of their spending to create budgets to share with other young couples planning trips.
Ashley's past travels have also inspired her to create a reversible travel clothing line called Splice Clothing. Read more about Ashly's traveling experience at Happy Nomad Couple or her reversible travel clothing line at Splice Clothing. What We Cover in This Episode
Quotes Ashly: "If I were to guess, I would say probably 20% of people actually end up leaving the strip to see what else is out there.
I think it's becoming more popular, especially now with having to social distance and things like that. But a lot of people just really stick to the strip.
I mean, it's really easy to just stay there because it's kind of its own little world, you know, there's so much to see on the strip. So you definitely could get stuck there, but I think it's kind of a shame because we have so many beautiful outdoor environments around Las Vegas."
Ashly: "You'll be pleasantly surprised at how different the landscape is from probably most other places you've seen and how gorgeous it is. So it doesn't have to be your whole itinerary if you're coming to Vegas for a few days.
I think one of the things that annoys me the most is when people say, Oh, you can do Vegas in two or three days. That's true if you're just gonna stick to the strip and see shows and restaurants and go to the lobbies. But I would say. You don't want to miss adding an extra day to your stay in Vegas to go outside. Definitely go somewhere outside. There's tons of different things for all different interests.
If you've already been to Red Rock, there are other places you can go that will be completely different, and you don't want to miss it because I think you'll have a great time. And if you could either just go see it to take pictures and go for a really nice drive or you can go and do a crazy hike." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
I know many of you are starting to plan out future adventures, which is super exciting! 🤗 To celebrate that, we have a special gift in this episode! Ashley notes that it would be ideal to have a car, RV, or campervan for this trip. Last Vegas' amazing airport, paired with loads of nearby campgrounds and boondocking spots, makes it a great starting point for a camping adventure. If you find yourself listening to this episode and wanting to experience this trip, I cannot recommend renting an Escape Campervan enough. Barrett and I got to experience an Escape Campervan rental a little over a year ago at Death Valley National Park, and we absolutely loved it!! Save 10% off an Escape Campervan trip here. Thanks for Listening!We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 15. Branson, Missouri, a Cheesy Yet Charming Hub for Seeing the Ozarks | 02 Mar 2021 | 00:33:20 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Ashley Mann about a fun outdoorsy day in the tourist destination of Branson, Missouri. And then the end of our chat, we’re also going to touch on a bunch of the outdoor adventures possible in the greater Ozarks area. Join Ashley and me as we make the most of a day outdoors in Branson, Missouri, and then journey into all of the outdoor adventures provided by the surrounding Ozarks area. About Ashley Mann Ashley is a former full-time RVer. She and her husband lived in an RV for three years, starting in 2016, while they both started their online businesses. In 2019, they decided to return to their hometown of Springfield, Missouri for a few months and ended up falling in love with it so much that they decided to sell their RV and make it their permanent home base. Ashley currently owns and operates a multitude of websites, including RVinspiration.com, a website about RV organization, decor, and renovations, and RenovatedRVsforsale.com, an RV listing website for buying and selling renovated RVs. While RVing, Ashley blogged about their experiences, including why they bought an RV that they never traveled in, how they started out their online businesses, and even ultimately why they decided to end their RV life journey. Read more about Ashley's RVing experience at RVinspiration.com/About or connect with her at AshleyMann.me What We Cover in This Episode
Quotes "There’s so much to see and do here. Branson, it’s a vacation destination for people in the Ozarks, but there’s a lot I think to offer people that are not from the area as well. You know, every part of the U.S. has its own flavor and feel, and I think Branson is a good representation of what the Ozarks have to offer. And … not just Branson, but the Ozarks is where I would travel from across the country to visit."
"Branson, I like not because so much of Branson itself, but because it’s kind of centrally located. So if you can spend a week or two in the Ozarks, there is a lot outside of Branson to do, and all of it is within an hour or two of Branson in different directions. So I think it’s really a good hub for seeing the Ozarks. But there is a lot to do in Branson as well." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Branson, MO:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 14. Southern Idaho, Skiing Like it Used to Be | 16 Feb 2021 | 00:31:29 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Tony Harrison about a bunch of different outdoor activities in Southern Idaho, but with an emphasis on all of the skiing and snowboarding possibilities. Join Tony and me as we spend a day skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in Southern Idaho and then wrap up the day back in Twin Falls, Idaho! Why visit Southern Idaho?Tony: “Well, for starters, you should definitely pick Idaho over more popular areas to ski like Colorado and California, because we’ve got very short lift lines, very inexpensive lift tickets, and oftentimes people consider Idaho to be the soul of skiing. It’s skiing like it used to be, I mean, it’s unpretentious and it’s just really great snow, tons of terrain and it’s under the radar. Anybody can go ski Vail. How many people come out and ski Soldier Mountain, Pomerelle? You’ll definitely have as much fun, if not more fun than some of those big hills. You’ll definitely spend a lot less time waiting in lift lines, a lot more time on skis. And the people are so unassuming and nice, it is really a breath of fresh air when you come here.” About Tony HarrisonLearn more about Idaho at: Ski Idaho, Visit South Idaho & Visit Idaho Tony was born and raised in the spud state. He’s a lifelong skier and the publicist for Ski Idaho. He has personally skied at 12 of Idaho’s 18 ski resorts in the past three years. His love for the great outdoors has left him with a wealth of insider knowledge about all of the area's outdoor recreation options. When Tony's not skiing, he maintains a solo PR practice, working with various clients in the tourism, tech, and agriculture industries. What We Cover in This Episode
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 31: Hiking Above the Clouds in Mount Rainier National Park | 16 Nov 2021 | 00:45:05 | |
Today, on the Locals Know Best podcast, I’ll be speaking with Michelle Stelly about how to make the most of a weekend at Mount Rainier National Park! In this episode, Michelle and I will first discuss Washington’s three beautiful national parks. Then, we’ll backpack, hike, and snowshoe throughout all four seasons in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as touch on a few of the surrounding areas. We’ll be sure to see tons of epic waterfalls, lakes, and fire lookouts along the way, and of course, also have plenty of opportunities to view the incredible Mount Rainier! About Michelle StellyMichelle runs The Wandering Queen, a travel blog to help fellow women adventurers travel the globe. She’s a Texan-Panamanian who is passionate about adventure travel, as well as an expert on all things hiking, backpacking, and camping. Michelle has been to 23 U.S. National Parks and has a goal in life that is very similar to my own, to inspire and help get people outdoors! Learn more about Michelle Stelly at TheWanderingQueen.com. What We Cover in This Episode
There’s so many epic hikes there. Mount Rainier is just fantastic! It’s my favorite mountain in the world. Even if you don’t go hiking, you can still just enjoy a day in paradise, having a family picnic with these amazing views. The waterfalls there are some of my favorite in the whole state. I feel like this is the perfect outdoorsy getaway with just outstanding views. I’m honestly gonna keep on going to it for years upon years. Michelle Stelly Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in the Mount Rainier National Park Area: Mount Rainier National Park Area Outdoor Activities that are Mentioned in this Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 13. How to Earn Some Well-Deserved Patio Time in Fort Collins, Colorado | 02 Feb 2021 | 00:34:36 | |
Join Paul and me as we spend an epic day whitewater rafting, biking, and hiking all around Fort Collins. Then we finish off our day soaking up what’s left of the sun on some fantastic patios while enjoying some of the best beers in the states! Paul is the CMO of RunRepeat, the largest athletic footwear review site on the web. Paul is an outdoor fanatic who loves adventure. Over the past 20 years, he has climbed, hiked, and run all over the world. Some of his most adventurous feats include summiting peaks throughout the Americas, trekking throughout Africa, running 6 marathons, and giving his endurance the ultimate test in a 24-hour trail race. He has worked in the outdoor industry for about 15 years, in a wide range of jobs, including being a whitewater and hunting guide, gear tester, and copywriter. And for places such as The National Outdoor Leadership School, No Barriers USA, and the Sierra Trading Post. These days Paul serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at RunRepeat, the largest athletic footwear review site on the web. What We Cover in This Episode
"Well, there’s a lot of things Fort Collins has going for itself. First off, it’s a really cool hip little town. The university here is 25 – 30,000 students. So there’s this fun nightlife vibe going on that bigger college towns have. We have really good weather here. The weather in Fort Collins is just fantastic all year round. Even now, it’s January, it’s in the fifties, sunny, and in the fifties. And so you can run, you can mountain bike, you can climb mostly year-round. If you’re into golf, you can golf year-round. There’s a lot of outdoor activities that you can do throughout the year that you can’t do in a lot of other mountain west locations. And then on top of that, it’s just really close to a lot of really great things. We’re about an hour north of Denver. So the Denver crowds tend to stay away from Northern Colorado. And so we kind of have our forests and our trails and our mountains to ourselves up here. And within an hour of town, you can be back-country skiing. You can be whitewater rafting, mountain biking, backpacking, rock climbing. I mean, There’s so much stuff to do right in town, but also within an hour that a lot of the crowds just kind of stay away from, which makes this place a real gem" "In Fort Collins, you can go out on a Saturday afternoon for a mountain bike ride on one of our local, popular trails and maybe pass ten to fifteen other people. Whereas in Denver, you might pass a thousand people on the local mountain bike trails. So, you know, although there are people out recreating, it is not the crowds like you see down south of here which is really, really special, I think for the people that live here" "I think there’s 220 miles of bike path and bike lane and Fort Collins. So, basically, every street has a bike lane that’s like three or four feet wide. But there’s also a lot of dedicated bike paths that go through the parks, go down along the railways, that are off the streets and totally bike-friendly… Everyone rides their bikes everywhere because it’s so easy" "So the big adventure that you got to do after you’ve played outside in Fort Collins is head back into town, clean up, and get on some bikes … and you head into town, and we’ve got, I think we’ve got 30 or 40 breweries in town … you can ride your bike from brewery to brewery, to distillery, to dispensary, if that’s your thing. So there’s all sorts of fun things to do on bikes. Fort Collins is very patio oriented in the summer. Everyone is sitting outside. Everyone is enjoying the sunshine. And enjoying a good beer after a long day on the mountains" "What’s cool about Fort Collins is there’s enough different breweries that you can find very different styles of beer. So if you like German-style beer versus Belgian-style, beer versus American-style, or whatever your poison is, you can find it here in Fort Collins" "Yeah, you know, the rain doesn’t really stop people here. If you want to get on your bike and riding the rain, it’s actually a really fun experience. So what if you get wet? It’s going to stop raining. That’s the good thing about Colorado. You know, if you get stuck in a rainstorm, it’s only gonna last a little while, and then you’ll dry out at the next brewery. My theory is, that’s the time to be out there. It’s fun to be out in the rain" "I mean, in any given day, basically winter or summer, you can trail run, you can mountain bike, you can hike, you can rock climb, you can golf, you can hunt, you can fish, you can raft, and you can kayak. I mean, there’s a lot of opportunity here if you’re a thrill-seeker or you love the outdoors. It’s got a little bit of everything. And we’re just far enough away from the big city that it’s not overrun yet. Also, the downtown area’s got great nightlife, and I think that that’s something that maybe falls away in some of the mountain towns. And we’re not in the mountains, but we’re tucked right up against them. And so, you know, there’s a lot to do here. I’m sure one day it will be crowded, but for the last 20 years, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the amount of people I see doing the things I love to do as well" Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Fort Collins, Colorado: Fort Collins, Colorado Outdoor Activities Mentioned in this Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 12. Minden, Louisiana, The Friendliest City in the South | 19 Jan 2021 | 00:28:13 | |
In this episode, I'll be speaking with Sara McDaniel of Simply Southern Cottage about Minden, Louisiana.
Join Sara and me as we spend a day paddling, hiking, biking, and enjoying all of the local cuisine surrounding "The Friendliest City in the South"! About Sara McDaniel Sara is an adventurer and entrepreneur who loves where she lives.
At 41 years old, she retired from a successful sales career to explore entrepreneurial interests, including real estate investing, educational consulting, and social media influencing. While pursuing those interests, she has reclaimed and restored her home and her life.
Now she says it’s her mission to provide inspiration to help others do the same.
Sara’s now quite famous home has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Cottages and Bungalows, Southern Lady, Apartment Therapy, HGTV, Southern Hospitality, and Martha Stewart, just to name a few! What We Cover in This Episode
Quotables "I know it's cliche, but I do love where I live... so I love, love, love to celebrate our state." "[Minden] is just the cutest, quaintest little Southern community. And in fact, a few years ago, we were named the friendliest city in the South. So I love the people here. We have tons of amazing historic homes and architecture, cute little shops, and boutiques. And then we also have lots of amazing outdoor activities that people can participate in." "Honestly, [in Minden], we have it all. We have historic homes, we have our historic downtown, we have the great outdoors, and I'm telling you, our people here are so friendly and so amazing. And I promise you will not be disappointed." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Minden, Louisiana: Minden, Louisiana Outdoor Activities Mentioned in this Episode:
Thanks for Listening! We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 11. Lights and Colors Vomiting all over the Floor in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas | 05 Jan 2021 | 00:34:47 | |
In this episode, I'll be speaking with Brittney of Brit Nicole Photography about all of the fun adventures that are possible within Palo Duro Canyon and the surrounding areas. Join Brittney and me as we walk through her version of an ultimate elopement adventure, including hiking, jeeping, horseback riding, ziplining, boating, and more! About Brittney & Brit Nicole Photography Brittney's wedding and elopement photography company hosts a team of photographers who cater to adventurous brides and grooms throughout Texas and beyond.
Her company has been published over 200 times, been seen on The Ellen Show, and has been featured in Huffington Post, PopSugar, and Parents magazine.
They are currently celebrating their 15th anniversary and have also been inducted into The Knots Hall of Fame of the top 5% best wedding photographers in the nation.
One last thing you need to know about Brittney, she personally prides herself on being a sarcastic connoisseur, proclaiming - if you can't laugh, we won't get along. What We Cover in This Episode
Quotables "One of my most favorite things about the canyon, I call these my come to Jesus moments, is whenever you go out there before the sun rises, I have my one special spot that I have found, where you can just sit on a rock that's just basically a cliff just falling right down, and you can just look in the valley. And once that sun comes up, it just hits the fog just right from all of the cliffs cascading, and it just illuminated the whole entire floor. ... It's the most magnificent feeling I have ever had." "The sunsets, oh gosh, yeah, okay, ... so if you're sitting on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon, it's just light and colors just vomiting all over the floor. There's nothing to block it. You see it in all of its glory, and you just see the clouds changing from pink to purple to orange. It's just; it's beautiful." "If you travel that far and you don't at least come out to see the Milky Way, what are you even doing? You need to go see the Milky Way. It is amazing!" "This is debatable with every single person that has seen this photo, but you have people like me that clearly see a bear in the distance watching us. And then you have some people that are like, oh, that's a rock, whatever. ... I mean, clear as day, there's ears, a snout, and beady little eyes looking at you. I don't know what rocks y'all have been looking at." "If you're the type of person that wants to see the massive big stars and the Milky Way galaxy on top of just laying out with no one else around you and the fire going, this would be a reason to come." "The whole section of Palo Duro Canyon is completely different from the north, east, south, and west parts. The north parts, you have really pretty greenery with the rolling hills. And the east parts are just these big boulders that you get to climb up and some people that actually go out there and do rock climbing. The south part, you get some slots; you get the caves. And the west part, you still get the caves, but you get more of the tree vibe and valley feel. Everything about Palo Duro Canyon is completely different in its own unique way that you, honest to God, can't get anywhere else in the United States or even Texas." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 10. Frankenmuth, Michigan, Best Known for Chicken and Christmas | 22 Dec 2020 | 00:32:17 | |
In this episode, I’ll be speaking with Jamie Furbush, President & CEO of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau. Jamie has been in that role for over 12 years and has worked for the organization for 19 years. In the spirit of this episode premiering during the holidays, I thought it would be fun to embrace the winter holiday season and highlight one of the United States’ most magical Christmas towns – Frankenmuth, Michigan! This, in turn, will make the episode a bit more festive than outdoorsy, but don’t worry! I still wanted to keep outdoorsy elements in it for everyone, so at the end of the episode, we will switch over to a summer day in Frankenmuth. Join Jamie and me on a tour of Frankenmuth, Michigan. We start our day out at one of Frankenmuth's amazing waterparks, make sure all of our holiday shopping is finished around town, and enjoy a world-famous chicken dinner, all while also taking in all of the town's holiday feels! Then, in the end, we also cover a few warm-weather outdoorsy adventures that can be enjoyed in Michigan’s Little Bavaria as well!
About Jamie Furbush Jamie is a born and raised Michigander who loves living in Pure Michigan and representing the Michigan travel industry. What We Cover in This Episode
"Hospitality is a really important piece, I think, of what people love about Frankenmuth and why people continue to come back generation after generation. But that’s really a thing that’s rooted in the people that live in and run their businesses here. Most of our businesses are family owned and operated. And so, it’s a community of entrepreneurs. And you know, when we look at the year that we’re dealing with here, I’m just inspired all the time by how our businesses continue to reinvent themselves and support community causes. And continue to make it not only great but better. It’s just really a great place to be surrounded by people who care about each other." "Frankenmuth’s really best known for Chicken and Christmas! We’re also known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria … our roots of the community are German. We were settled by 15 German Lutheran missionaries. And so the roots and the heritage of the community have always been very, very important. And you can see that and feel that as you’re walking the streets." "Frankenmuth’s always evolving. So, the businesses that exist are constantly reinventing themselves and adding things to their own businesses." "Coming to Frankenmuth is an experience that people remember. It’s creating memories with your loved ones, whether it’s your family or friends. That’s really what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing when you’re here. I think it’ll be a memorable experience and one that you’ll all remember together and you know, that time together is what’s most precious. And so, I love looking out my window and seeing families connecting. Sometimes we’ll see fathers sort of skipping along with their kids, and, you know, it’s that time to let your guard down and just enjoy each other’s presence. And that’s, to me, what’s really special about our streets. It sort of brings out that magic. And it’s part of the charm I think of our community." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Frankenmuth, Michigan: Frankenmuth, Michigan Winter Activities Mentioned in this Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 9. Lake County, California, A Place to Come & Decompress | 08 Dec 2020 | 00:33:38 | |
In this episode, I’ll be speaking with Tony and Peggy Barthel, publishers of the Stress Less Camping podcast and enthusiasts and tourism ambassadors for California’s Lake County. Join Tony, Peggy, and me on a tour of Lake County, California. We start our day at a unique bed and breakfast, get in some time on the lake, take in beautiful views, search for a local coveted treasure as well as eat and drink lots of goodies along the way! About Tony and Peggy Barthel Visit Tony and Peggy’s Blog & Podcast – StressLess Camping Tony and Peggy have a website, YouTube channel, and podcast devoted to making the great American RV adventure a stressless camping experience. Their platforms are chock-full of RV deals, discounts, tips, and hacks. What We Cover in This Episode
It’s just such a place to slow down and just take in nature. Just being in a place that’s slower and wider. There are no parking fees anywhere. … So much an easier pace and easier place. You can go to the place you want. You can park there. You can walk around. And just not be crowded into busy city streets. Peggy BarthelThese wineries up here are really the passion of an individual or family. And so you can feel that. You can hear their philosophy in how they grow and produce these wines. …. It’s a very different experience to talk to wineries at this level, as opposed to really big commercial operations. Tony BarthelThere’s plenty to do. Especially if you enjoy nature and outdoor activities, and all of that. It’s a pretty cool place. Tony BarthelIf you want to decompress and see people who really care about the community and get that authentic small-town feel, but with big-city quality musicians and food, Lake County’s a great place to come. And we’re only a couple of hours from Sacramento or San Francisco. Tony Barthel
Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 8. Exploring Southern Utah's Most Beautiful Hidden Gems | 24 Nov 2020 | 00:27:40 | |
In this episode, I’ll be speaking with Jessi Bang, who will be introducing us to some of the lesser-known gems that exist beyond Zion National Park in Southern Utah. Join Jessi and me on a tour of Southern Utah’s lesser-known hidden gems. We talk about everywhere you should go, after visiting Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Wave! About Jessi Bang Visit Jessi’s Blog – The Rambling Raccoon Jessi Bang is a blogger, adventure-lover, and dog mom, based in beautiful Southern Utah. She’s known for encouraging people to get outside and experience the beauty around us! She’s an avid hiker, outdoor lover, and traveler! If you’re looking for some fantastic places to hike in Southern Utah, be sure to check out her blog and social media channels at The Rambling Raccoon! She always outlines all the details you need to get the best experience possible. What We Cover in This Episode
There’s a huge red mountain that’s literally called Red Mountain, that I live underneath, and I was just drawn to this mountain. I came to visit my parents, and I cried the whole way home to Vegas because I didn’t want to go back. I just felt like I was supposed to be here. And it’s kind of crazy because I’ve talked to quite a few people who’ve had the same experience. There’s just some type of energy I can’t explain in these red rocks, and I just, I love it. I think most people that come visit the area go to Zion, maybe Bryce Canyon. There’s a few places that are very popular, and they’re popular for a reason because they’re beautiful. I just think it’s really important to showcase the other places most people don’t really know about because they’re hidden gems, and they’re amazing. Just disclaimer: If you go to any place I tell you to go to, just don’t be a trash human because I just can’t handle it. Don’t ruin these spots for everyone. …Don’t be a garbage human. Don’t carve on rocks. Don’t spray on rocks. Don’t leave trash. Just go, take pictures, leave footprints, and leave it for everybody else to enjoy. Come visit. Come explore. It’s gorgeous. It’s breathtaking. And no matter how many times I even see the same place, I still am just in awe when I’m sitting there and looking at these views. And it’s just, it’s a magical place. It’s beautiful. And I truly do believe that being outside is the best therapy in the world, especially with what’s going on in the world right now. Just get outside. Get outside, get fresh air, hike, enjoy views. Just be. That’s the best part about Southern Utah.
Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Southern Utah: Southern Utah Lesser-Known Outdoor Destinations, Beyond Zion, Mentioned in this Episode: Southern Utah Restaurants Mentioned in this Episode: Thanks for Listening!We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 7. How to Be One of the 1% at Grand Canyon National Park | 10 Nov 2020 | 00:51:48 | |
In this episode, I’ll be talking with adventurer Brandon Perlow about his perfect two-day hiking itinerary down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and then back up! Join Brandon and me on an engaging journey down through multiple levels of Grand Canyon National Park, exploring all of the best stops, lookouts, and places to stay along the way! About Brandon Perlow Brandon Perlow is an avid traveler and adventure-seeker. He’s been to all seven continents, all 50 states, and has lived abroad as well as across the country. He’s run ultramarathons, climbed Kilimanjaro, and navigated class five white water rapids. These days, he calls Arizona home with his family, and he chose Arizona in large part due to the incredible choices for outdoor adventures. Of those many options, only one reigns supreme: Grand Canyon National Park. What We Cover in This Episode
"For me, there’s nothing better than getting in the car, heading up to the Grand Canyon, and spending as much time as possible there." "When you’re a thousand feet below the rim. It’s a 360-degree experience, which completely changes your perspective." "There’s not a lot of places in the world where you can walk amongst two billion-year-old rocks, just right next to you." "I don’t think there’s a bad place to take a picture of the Grand Canyon." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Grand Canyon National Park Trails Mentioned in this Episode: Grand Canyon National Park Hiking Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Grand Canyon Area Hotels & Lodging Mentioned in this Episode: Grand Canyon National Park Lodging Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Thanks for Listening!We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 6. Fayetteville, West Virginia America’s Best Kept Secret | 27 Oct 2020 | 00:24:36 | |
In this episode, I’ll be talking with local business owner Heather Johnson about the perfect day of outdoor adventure in Fayetteville, West Virginia. You may or may not know this, but Fayetteville has some of the best rafting in the United States. The town of Fayetteville has been named best Rivertown in 2013 by Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine, and one of the 2006 Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America by Budget Travel Magazine. Today’s episode is going to be a little bit of a unique one because it’s entirely possible to have an incredible day of outdoor adventure at River Expeditions without ever even leaving their campus. But don’t worry, we’ll still touch on some of the local spots in town that are not to be missed! Join Heather and me as we tackle rafting trips down the New River and the Gauley River, explore the surrounding neighborhood, and wrap up our day in one of the best ways possible! About Heather Johnson Check out Heather’s Company – River Expeditions Heather is a native West Virginian who co-owns, along with her husband, an adventure outfitter business that primarily focuses on rafting trips, known as River Expeditions. She’s a second-generation rafting outfitter, who’s been in the business for 24 years. What We Cover in This Episode
[River Expeditions runs] the Gauley River, which is world-class. So people come from literally all around the globe to experience the whitewater from the Gauley River. I would encourage everybody just to give it a try. Start off with the low impact, gentle float trip. And, yeah, if you like that you can work your way up to the whitewater We end up beneath the world-famous New River Gorge Bridge, and you can’t beat that for spectacular scenery and just the all inspiring views that you’ll see in the Gorge. Everything’s more fun in a 55 passenger bus. [West Viriginia] was once known as America’s Best Kept Secret. We don’t want it to be secret anymore.
Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Fayetteville, West Virginia: Fayetteville, West Virginia Outdoor Destinations Mentioned:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part!If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!!Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 5. A Simpler Way of Life in Mountain View, Arkansas | 13 Oct 2020 | 00:34:13 | |
In this episode, I’ll be talking with local business owner Becky Wadley about making the most of an outdoorsy day in Mountain View, Arkansas. Join Becky and me as we bike, hike, kayak, canoe, and swim all around town, and then close out our day in a way that’s almost required in this small town! Becky is not only an avid RVer but also an RV blogger at Homeiswherewetakeit.com and the owner of Whitewater RV Park. She’s been married for 29 years and is the mother of 3 adult children. She’s also an avid DIYer and will give just about anything a go before she decides whether or not she can tackle the task. Becky considers herself a jack of all trades and a master of none. What We Cover in This Episode
"The main thing about Mountain View is the music." "It’s a breath of fresh air, really. Just because it’s such a simpler way of life." "Mountain View has a very Mayberry feel to it. So, it’s just kind of like, it likens back to like a more innocent time, you know, when, maybe before TV, when people just, the only entertainment they had was to play their music on their front porch or something like that. And so, it hearkens a real innocence in the town. I really would just love that kind of family atmosphere." "If I was honestly speaking, I would say most of Arkansas would be an outdoorsy kind of place." If you love music, if you love camping, if you love fishing, if you love hiking or biking or anything that you’re going to do outdoors, Mountain View is a great place to go and you won’t regret it. Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Mountain View, Arkansas: Mountain View, Arkansas Outdoor Destinations Mentioned:
Becky later told me one tidbit that she wanted to make sure I included in the show notes. She said, “We are in a DRY COUNTY! Alcohol is allowed, but not sold…ANYWHERE!” So be sure to plan accordingly on your trip to the area. Thanks for Listening!We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 4. More to the Beaches than just Beer in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach, Delaware | 29 Sep 2020 | 00:34:46 | |
In this episode, I’m going to be talking with born and raised local, Micah Idler, about how to make the most of an outdoorsy trip in Delaware. And more specifically, we’ll be exploring a few of Delaware’s east coast towns, including Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach. Join Micah and me as we explore what else there is to do, beyond the beaches in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach, Delaware!
Take an LA Tour with Micah or Connect with Micah on Instagram Micah is a world-traveling storyteller who’s currently a professional tour guide in Los Angeles. Micah went to school for history and education, studying geography, political science, and architecture. He loves meeting new people and showing them around his favorite spots, whether they are out in the wild or at the bar. What We Cover in This Episode
I think the best option is really getting a group of friends or your family out and just sharing a house together and just creating a bond through activities, great food, whether indoors or out. Micah IdlerI think it’s more about quality in Delaware. Even if it does get busy, which it does, I feel like it’s still a local kind of vibe to it. And I think that Delaware has done a good job of kind of preserving that. Micah IdlerI feel like there’s so much I still didn’t talk about. But that’s the thing is that I just love Delaware and the beaches so much that it’s always home, even if I don’t live there at the moment. So I highly recommend people checking it out and that they can actually experience it for themselves. Micah IdlerLinks to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay: Destinations to Explore on the Drive In Mentioned:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 30: Alexandria, Virginia, a Nice Mixture of Old and New | 02 Nov 2021 | 00:43:13 | |
Today, I'll be speaking with Cecilia and Scott Fix about how to spend a fantastic day outdoors in Alexandria, Virginia.
Join Cecilia, Scott, and me as we start off our day, waking up in a spooky spot. Then we continue adventuring outdoors via boating the Potomac and geocaching. All while also appreciating old architecture, waterfront parks, art installations, Cherry Blossoms, and all of the best eating and drinking Alexandria has to offer along the way. About Cecilia and Scott FixScott and Cecilia are a travel blogging married couple who travel both locally and internationally. Learn more about Cecilia and Scott Fix at lovicarious.com or on Instagram. What We Cover in This Episode
There are very few places in the U.S. that you can go to that genuinely feel old, that you can look around and there's unique architecture. There's something unique about the town. I think a lot of places in the U.S. either tend to look the same or look very modern. Alexandra is someplace that definitely looks historical and it's that way, because it genuinely is. So that history mixed with little bits of Modern cuisine, modern culture, with live performances, and pop up boutiques, it's a nice mixture of old and new. Scott & Cecilia Fix Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in Alexandria, VA: Alexandria, VA Outdoor Activities Mentioned in the Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 3. Leaf Peepin’ & Apple Pickin’ in Manchester, Vermont | 15 Sep 2020 | 00:23:10 | |
Welcome to the third episode of Locals Know Best! I’m your host, Cindy. I’m a full-time RVer and lover of all things travel-related. Years of adventuring on the road have taught me one fundamental lesson; locals ALWAYS know best! Every episode of this podcast will dive into one local’s perfect day of outdoor adventure in their town! In this episode, we’ll be visiting Manchester, Vermont through the eyes of nanny and tour guide, Retha Charette. Join Retha and me as we explore Vermont on a beautiful fall day, including checking out a historical spot, picking apples, and hiking up to one of the best overlook spots in all of the Green Mountains! What We Cover in This Episode
"This is a fall trip. You’re doing some leaf-peeping, you’re having the full Vermont fall experience here." "I live here for the fall." "I will never be a Vermonter cause to be an official Vermonter your family has to be here for three generations. The Vermonters are really intense about claiming that Vermonter title. And I totally respect that, but I’m definitely a local now." "You’re going to go to Mad Tom Orchard. Owned by the sweetest old couple you will ever meet. They’re there every year. They’re giving out, bags to put your apples in. You grab a little red wagon. Like this is like quintessential, New England stuff here." "For those of you who don’t know the amazingness that is an apple cider donut, it’s like a cake doughnut, but it’s really light. They mix within the batter some apple cider and they roll it in cinnamon sugar. If, if that doesn’t make you want to come to Vermont … I mean, I don’t know what will." "I’ve done this hike up and down around sunset before, and it’s worth it. It’s gonna be the best way to end your day in the area." Links to Places Mentioned in this EpisodeManchester, Vermont Hotels Mentioned: Manchester, Vermont Restaurants Mentioned: Manchester, Vermont Things to Do Mentioned: Links to Additional Manchester Posts on Retha’s Blog: And a big post from Retha about Vermont: Thanks for Listening!We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 2. Playing Beneath the Mountains in Colorado Springs, Colorado | 01 Sep 2020 | 00:24:39 | |
Today we’ll be visiting Colorado Springs, CO, through the eyes of author and part-time RVer, Lindsey Nubern. Join Lindsey and me as we wake up, immediately tackle a significant workout challenge, move on to some beautiful hiking options, and learn all about the best places for tasty treats along the way!” About Lindsey Lindsey’s Website – Nuventure Travels
To tell you a bit more about Lindsey, she has not only authored three books but along with her husband, she saved up $62,000 to travel the world from 2014 to 2018, living off of a budget of $50 a day! During that time, they traveled to 19 countries. Some of the highlights include campervanning in New Zealand, backpacking Southeast Asia, and Europe, and RVing across the United States. After traveling full time, they decided to move back to Colorado Springs, CO, because, in all their travels, nowhere compared. Now they’re excited to show their 6-month-old the world, too. What We Cover in This Episode
"There’s nothing that compares to the people that know you, and you know them." "We feel very blessed that we get to live here. It’s a super special place." "I did not grow up playing beneath the mountains. This is really special. I just love living here." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Colorado Springs, Colorado Hotels Mentioned: Colorado Springs, Colorado Restaurants Mentioned:
Colorado Springs, Colorado Things to Do Mentioned:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE. | |||
| 1. Skinny Dip Friendly Bend, Oregon | 01 Sep 2020 | 00:31:56 | |
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Locals Know Best! Today we’ll be visiting Bend, OR through the eyes of Swiss Williamson, acrobat, photographer, wildlife conservationist, and sponsored rock climber. Join Swiss and me as we kick off the day with pastries (your choice of vegan/gluten-free or full-on butter fest), hiking and biking, and learn why you should always have a towel on hand in the Oregon wilderness!
About Swiss Williamson Swiss’s Website: Swiss Williamson
Swiss has spent a great deal of time traveling, including spending a year solo Touring South America. Other titles he’s laid claim to include being a Sponsored Rock Climber, Wildlife Conservation Volunteer, Acrobat, and Van Lifer! Currently Swiss is helping other people buy businesses and live their dream lives. What We Cover in This Episode
"There’s a lot of beautiful places in the world. What made Bend so special is the intentionality that people have with their relationship with the environment surrounding Bend." "The other thing about Bend is that, it’s very skinny dip friendly!" "That’s also the great thing about Bend is that everyone’s out on the trails, and everyone respects each other. … There’s a lot of athletes in Bend, so do not feel ashamed if you come on the trails and … you get passed by a couple of Olympic runners. I’ll even get passed on the road sometimes by the road skiers." Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Bend, Oregon Hotels Mentioned: Bend, Oregon Restaurants Mentioned: Bend, Oregon Bars Mentioned: Bend, Oregon Things to Do Mentioned:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Instagram for Locals Know Best updates.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE. | |||
| Welcome to Locals Know Best, a Travel Podcast by Cinders Travels! | 31 Aug 2020 | 00:01:30 | |
Travel expert Cindy Scott from CindersTravels.com chats with town locals as they take you through their neighborhood as if you’re their best friend! They’ll share their second to none outdoor adventure travel tips to help you plan the perfect trip to their region. Go to LocalsKnowBestPodcast.com to learn more. | |||
| 29: Kenai, Alaska, You've Entered the Real Alaska | 19 Oct 2021 | 00:56:29 | |
Today, on the Locals Know Best podcast, I’ll be speaking with Jon Taylor about how to make the most of an outdoorsy trip throughout the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. This episode is sure to put you under the spell of the north. Join Jon and me as we enjoy the Kenai peninsula as an adventure-loving local would! Our discussion is chock full of outdoor experiences, including sea kayaking, flying ourselves to epic fishing locations, hiking, and fat tire biking the beach! Also, as you would expect, there’s tons of mountain, glacier, bear, and Alaskan National Park chat along the way! About Jon TaylorJon is a pilot, traveler, musician, and the Creative Director for the Strategic Marketing Agency known as Divining Point. He started his career as a commercial photographer. During that time, he discovered the camera often unlocked access to some of the most beautiful places. His talents include brand strategy, photography, videography, and graphic design for businesses in multiple industries. He is known for his vision and creative eye, which give him the ability to conceive stunning visuals and rich storytelling that are sure to evoke emotion from the viewers. Also, being a pilot, Jon gets to go where no roads will take you, which, turns out, is actually most of Alaska! He has a lot of passion for hiking, camping, biking, bourbon tasting, and snow machining, and he says he’s married the most beautiful Alaskan that’s ever emerged from the snow. If you’ve ever dreamt of exploring Alaska like a local, don’t miss this episode! He does an incredible job of explaining why Kenai is the perfect place to home base from for all of your future Alaskan adventures! Follow Jon on Instagram and learn more about Kenai, Alaska at ILoveKenai.com. What We Cover in This Episode
The real draw for Alaska wasn’t necessarily the mountains or the bears or the moose or the rivers. It was the people. As a very independent people, they consider themselves the most independent in America, and that’s debatable, but really, I mean, they’re furthest away from everybody else, and there’s certain self reliancy, but with that comes a certain dependence on other people. And so you’ll never be turned down if you need help. Jon TaylorI tell anybody that’s planning to live in Alaska, don’t be afraid to just put yourself out there because everybody’s waiting for you. Jon TaylorSo when people are going to be going to Alaska, they’re planning a vacation, a lot of times they’ll send me a quick message. Hey, got any tips, any plans, anything. And I always tell them the same thing. You’re going to land in Anchorage, and as you are starting your descent (flying up from the lower 48) look out the window. It’s absolutely beautiful. And then you land in Anchorage and all those beautiful things you saw when you were landing, that’s all down on the Kenai peninsula. That’s where it’s at. Jon TaylorIn Alaska, there is a very high possibility that things won’t go the way you planned. Alaska does want to kill you. So you have to come prepared for that. And don’t just wander off into the wilderness. Stay on the trails, hike with a friend, bring your bear spray. Even if you have a GPS beacon, even for the easy trails, just bring it because I’ve had too many friends that have had very close encounters. So, my suggestion is, play it safe. If you’re going to hike in Alaska, it’s not like hiking in other places. … I think that sometimes there’s an effort to say, you know, come to Alaska it’s for everybody, and it is. But I think it’s also important to say, come to Alaska and please be careful. This isn’t like your normal tour of Carlsbad Caverns, where you’ve got a tour guide, and you’re riding in a Jeep. This is a serious place where serious things can happen. And that’s why you should come here in the first place because you’re actually getting the real experience of nature. Jon Taylor Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Kenai, AK Area Itinerary Destinations Mentioned in the Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 28: That Cabin Cozy Feel in Flagstaff, Arizona | 05 Oct 2021 | 00:41:14 | |
Today, I'll be speaking with Sam To about how to make the most of an outdoorsy trip to Flagstaff, Arizona. Join Sam and me on a “choose your own level of adventure” summer day! Options range from hiking, biking, and swimming, to car touring and leisurely taking in Flagstaff’s beauty from up in the treetops. About Sam ToSam works on the COVID-19 response team for the state of Arizona in a position that is 100% remote from home, which she has found to be pretty fantastic! She lives with her husband, Will, her daughter, Lucy, and dog Pop. Lucy is 1-year-old and has already joined them on numerous day trips, camping trips, and vacations all over Arizona! She’s even gone paddle boarding with them! While Sam loves to spend time outdoors playing disc golf, hiking, kayaking, and sledding, she also equally enjoys beer tasting, pizza, and vegging on the couch while binging tv! It quite honestly sounds like the epitome of balance to me! In this episode, she does a great job of explaining why Flagstaff is the perfect place for all of those activities and more! Connect with Sam about Flagstaff on Instagram! What We Cover in This Episode
The smell of the pines, the sound of the wind through the trees. I don’t think that you could experience that anywhere near us. This little gem of a town in the middle of all of these giant forests in Arizona, I think, is the biggest surprise. It’s a nice little treat, in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by desert. Sam ToIt’s a nice little community that you get to feel a part of when you come to visit. It takes you to a different place, whether you live here or whether you’re just visiting. I think it’s just cozy all around. Sam To Links to Places Mentioned in this EpisodeWhere to Stay in Flagstaff, AZ: Flagstaff, AZ Area Outdoor Activities Mentioned in the Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 27. The Natural Wonders of Western Los Angeles, California | 21 Sep 2021 | 00:38:06 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Laura Grier about all of her favorite outdoor adventures throughout Western Los Angeles. We’ll primarily focus on the span along the coast between Marina del Rey and Malibu, including stops in Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, and Topanga. And then, before wrapping it all up, we’ll also be taking a quick second-day trip over to Catalina Island! Join Laura and me as we paddle, bike, jeep, hike, wine taste, and even take an extra day island adventuring all in West LA! About Laura GrierLaura has lived in Venice Beach and Los Angeles for 20 years. Living abroad from a young age and working for the CIA at age 18, Laura turned her life of travel, adventure, and exploration into a profession as a photojournalist. She has been to all 7 continents through her work, shot weddings in over 15 countries, and has even been called the Indiana Jones of Adventure Travel Photography. Laura was also featured on Discovery Channel UK’s “20 Richest People in the World List,” – highlighting people rich in life experiences. Passionate about mentoring, women’s education, photography, and travel, Laura leads travel workshops and expeditions and serves as an ambassador for sustainable travel brands like Lokal and Impact Travel Alliance. The most satisfying work so far in Laura’s career has been during the last 8 years with Novica, National Geographic’s global artisan catalog that represents artisans from around the world who are practicing “Vanishing Arts.” With NOVICA, Laura has especially fallen in love with the culture and people of Peru. Currently, Laura has joined forces with Pats Krysiak to create Andeana Hats, a sustainable fashion company that sources alpaca wool hats hand-made by Quechua women in the Sacred Valley of Peru. The mission of Andeana Hats is to invest in women’s skills, empowering them to continue their vanishing crafts by connecting them to global marketplaces and supporting their leadership to increase their income and transform their communities. Learn more about Laura Grier (and see more of her beautiful photography) at LauraGrier.com and learn more about Andeana Hats at AndeanaHats.com. What We Cover in This Episode
And then, as you get older, like 30 plus, usually people sort of migrate west to the beach, which is just a little bit more relaxed, like flip-flop lifestyle. Laura GrierAnd then the entire hike is just all the way up this red rock road to the top of the mountain with incredible views. And it’s just, it looks like you’re on a different planet, like parts of it. And it doesn’t look like Los Angeles at all, and it’s all wooded and rocky formations, and it’s such a beautiful hike. Laura GrierThe greatest part about living on the westside is that we have the best outdoor activity that people come from all over for, which is the beach. And I take it for granted at times because I live literally on the beach. Like I can walk out barefoot and be on the sand and, you can hear people like cheering at sunset for the sunset. Like it’s actually an event that people want to sit and watch. Laura GrierWhat I love about Los Angeles is that there’s all these hills and canyons. And there’s all these windy mountain roads that are stunning. And there’s hidden forests and canyons and like overlooks and waterfall hikes and all kinds of things that are literally 15 minutes out of the city. So I think that’s the part that people don’t realize. They like want to jam in all the city stuff, and I think you definitely need more time to see the natural wonders. Laura Grier Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in the West Los Angeles, CA Area: West Los Angeles, CA Area Outdoor Activities Mentioned in the Episode:
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 26. North Umpqua, Oregon, The Gateway to Crater Lake | 07 Sep 2021 | 00:43:13 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Sam Starns about all of her favorite outdoor adventures around the North Umpqua area, with notable stops in Roseburg, Oregon, and Crater Lake National Park. Join Sam and me as we wake up and watch the sunrise in Crater Lake National Park. Then, we proceed with a packed day, full of paddling, hiking, exploring countless waterfalls, soaking in hot springs, fishing, and even mushroom foraging. Lastly, we wind down with a glass of wine in the “new Napa Valley” – Roseburg, Oregon. About Sam StarnsSam is an adventure elopement photographer who takes stunningly beautiful photos. She’s also the author of the book “Elope Your Life” and a TEDx speaker. As an elopement expert, she travels the world, empowering others to elope in wild and beautiful places. Sam grew up on a ranch, working in and exploring the great outdoors. She also used to be a park ranger, as well as a naturalist on a whale-watching boat. Currently, she home bases out of her hidden gem hometown — Roseburg, Oregon. Due to its rugged mountains, countless waterfalls, and easy access to Crater Lake, she considers the area one of the most beautiful places the Pacific Northwest has to offer! And she’s not wrong! If you love waterfalls, you’re going to love this episode because this area is chock full of them! I know from experience that the sheer amount of waterfalls that can be seen in this area can be very overwhelming! Sam does an excellent job of divulging which ones are worth your time and which ones are not. Learn more about Sam Starns and her adventure elopements at SamStarns.com, from her Elope Your Life book on Amazon, or from her TEDx talk on YouTube. What We Cover in this Episode
I really think that Roseburg and the surrounding area is just sort of an untapped potential for outdoor exploration. Sam StarnsSo there’s this little bit of almost like a vortex in Oregon where people don’t realize that we’re here. … We’re the gateway to Crater Lake, along with Medford. We’re the two main ways from the west to get there. And there’s a whole highway and a whole mountain range that you’re exploring. And not only that, our food scene has grown. We have so many amazing breweries, and we’re constantly growing in that respect. We are the new Napa Valley and the new Willamette Valley. We have award-winning wineries here. And we have the North Umpqua trail, which is known for hiking, known for biking. Famous people, celebrities come up here to bike. And then, we’re two hours away from the Crater Lake rim. And we just have so many things here that people don’t realize that are within easily a day’s drive of each other. So, you can easily spend multiple days here and still not see everything. Sam StarnsI would say a decent amount of people come for wine, or they pass through to go to Crater Lake, and they don’t realize how many waterfalls are out there. It’s definitely a stop along the way, or people just tootle on pass it on I-5 going to another destination, and they just don’t realize everything that’s here. Sam StarnsI think sunrise at Crater Lake is the absolute coolest thing because you have less people around, and you are seeing the first rays of light on that day. Sam StarnsSo one of my favorite things to do is to go along the North Umpqua Highway, which is Highway 138, and check out all of the waterfalls. Well, maybe not all, cause there’s a lot of them! But check out a lot of the waterfalls and some you probably have seen on Instagram or in travel magazines. Sam StarnsThe reason I tell people that the North Umpqua and the Roseburg area, and Crater Lake is a must-see is because, number one, you’re not going to have those crowds like you do at places like Yosemite or very modernized, commercialized places like Bend. It’s beautiful, but now there’s a ton of people. So if you’re wanting to get away from crowds but still see that beauty, this is a relatively undiscovered and untrafficked part of Oregon. And then, on top of that, it’s so rugged and so beautiful. I have never seen a mountain peak aside from like the Matterhorn that looks like Mount Thielsen. And it is just so, so beautiful. We have such an amazing, concentrated selection of waterfalls that you’re bound to find something that you love. And it’s within not even a half a day’s drive of day drinking at a winery. I think that’s really the best of all worlds. Sam Starns Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode Where to Stay in The North Umpqua Area: North Umpqua, OR Area Outdoor Activities Mentioned in the Episode:
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| 25. Livingston, Montana, Where Cowboys and Artists Meet | 20 Jul 2021 | 00:37:57 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Mel Harrison about all of her favorite outdoor adventures around Livingston, Montana. Join Mel and me as we spend a winter day cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, hiking, skiing, and ice skating all around Livingston, Montana. Then, in the end, we’ll also dive into a few summer-weather outdoorsy activities, including fishing, floating, and hiking, that can be enjoyed in the Livingston area! About Mel HarrisonMel is an expert on Montana and Yellowstone outdoor recreation and has spent years exploring both for work and pleasure. She and her family are unschoolers who have shaped their life to include year-long travels, overnight rafting trips, weekly hikes with their homeschool group, backpacking into the wilderness, cross-country skiing, and more. At TravelingMel.com, Mel writes about her family’s adventures in Montana and worldwide. She has also authored two guide books focusing on hiking and skiing in the Greater Yellowstone area. Learn more about Livingston, Montana from Mel’s website: Traveling Mel What We Cover in this Episode
And as having only lived in Livingston for 20 years, we’re relative newcomers. People would not consider us locals who’ve lived here, you know, generations. Mel HarrisonLivingston has a great community. We love the people here. We love… it’s eccentric. There are some quirky folks out there. But that’s really what makes it pretty fun too. Mel HarrisonAnd the other thing that I’ve really realized from traveling all over the world and other places … there aren’t a lot of places that have kind of the wilderness that we have here. Where you can go into the mountains and not see anybody or see any sign of humans other than the trail or a sign for kind of a long time. And I just haven’t found places like that on our travels. So that kind of always… the wildness of it, always brings me back. Mel HarrisonThat’s a good point, though, that I usually try to bring up is that there are a lot of places where you won’t get cell service. And so you need to download your Google Maps, and you need to come ready to be a little bit self-sufficient. I mean, it’s not the wild west out here, but you can’t always get what you want right away. Mel HarrisonAnd there’s just a really outdoors mindset here … most people who live here, not everybody, gets outside. Because I mean, what else are you going to do? Right. There’s some great restaurants. There’s a couple of small galleries. There’s a great art community here in Livingston, too. But really, if you don’t get outside, you would just go crazy here. Winters are long, and if you weren’t outside enjoying them, that’d be kind of brutal, in my opinion. Mel HarrisonSo for such a small town of 7,000 people or 8,000 people, it’s pretty foodie, and there’s a lot of artists, you know, they say it’s where Cowboys and artists meet. Mel HarrisonAnd a lot of times, what we’ll do is maybe we’ll ski for a few hours and then come back to the car or somewhere nearby, and we’ll have a fire … and then just kind of hang around the campfire in the snow for another couple hours. Mel HarrisonI can’t imagine skiing somewhere that had lift lines. I kind of forget that that’s even a thing, but yeah, no lift lines. Mel HarrisonThat Pine Creek trail I told you, it is kind of popular, but I think I sometimes forget that what I think is a lot of people on a trail might not seem like a lot of people on a trail if you’re coming from somewhere else. You know, if I see other people on the trail, it seems like too many other people on the trail, which is not, you know, which is crazy. Mel HarrisonThis historic downtown of Livingston is beautiful. Once you see it, you’ll realize that, oh, I’ve seen this in other ads and commercials and things like that, because it’s so iconic with this western downtown, big mountain in the background, the neon signs, and we just have such a great community. And like I’ve said a couple of times, you know, there’s all these artists and cowboys and writers and foodies, you know, chefs and it’s this combination of all these interesting people, creative people, in this big outdoor setting that inspires it all. Mel Harrison Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||
| 24. Northfield, Minnesota, A Quaint Little River Town | 06 Jul 2021 | 00:34:36 | |
Today, I’ll be speaking with Kristen Glazer about how to make the most of a day outdoors in Northfield, Minnesota. Join Kristen and me as we spend a late summer / early fall day hiking, boating, and kayaking. Then, in the end, we’ll cover a few winter-weather outdoorsy activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, that can be enjoyed in the Northfield area as well! About Kristen GlazerKristen is a Minnesota-based travel writer. She is also the founder of Expedition Kristen, a website that is chock full of thoughtful itineraries to help readers plan their next day trip or overnight stay while in Minnesota. She started the site as a way to share her passion for the state and inspire readers to travel to and appreciate some of the state’s best-hidden gems. Kristen lives a very active lifestyle and constantly explores the great outdoors via hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, cross country skiing, boating, and snowboarding! She also has a Masters of Science in Marketing, along with 10+ years of marketing communications experience. Currently, she lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Nic, and her giant Newfoundland, Ole. Learn more about Minnesota from Kristen's website: Expedition Kristen What We Cover in this Episode
"Northfield is a really special town. Just to start off, I want to brag about Northfield for a minute here cause they've won a lot of awards. So they've won number two for Best Small Town in the Country by Livability. They've won number one best place for a Well-Rounded Retirement by Money. And they've won Top 50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America by Country Living. And I think that that really captures it. It's a very quaint, just adorable, sweet little town on a river, two great colleges, close by state park, super, super affordable. It's super great for young people. There's a lot of huge companies here; Target, Best Buy, General Mills, 3M. Some of which we've actually both worked for. So there's a reason why it's won so many awards, and there's a reason why we lived there because it is really just a wonderful town. It's a great place." Kristen One of the big reasons that I've stayed here is Minnesota as a whole, but also, very specifically, Northfield is super affordable. Plus, I love being outside. I love the amount of outdoor parks here. We do a ton of hiking. We have kayaks, and I do cross country skiing and snowboarding. And it's just really wonderful. Kristen I always thought that it would be really amazing to live and work in New York City and be a young working woman. And I quickly found that it just wasn't exactly right for me. And although I like working in that exciting energy, I really need to get out of it when I'm done with work. And I really need to be in some quiet and some nature on the weekends and evenings. So the balance wasn't quite right for me in New York. So I love how easy it is to be in the Twin Cities, have access to amazing culture, restaurants, museums. And then you can so easily get outside of that and be in nature. Kristen I love to travel. I love to be outside and be active, and it's what I do naturally. So I started this blog, ExpeditionKristen.com, to just really share my love for Minnesota. It's heavily focused on outdoor things that you can do in Minnesota. … So it's a way for me to share my love of Minnesota and to help other people find some of the hidden gems that this, I think, very underrated state has to offer. Kristen I love that Minnesotans just like completely embrace winter, and that's how you get through it. People go ice fishing, and hunting and cross country skiing is really popular. And they'll have tons of different festivals on the frozen lakes. Ice hockey, golf events on frozen lakes, kite festivals. … So it's like, if you just have the right clothing and the right attitude, it's fine. Kristen For such a small little town, there's actually a lot of options for coffee and bakeries and all that kind of stuff. My first choice, though, is this place called Tandem Bagels. And the reason is because of their bagels. So I do have to admit, being a New Yorker, I am a little bit of a bagel snob. And tandem bagels is amazing. Easily they have the best bagels anywhere in Minnesota that I have come across. So I'm an everything bagel kind of girl, and it's like, they do it right. Kristen I keep using the word quaint, but that's exactly what it is. It's an adorable little town on the river with two beautiful colleges. In the summertime, there's farmer's markets. Which, I love going to those. They have live music and a lot of local vendors selling baked goods and crafts and homemade woodwork, and all kinds of really cool things. There's so many wonderful family-owned farms around town where you can pick blueberries or strawberries or pumpkins and apples. And there's a great yoga studio and a couple of breweries. I'm also a knitter, and there's a family-owned yarn store in town and an independent bookstore. There's just so much personality, and on top of all of it, you know, it's only 45 minutes away from Minneapolis, and it's super affordable. And they actually have excellent public schools. So it just is this all-around wonderful place, and it really, it really has it all! Kristen Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part! If you’ve been enjoying the show, please also consider leaving me a review in Apple Podcasts. It’s super easy; click here and go to “ratings and reviews.” I read and appreciate every single one! Each review helps new listeners find the podcast. Thank you!! Follow Cinders Travels on Facebook or Locals Knows Best Podcast on Instagram for Locals Know Best updates. | |||