Travel Connections – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Is a California road trip on your bucket list? Have you been? Have you traveled through the Central Coast of California? This episode focuses on a small area of California just north of Santa Barbara. What a place!

In this episode, I share what we did, where we ate, and what we sipped. It was a glorious road trip curated by my daughter-in-law, Kylie. However, I had a BIG reason for creating this adventure! I discovered Elizabeth Poett through her television show called Ranch to Table. Once I learned more about her unique Gatherings at their 14,000-acre ranch, Rancho San Julian, I knew I had to go!

We created a California road trip to the Central Coast all around this special dinner at Rancho San Julian, which is about an hour north of Santa Barbara.

I share the details of this exceptional dinner, highlights of our meals along the way, and excellent wineries you need to visit! I love that this itinerary was specially curated for our taste, but once we went, I knew that you needed to hear all about it. Thank you, Kylie, for your incredible eye for detail and for creating such a fantastic itinerary. Here we go!

• Our exceptional experience at a delicious Ranch Table Event at Rancho San Julian with host Elizabeth Poett
• Fly into Santa Barbara Airport - It's fantastic!
• Travel for a reason
• Plan in advance
• The benefits of reserving an Airbnb with a small group
• Leave room for spontaneity and serendipity in your travels
• The unique details of our winery tours and dining experiences in the area are incredible! See the links below!

Next on Travel Connections!

A special interview with Elizabeth Poett from Ranch to Table - Publishing November 1, 2024

Suzanne's Next BIG Trip: South America with Collette! Stay Tuned - There are a few introductory details in this episode! Check out our social media channels to follow along: @suzannestavert on Instagram and @AdventuresofEmptyNesters on Facebook.

Dining on this California Central Coast Road Trip

The Ranch Table

Bar Le Cote

Bell's

Bob's Well Bread Bakery

Little King

Peasants Deli

The Hitching Post II

Wineries:

Future Perfect

Liquid Farm

Brave and Maiden

Spear

The Hilt Estate

Sea Creatures

Other Road Trip Episodes Mentioned in this Episode:

Kentucky:

A Conversation About Bourbon with The Experts at Woodford Reserve

Delicious Southern Food & The Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Ouita Michel

Angela Correll: Kentucky Writer, Traveler & Hospitality Innovator

Hidden Gems in Kentucky and Other Compelling Stories

From Montana to Calgary

Best of: Our Road Trip to Banff, Lake Louise & Calgary, Canada

Welcome to another of my Best of Series of episodes. This is where I talk about the highlights of a fantastic travel itinerary. In this episode, I describe our tremendously successful road trip from Whitefish, Montana, to Calgary, Canada, which includes the most picturesque destinations of Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake.

It was really well planned, not too hard to execute and I did learn some tips along the way that I do think will help you a great deal. You can take what I've done and mold it to what you like to do, and hopefully, this gives you a framework for how to build your road trip through such a remarkably beautiful landscape.

• What makes a trip successful?
• How to use this episode as an inspiration for your next road trip to Banff and beyond
• Don't miss Glacier National Park in Montana!
• The beauty of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
• How tourist crowds can affect your trip
• Why stepping out of your comfort zone can enhance your travel experience
• What is the Calgary Stampede, and why should you go?

Glacier National Park

• Lake McDonald Lodge
• Russel's Fireside Dining

Banff, Canada - Favorite Dining/Bar Experiences

• Lupo
• The Bison
• Banff Springs Fairmont Hotel - Rundle Bar

Calgary, Canada

• Calgary Stampede
• Hyatt Regency Calgary

Welcome to today’s episode devoted to our epic road trip in Arizona. Don't miss the links at the bottom! If you would like to go straight to the highlights and links to restaurants and activities just scroll on down!

This episode was not originally on the editorial calendar. But to be perfectly honest, I planned such a fantastic itinerary for this Spring Training, great food, beautiful landscapes, Grand Canyon Adventure, that I had to share it with you. Imagine us just sitting together over a cup of coffee or a craft cocktail and you saying, "So, how was your trip to Arizona?"

I am kind of embarrassed to admit that we had never been to Sedona or the Grand Canyon, but I soon learned that many of you hadn't either! Now you will have an itinerary to use as a base for your next epic road trip in Arizona!

Every detail of the itinerary went perfectly! We are always open to learning about new places to visit, and we used several suggestions from various sources to create this long weekend vacation.

• Spring Training do's and don'ts - "Hot" Tips too
• Fantastic restaurants
• A new to us hotel that was once a private home
• Learning to navigate rain while traveling
• A spectacular chapel built in the red rocks of Sedona
• A distillery with postcard views that will blow your mind
• Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time during a light snowfall - Epic!

Important Links:

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Phoenix:

Tratto

Pizzeria Bianco

Mastros Ocean Club

Royal Palms Hotel

Sedona:

L'Auberge de Sedona

Mariposa

Dahl and DiLuca

Redwall Distillery

Wildflower

Pink Jeep Tours

Chapel of the Holy Cross

Welcome to another episode of Travel Connections. Once again, we hit a home run with our next guest. Aurora Echo lives on Whidbey Island, WA, and owns a delightfully successful business called Wildly Beloved Foods. 

It's interesting; Aurora only validates that every time I visit Whidbey Island, WA, I meet someone new who impresses me. I am once again reminded of how exceptional this destination truly is. My husband and I have visited the island many times, rain or shine, during the summer or while the snow is falling. It is located only about an hour north of Seattle, depending on traffic and ferry wait time. We absolutely love it. 

Whidbey Island and the people who live there are so fascinating that you will find that we have created several podcast episodes in which I have interviewed many intriguing guests who all live on the island. What better way to share a destination than to tell the story through the locals who live there?

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet a powerhouse of a woman who created her own business out of necessity and from a passion for culinary adventures. Aurora Echo created Wildly Beloved Foods, where she makes delicious pasta with healthy, organic ingredients. The minute I met her, I knew she had to come on the podcast and tell her story. It's just too good! Her tenacity and strength to overcome many challenges and succeed to where she is right now inspires me!

• How passion and tenacity helped to create an organic pasta business
• Why organic food matters- What is the 'Dirty Dozen'?
• Aurora shares sage advice about starting a new business
• How does Whidbey Island fit into the success of Wildly Beloved Foods?
• What are some of the challenges that female business owners face?
• Why is environmentally friendly packaging important to Aurora?
• Suggestions for a trip to Whidbey Island, WA!

Website:

Wildly Beloved Foods

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

WildlyBelovedFoods

GoWhidbeyCamano

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Other Podcast Episodes Featuring Whidbey Island:

A Spectacular Weekend on Whidbey Island - I am Smitten!

A Conversation with Restaurateur Jenn Jurrians

Art & Life on Whidbey Island with Holly & David Price

Kayaking and Island Life on Whidbey Island

Orchard Kitchen: Farm-Focused Fine Dining

Regenerative Travel on Whidbey and Camano Islands

In this episode, we travel to Tuscany, but we make a couple of stops first.

Angela Correll is one of just a few guests who have appeared on my show more than once. However, back in October 2022, our conversation was not about Italy; it focused on all things Kentucky. She was an essential part of a three-episode series devoted to my passion for this beautiful state and, of course, the Bourbon Trail.

Here's an interesting side story: Angela and I first met in Tuscany when she and her husband Jess were saying goodbye to friends in front of their home. I was in Tuscany working with Tuscan Women Cook, an Italian Cooking school inside the medieval walls of Angela's Italian village.

Our travel connection in Tuscany allowed for further connections with Kentucky. What a fantastic coincidence!

I intentionally share these travel connections with you because stepping out of our comfort zone, especially while traveling, so often enhances our lives in ways we never dreamed of. I love sharing my travel connections with you! Here's more about Angela!

Angela Correll is the author of Restored in Tuscany, released in March 2024. She also has written Grounded, Guarded and Granted, a trilogy of novels that became Amazon bestsellers and have been adapted to the stage for sold-out audiences at the Pioneer Playhouse, Kentucky's oldest outdoor theater. 

I have read them all and absolutely loved them!

Angela and her husband Jess are co-founders of Wilderness Road Hospitality, a suite of businesses on Main Street of Stanford, Kentucky's second-oldest city.

The couple have been traveling to Italy for nearly twenty-five years but recently made a second home in a small hilltop village by restoring a former horse stable inside the medieval walls of a tiny town called Montofollonico. These experiences formed the basis of her travel memoir, Restored in Tuscany: A True Story of Facing Loss, Finding Beauty, and Moving Forward with Hope. 

I have the unique perspective of spending a great deal of time in this magical Italian town, and I am so excited to share our conversation about one of my favorite places on Earth.

• How did Angela transition from writing fiction to memoir?
• Why is Italy such a healing place?
• Why are the natural rhythms of the Tuscan village so soothing?
• What steps must we take to slow down and enjoy life more?
• Excellent advice from Angela on how to do some "pruning" before we can embark on new adventures
• Thoughtful lessons from her book Restored In Tuscany
• What must we do to embrace a new season of life?

Important Links:

AngelaCorrell.com

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Tuscan Women Cook

Instagram

@AngelaBCorrell

Facebook

Angela Correll

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Travel Connections Kentucky Series

Welcome to our third and final episode devoted to our tour of Southern Africa. We recorded three episodes that focused entirely on this spectacular experience on this tour by Collette.

In Episode One, I talk with my husband, Craig, about the tour's unique details. In Episode 2, I interviewed our tour manager, Samantha Johnson, who ensured we all had everything we needed and the tour ran smoothly.

 I am sad to see the end of this series. This Southern Africa tour was incredible and magical, and I truly enjoyed sharing these details with you.

The tour by Collette is called Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari By Land and By Water. You can find the links to the tour and other things we discussed below.

In this episode, I interview Terry Anders, the owner and operator of Iganyana, a luxury tented camp in Zimbabwe. During our stay at Iganyana, Terry and his team are responsible for creating some of the most amazing experiences of our tour!

Terry Anders grew up in a small country town in Zimbabwe, and during our conversation, he shared how growing up in the outdoors shaped who he is today. He started as a young apprentice, and then after 4-5 years of education, experience, and rigorous testing, he began his travel career. 

He and his wife created Iganyana, and Iganyana means spotted dog. You will hear all the details of the camp, which is located on the African savannah in Hwange National Park. When I envisioned what I thought a tented camp would look and feel like, ironically, it looked just like Iganyana. 

Terry's stories are captivating and he describes the African- tented camp as "simple luxury". I concur! Our experience at the camp included the "most memorable travel experience of my life." Truly.

• Hospitality in Africa
• The beauty of simple luxury and how to define it
• Details of The Presidential Herd of elephants that live nearby
• How to keep the pool clean when the elephants come to visit
• How Iganyana was constructed to blend in with nature
• What is the benefit of a walking safari, and why is it different?
• The huge impact and importance of tourism in Africa

Important Links:

Episode One of the Africa Series with Craig Stavert

Episode Two of the Africa Series with Samantha Johnson of Collette

Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari By Land and By Water

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Collette

Iganyana Tented Camp

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram

Iganyana Tented Camp

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Collette

Welcome to Episode Two of our African Safari series. In Episode One, I interview and talk with my husband, Craig Stavert. We share many details of what it was really like going on safari with Collette. It is a great way to begin this series of episodes.

Now, in Episode Two, you meet Samantha Johnson. She was our Collette tour guide, and she managed our experience perfectly. The tour is called Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari By Land and By Water. This is a small group tour, where we bonded easily with the guests and had a blast getting to know each other.

This woman has touched my heart, and I cannot wait for you to get to know her as well. It is an extraordinary experience for me to meet someone like Samantha. I don't mean to be dramatic, but meeting her has absolutely 100% changed my life for the better. She introduced me to a world in Africa I never knew. It's a wonderful privilege.

Samantha has 27 years of experience in the tourism business in Africa; she is highly knowledgeable and passionate about sharing her beloved Africa with all of the guests on tour. Samantha begins our interview by telling us a little bit about growing up in Apartheid, having a black father and a white mother, and the struggles that they had to endure. You will be captivated.

We then talk about what it is really like on safari with Collette. (It's out of this world!) She shares how wild animals are a part of everyday life in Africa and that her "peace" came from the animals.

• Details of Chobe National Park, where there are 70,000 elephants, several prides of lions, 450 species of birds, enormous giraffes, dazzles of zebras, herds of kudu, impalas everywhere, leopards, hippos and so much more!
• The importance of tourism in Africa
• Why Africa should be at the top of your bucket list and doable!
• How the local people enhance your experience in Africa
• The many incredible surprises that the tour offers
• How Collette creates the perfect tour by land and by water

Important Links:

Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari By Land and By Water

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Collette

Iganyana Tented Camp

Welcome to Season Three! I so appreciate you joining me as we head into 2024 with the Travel Connections Podcast. Once again, our episodes will be filled with fascinating people sharing unique stories. You will be enlightened and entertained and gain knowledge you didn't know you needed! This episode is the perfect way to add to your research for your next trip.

In today's episode, we begin a three-part series featuring our recent tour of Southern Africa with Collette.

I have been traveling as a Brand Ambassador with Collette for the past six years, where I have been to Japan, Iceland, and now Africa. Everyone at Collette does a superb job planning and executing their tours. To learn more about my first two tours, visit AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com and type Japan and Iceland in the search bar. The link is also listed below.

My husband Craig and I were invited to join a small group tour called Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari By Land & By Water. Oh my goodness, I can't say enough about this experience. It was a dream trip and exceeded all of my expectations, and you will have the opportunity to hear so much in this episode, as well as Episodes 2 and 3.

But first, let me tell you a little about my husband, Craig Stavert. Craig and I met in high school, went to different colleges, and will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in October. Where did the time go? We have been traveling together since our honeymoon to Maui & Kauai.

We did not travel that much when our kids were younger due to school activities and sports obligations. However, once the kids left the nest, it was game on, and we have not stopped exploring the world.

Craig's business career has been in the tech industry, running global sales organizations. He was traveling a great deal, and since the kids were grown, it was time for me to get back out there. I created the Adventures of Empty Nesters blog ten years ago. I was initially writing about life in the Empty Nest but then pivoting to writing about my travel experiences. Now, I work with global travel brands, sharing their destinations and stories through my podcast.

Now that you have a little background on the two of us, here are some of the episode's highlights!

• Why is Africa a bucket list destination?
• What is a typical day like on safari?
• Lunch at the home of a local woman named Audrey in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
• The astounding access to wildlife in their natural habitat
• The power, size, and magnitude of Victoria Falls
• "Ellies at night" - The extraordinary gift
• The special benefits of small group tours and how Collette gets it right
• Craig explains his quote, "You go to Africa for the wildlife, but it's the people that you remember the most."
• PLUS SO MUCH MORE!

Important Links:

Wildnerness of Southern Africa: Safari By Land and By Water

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Collette

Iganyana Tented Camp

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

Collette

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Suzanne Stavert

Are road trips on your radar? Are you looking for US destinations that are "off the beaten path" and super interesting? You are in the right place. Today's special guest will probably make you laugh as well as enlighten you with his vast knowledge of road trip destinations.

Bill Clevlen of Bill on the Road, is the king of road trips; he has written five books about it to prove it!  I feel like everyone recently has jumped on the road trip idea as part or all of their travel plans. Craig and I have done much more road-tripping in the last couple of years, have you?

Also, totally random information, Have you ever wondered where Pickleball began?? Well, Bill can answer those questions as well and will share some fun and exciting tips for road trips across the United States.

But first, I will offer you a proper bio for Bill Clevlen.

"Bill On The Road" was born in 2013 after long-time St. Louis radio broadcaster Bill Clevlen became fed up with reading negative stories about cities and states. Bill launched a website focusing on road trips and highlighting only the positives.

Clevlen's Bill On The Road stories can be heard on popular syndicated radio programs like RMWorld Travel and The Travel Planners Radio Show as well as television stations and traditional media outlets across the U.S. Bill is also a regular contributor to a national audience on SiriusXM satellite radio. 

He is the author of five travel books, including The Ultimate American Music Bucket List. He's a frequent guest speaker for conferences and a lecturer on travel topics for The Smithsonian.

Bill regularly produces digital video content for major tourism organizations and has worked with hundreds of destinations nationwide. From Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco and everywhere in between, Bill On The Road has helped roadtrippers find unique and exciting things to do while driving across America.

• How Bill went from a 20-year career in radio to travel writing
• Why did Bill successfully sell his house and stay "on the road" full-time
• The Origin of Pickle Ball
• Bill's 262-day road trip - Just the highlights...
• Valuable tips for how to miss the crowds when traveling
• Favorite destinations in the US

Books By Bill Clevlen

The Ultimate American Music Bucket List

Finding The American Dream – A Guided Tour of Places Where Americans Changed History

100 Things To Do in America Before You Die

Driving Across America

An American Road Trip For Kids

Important Links:

Bill on the Road

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

BillontheRoad

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

Billontheroadusa

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of EmptyNesters

Hello, and welcome to our newest episode of Travel Connections. If you have been following me for a while, you will probably know that I discovered Tuscan Women Cook back in 2016. I had a friend in common with today's special guest, Coleen Kirnan. Our friend Brenda connected the two of us, and boy, do I owe her a lot!

In 2017, Coleen invited me to go and experience TWC for myself, and I have been enamored with everything related to this beautiful destination ever since. I was so impressed and delighted with the entire experience.

I have been back to the program numerous times, and in June of 2023, Coleen and her team invited me to be an Ambassador with Tuscan Women Cook. I assist the guests and do everything I can to support the experience by helping with the cooking classes and even with some translation. Yes, it is a dream job, and I am lucky enough to have it.

However, you too, can experience the joys of Tuscan Women Cook by signing up to attend a week in this Italian paradise. 

Coleen Kirnan owns and hosts Tuscan Women Cook. You may recognize her name and remember her from Season One of the podcast. Coleen was one of my first guests on Travel Connections! You can listen to our first episode in Season One, Episode 3.

Her first career was as a successful commercial real estate business owner. While raising her family, she represented top-tier companies in multi-million dollar real estate transactions for over 30 years. As her kids grew up and moved out of the house, Coleen decided it was time for a change. She sold her thriving business and bought Tuscan Women Cook, a weeklong cooking/immersion school in a medieval Tuscan village. 

Since 2016, Coleen has grown the business tremendously and curated the program to find the perfect places to dine, cook, and discover. Tuscan Women Cook tours Pienza, Montepulciano, Siena, and many other fantastic local spots. There are wine tastings, dinners with wine pairings, honey tastings, lunches by the pool, dinners by candlelight, and incredible Italian food making.

In addition, she travels all over Italy and Europe to find the next best thing for her guests, whether it's part of the program or to share as recommendations.

• Coleen is celebrating 9+ years of owning Tuscan Women Cook
• How Tuscan Women Cook Italian Cooking School is the original regenerative travel experience
• What is it really like on a tour?
• How is Suzanne part of Tuscan Women Cook?
• What does it feel like to visit an 800-year-old wine cellar?
• Details of the cooking experience with the nonne (Italian grandmas)
• The magic of Tuscany

Who is ready to go back to Italy with Coleen and me? Coleen and the team handle every detail; your job is to get to Italy. As you have heard in this episode, I love this experience so much.

I am also super glad that Coleen and I were able to talk about the importance of responsible travel, as well as regenerative travel. The idea of giving back to the local destination and offering respect and admiration as a traveler is paramount.

Please check the links below for more information! Ciao for now!

Important Links!

Tuscan Women Cook

Travel Connections Podcast

Facebook:

Tuscan Women Cook

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

Tuscan Women Cook

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters