Locals Know Best – Details, episodes & analysis

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!

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 makes Leavenworth so picturesque and unique and "the recreation Mecca of Washington."
• Why people are drawn to Leavenworth for the holidays.
• A pro tip on the ideal time to see the Leavenworth holiday lights.
• What time of the year Christmas-town is in full effect.
• How you can see the Leavenworth lights from your couch.
• The best and worst times of year to visit Leavenworth.
• What each season in Leavenworth has to offer visitors.
• Which part of town is optimal for an Airbnb rental.
• The best spot in town for coffee and biscuit breakfast sandwiches, and what time you should be there to make sure you get a biscuit.
• The best spots to ski and snowboard near Leavenworth, and how to fit in a whitewater kayaking adventure on the way back!
• The best part of the river for a more relaxed inner tube float or standup paddleboarding with incredible views.
• A fantastic sandwich spot you won’t walk away from hungry.
• The best sausage garden in town to get a bratwurst.
• All of the incredible professionally maintained mountain biking trail options available in town and a few of Tom's favorites.
• A historically prominent ski hill area that hosts bikers in the summer and skiers and tubers in the winter.
• The nordic skiing that is also available in the area.
• The "buffet of hiking" offered in Leavenworth.
• Two of my favorite hikes around this area (and one ends at the view seen in the cover image for this podcast!)
• The optimal spots in town for beer, dinner, and craft cocktails.
• The music scene in Leavenworth.
• The best Instagram spot in town.
• Two underrated spots in town you should be sure not to miss.

"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

• Leavenworth Live Webcams

• Airbnb Rental Homes

• Stevens Pass
• Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort
• Tumwater Canyon
• Leavenworth Ski Hill
• Freund Canyon Mountain Bike Trail
• Rosy Boa Mountain Bike Trail
• Ribbed Mountain Bike Trail
• Colchuck Lake Trailhead
• Icicle Ridge Trail
• Snow Lakes Trailhead
• Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
• Leavenworth Reindeer Farm

• Argonaut Espresso Bar
• Parsley's Pantry
• München Haus
• Icicle Brewing Company
• Sulla Vita
• Wok About Mongolian Grill
• Pika Provisions

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.

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!

Kristan 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.

• Many of the outdoor products created, and small businesses run, in Maine.
• Maine’s outdoor-focused lifestyle.
• Maritime life, the sailing scene in Portland, and a nonprofit focused on affordably introducing people to the sport.
• What makes running a small business in Maine so unique, and why Maine is a great place for aspiring entrepreneurs!
• The best and worst times of year to visit Portland, Maine.
• The difference between Maine's on and off-season, and why there’s something to be appreciated in both.
• Where to ski near Portland.
• A noteworthy winter dog sledding excursion you don’t find everywhere.
• A winter festival focused on exposing locals to experiences instead of shopping.
• A distinctive historical hotel to stay at in Portland.
• The ultimate spots in town to stroll and watch the ferries.
• Where to get the finest cup of coffee in the city.
• What part of town is ideal for scenery, and which part is best for nightlife.
• The best destinations for breakfast, seafood, drinks, and snacks!
• Why you should consider enjoying the water via a hands-on historic tall ship tour instead of the typical powerboats.
• The optimal restaurant in town to have a cocktail and lobster roll by the water.
• How climate change is affecting the lobster industry and how the industry is pivoting.
• What wine and oysters have in common.
• Where to go oyster shucking!
• The best family and pet-friendly hiking options nearby.
• Portland's music scene.
• The most beautiful place for an Instagram picture in Portland.
• An overrated spot in Portland, and how to avoid it.

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

• The Press Hotel, Autograph Collection

• Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort
• Sunday River Ski Resort
• Dog sledding with the Mahoosuc Guide Services
• Tours and Tickets by Portland Tall Ship Cruise
• Maine Windjammer Association
• Maine Maritime Museum
• Peaks Island
• Eastern Promenade Trail
• Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad
• Sea Bags Flagship Store
• Mere Point Oyster Company
• Bradbury Mountain State Park
• Custom House Wharf

• State Theatre
• One Longfellow Square
• Thompson’s Point

• Coffee by Design
• Commercial Street
• Bayside American Cafe
• The Holy Donut
• Luke’s Lobster Portland Pier
• The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
• Maine Beer Company
• Eventide Oyster Co.

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.

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.

Sam 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 makes Asheville, NC, worth visiting.
• The best and worst time of year to visit Asheville, NC.
• A beautiful outdoorsy lodge deemed the best spot to stay in Asheville.
• What the Asheville Airbnb scene looks like.
• A fantastic breakfast destination, known for fresh coffee, homemade donuts, and large servings.
• The best spot in the area for mountain biking.
• The most gorgeous waterfall trails in the area.
• The superior taco spot in Asheville, NC.
• Some of the most fun shops in Asheville, NC, including one that sells plants, coffee, and used books!
• Kayaking and tubing options throughout town, and why those are the best ways to arrive at New Belgium Brewery.
• Which of the many breweries in western North Carolina should not be missed.
• Where to get excellent burgers and views for dinner.
• The sense of community in Asheville and why it’s calling to city folk from all around.
• Two ice cream destinations that should be on your itinerary.
• The two most picturesque spots in town.
• An overrated brewery, restaurant, and hike, and recommended alternative destinations.

“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

• Bent Creek Lodge
• Airbnbs:
  • Sam’s Asheville Airbnb
  • The Asheville Airbnb Barrett and I stayed in years ago with Pinball Machines

• Blue Ridge Parkway
• DuPont State Recreational Forest
• Ridgeline Trail
• Hooker Falls
• Triple Falls Trail
• High Falls Trail
• River Arts District
• Kayaking or Tubing on the French Broad River with French Broad Outfitters
• Catawba Falls Trail
• Skinny Dip Falls Trail

Get the best deals on outdoor adventure tours in the Asheville area on Viator.com

• Ivory Road Cafe & Kitchen
• Taco Billy
• New Belgium Brewing
• Wedge Brewing
• Sierra Nevada Brewery
• Burial Beer
• Green Man Brewery
• Wicked Weed Brewing
• Hi-Wire Brewing
• The Funkatorium
• Smoky Park Supper Club
• Sunshine Sammies
• Ultimate Ice Cream Company

• Whist
• Flora

• The Biltmore
• The Omni Grove Park Inn

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. 

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.

• Why her product, the Shower Toga, is perfect for hikers, tent campers, and runners.
• How Woodstock, GA, has maintained a small-town feel amid US expansion.
• Why Woodstock, GA, is worth a visit.
• A nearby Hallmark-esqe town that’s also worth visiting.
• The best and worst time of year to visit Woodstock, GA.
• A local destination you must visit during the winter.
• The best spots to stay (and camp) in Woodstock, GA.
• The optimal place in town for breakfast, snacks, and coffee.
• An unrivaled local area for biking, running, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
• How to find epic waterfalls in Woodstock, GA.
• Two of the finest places for lunch, one with a very talented chef and another with epic garlic rolls.
• A few local lakes and mountain destinations worth a visit.
• An exhilarating activity worth checking out (and the safest company to book with.)
• Where to find unsurpassable margarita’s and martini’s in town.
• The most beautiful Instagram spot in Woodstock, GA.
• Where you need to go to get a panoramic view of Atlanta.
• A destination in the area that is not overrated for beauty, but for its ability to provide peace and quiet, and what you should know before visiting.
• How to watch Kressa’s Shark Tank Episode – Season 10 on Hulu!

"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."

Where the Locals Stay:

• Airbnb
• Red Top Mountain State Park

Outdoor Destinations Mentioned in this Episode’s “Perfect Day”:

• Red Top Mountain State Park
• Olde Rope Mill Park
• Lake Allatoona
• Kennesaw Mountain
• Yonah Mountain
• Spaceland
• Stone Mountain
• Lake Lanier
• Carters Lake

Restaurants and Bars Mentioned in this Episode:

• Copper Coin
• Century House
• Ipp’s Pastaria & Bar
• Ippolito’s Neighborhood Italian
• El Jinete Mexican Restaurant Roswell
• ICE

Instagram Photo Spots Mentioned in this Episode:

• Olde Rope Mill Park

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.

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!"

Mike 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.

• Why New Jersey is not what you initially think it is and why it's worth a stop for outdoors lovers.
• The best and worst time of year to visit New Jersey.
• The best spot to stay in Northeastern New Jersey.
• The fact that New Jersey has more diners than any other state in the country.
• A place that cannot be missed for breakfast - the number one diner in New Jersey.
• A mountainous reservation where you can see over 150 species of birds.
• A beautiful and recommended trail with a spooky ghost story.
• The second-best diner in the state that you should also be sure not to miss!
• Disco Fries: A New Jersey staple.
• A state park complete with a tourable historical Manor and botanical gardens.
• A family-friendly lake perfect for swimming, paddling, and enjoying ice cream.
• A trail with climbing, rock scramble, caves, views, wildlife, and a UFO story.
• A waterfall trail that hits up two states at once with views of NYC.
• The best spots in Montclair for dinner, fat sandwiches, milkshakes, and ice cream.
• A reservation with a 9/11 memorial that looks over NYC and is perfect for wrapping up the day.
• A town in the area that is the self-proclaimed cherry blossom capital of the world.
• A few New Jersey party zones.
• A picturesque old building that was used in the film "A Beautiful Mind."
• The best Instagram spots in northeastern New Jersey.
• An overrated Instafamous trail in the area, and the trails you should hit up instead.

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.

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.

...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.

If you're in New Jersey, you absolutely have to get some Disco Fries.

...I'm a hiking guy. So you always have to hit the trails when you're with me.

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.

...since we've hiked so much today, I think we've earned a fat sandwich or two.

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.

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.

• Archer Hotel Florham Park

• Garret Mountain Reservation & Barbour Pond
• Lambert Tower
• Ringwood State Park
• Skylands Manor
• New Jersey Botanical Garden
• Boat Rentals at Shepard Lake Recreation Area
• Norvin Green State Forest
• Hewitt-Butler, Highlands, Roomy Mine and Mine Trail
• Wanaque Reservoir UFO story
• Long Path & Shore Loop Trail
• Eagle Rock Reservation
• Branch Brook Park
• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
• Stairway To Heaven Trail

• Tops Diner
• Pompton Queen Diner
• Raymond's
• CARS: Sandwiches & Shakes
• Applegate Farm
• The Whiskey Priest
• BarCode
• Hoboken, NJ Area

• Soho Hospital
• Branch Brook Park
• Eagle Rock Reservation

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. 

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!

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.

• Whether or not getting outside in Brooklyn, NY, is affordable and accessible.
• What should bring an outdoorsy and adventurous person to Brooklyn, NY.
• The best way to spend time outside and feel like a tourist in your own city.
• The best and worst time of year to visit Brooklyn, NY.
• The best Brooklyn neighborhoods to rent an Airbnb.
• The best area in Brooklyn, NY, to start your day off with morning coffee and views.
• An affordable way to bike around Brooklyn and a path through a park that must be taken.
• A historic neighborhood with beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets that's worth exploring.
• The best spots in Fort Greene for lunch and afternoon coffee.
• Five Brooklyn parks worth visiting.
• How to find and hike in New York City's only forest and get lost in the biggest city in the United States.
• A trendy Brooklyn, NY neighborhood best for dinner and drinks.
• The three best Instagram spots in Brooklyn, NY.
• Why you don't have to spend a lot of money to eat well in Brooklyn, NY.
• If you're into the great outdoors, why Brooklyn is worth exploring over the other boroughs.

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.

And 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.

Honestly, 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.

 You don’t have to spend a ton of money to enjoy yourself with food and drink in New York. 

Food 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.

If you don’t come to Brooklyn, you won’t know what you’re missin’.

• Airbnb’s in any of the following neighborhoods:
  • Brooklyn Heights
  • DUMBO
  • Carroll Gardens
  • Cobble Hill
  • Park Slope
  • Prospect Heights
  • Fort Greene
  • Vinegar Hill
  • Downtown Brooklyn
  • Crown Heights

• Citi Bikes
• Brooklyn Heights Promenade
• Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Old Pier 1
• Cadman Plaza Park
• Fort Greene Park
• Prospect Park Hiking Trails
• Long Meadow Ballfields
• Brooklyn Bridge
• Grand Army Plaza

• Brooklyn Heights Guide from halfhalftravel.com (including local secrets!)
• Feeling adventurous? You can actually avoid tourists in the Brooklyn neighborhood mentioned here.

• Brooklyn Heights
• DUMBO
• Cobble Hill
• Boerum Hill
• Fort Greene
• Park Slope

• Joe Coffee
• National
• Hungry Ghost
• The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
• Uncle Barry’s
• Nacho Macho Taco

• Brooklyn Heights Promenade
• Brooklyn Bridge
• Grand Army Plaza

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. 

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!

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 makes the Shawnee National Forest area so different than the rest of the prairie state of Illinois.
• Why the Giant City State Park area can give you the biggest bang for your buck when visiting this area.
• The best and worst time of year to visit Shawnee National Forest, Illinois.
• Why this area is “not an amusement park, where everything is safety checked. This is mother nature.”
• Where to stay when visiting Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park, including an upscale boutique option.
• The best places for coffee and pastries near Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park.
• The best places to zip around in the canopy, ride horseback, bike, spend time on the lake, rock climb, and rappel.
• The best meal to order for lunch at the rustic Giant City Lodge.
• A not-to-be-missed Instagram worth lookout spot.
• Why the visitor center is worth a stop.
• The best trails to hike in Giant City State Park.
• A Mother-Daughter run ranch where you can paint or do yoga with alpacas!
• The best local wineries to wind down at after a long day outdoors.
• The best spot for dinner in the Shawnee National Forest area.
• The best Instagram locations in Shawnee National Forest.

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.

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?

Carol: 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].

Carol: 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.

Carol: 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.

Check out listings for other Shawnee National Forest Cabins options on Airbnb.

• Zip through the canopy on a Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour.
• Take a horseback trail ride from Giant City Stables.
• Climb the spiral staircase on the Giant City water tower.
• Hike the Trillium trail or the Giant City Nature Trail in Giant City State Park, or any of the many other Shawnee National Forest hiking trails.
• Meet alpacas up close at Rolling Oak Alpaca Ranch or sign up for Alpaca Yoga Classes or Alpaca Painting Classes.
• Bike through the park via an eBike from Shawnee Hills eBike Rentals.
• Kayak, Canoe, Camp, and Fish at Little Grassy Lake Campground and Marina.
• Rock climb and rappel in Giant City State Park.

• Kiki’s Coffeehouse
• Davis Pastry
• Giant City State Park Lodge & Restaurant
• Blue Sky Vineyard
• StarView Vineyards
• Brick House Grill

• Devil’s Stand Table
• Giant City Water Tower
• Bald Knob Cross
• Inspiration Point

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. 

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!

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 would motivate a family of globetrotting Australians to settle down in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• The best and worst time of year to visit Raleigh, NC.
• A local's two favorite hotels to stay at in Raleigh, including one boutique hotel and one hidden secret on a lake.
• The best spot to get a traditional southern breakfast in Raleigh, NC.
• A local coffee spot that pours a "perfect cup."
• A spot in Raleigh where you can hike, bike, kayak, and paddleboat on a lake amongst the pine and oak trees.
• The best spot for brunch with views of the city.
• A popular, casual lunch option that caters to everyone and serves up delicious mimosa buckets.
• An 11-mile bike trail that's great for seeing the area, as well as taking in some culture.
• A lake an hour outside of the city where there are no crowds, and you can enjoy all of your water activities.
• The best spot for dinner in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• The best bars and breweries to wind down at after a long day of adventure.
• The two best spots to watch the sunset in Raleigh, NC.
• How to find a popular Instagram spot in the city.
• An overrated neighborhood in Raleigh, and where you should spend your time instead.

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.

• The Longleaf Hotel
• The StateView Hotel

• Lake Raleigh on Centennial Campus
• Moore Square
• Lake Johnson
• How to Bike the Art to Heart Trail at the North Carolina Museum of Art
• North Carolina State University
• Jordan Lake
• John H. Kerr Reservoir
• Falls Lake
• Dorothea Dix Park

• 34 Reasons we love living in Raleigh, NC

• Warehouse District
• Boylan Heights
• Cary
• Person Street District
• North Hills
• Hargett Street Area
• Historic Oakwood

• Big Ed's City Market Restaurant
• Heirloom
• Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
• Morgan Street Food Hall
• Bond Brothers Beer Company
• Crawford & Son
• Watts & Ward

• Boylan Bridge
• All Are Welcome Raleigh Mural at Poole'side Pies

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. 

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.

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 causes the Central Sierra Nevada area to remain undeveloped.
• Why visitors from Los Angeles and San Francisco should consider the area if they’re tired of the Tahoe and Mammoth crowds.
• The best time of year to visit the Central Sierra Nevada.
• The best outdoor activities to be enjoyed in the area during each season.
• The best local spots for skiing, rafting, biking, hiking, sailing, boating, and water skiing.
• What makes China Peak Mountain Resort a great place to ski.
• The best camping areas throughout the Central Sierra Nevada area.
• A unique inn you have to walk 5 miles into the middle of the wilderness to find.
• The best locations to rent cabins throughout the Central Sierra Nevada area.
• What makes checking out “typical cowboy bars in typical small mountain towns” so much fun.
• The best restaurant to get dinner in the Central Sierra Nevada area.
• A beautiful Instagram spot that came out of an awful natural disaster in the Central Sierra Nevada area.
• A few overrated places in Central Sierra Nevada and where you should go instead to get an even better experience.
• A lake area that you’d never expect attracts Hollywood celebrity visitors.
• A local’s recommended path to take from Yosemite National Park to Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks, that stays within the mountains.

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.

If 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.

You could spend a whole summer just in this region, not go more than a hundred miles, and just see some amazing places.

If 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.

• Forest Service Campgrounds
  • Kaiser Pass
  • Lake Thomas A Edison
  • Florence Lake Campground
• Muir Trail Ranch (called the “John Muir Inn” on the podcast)
• Cabins at Shaver Lake, Florence Lake, Edison, and Vermillion Valley
• Condos in Lakeshore on Airbnb
• Foothills area on Airbnb
• Tenaya Lodge

• North Fork
• China Peak Mountain Resort
• San Joaquin River
• Kings River
• Kings River Expeditions
• Ansel Adams Wilderness Area Permits
• Huntington Lake
• Shaver Lake
• Camp Edison
• Lakeshore
• Bass Lake

• Stonehouse Tavern & Eatery
• Buckhorn at China Peak Mountain Resort
• Don Fernando’s Mexican Restaurant
• Trading Post
• Ositos Mexican Pub
• The Point

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. 

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.

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.

• The best and worst time of year to visit Las Vegas, NV.
• A local's favorite hotel to play and stay.
• The best spots to get coffee and breakfast in Las Vegas, NV.
• All of the best sights to see at Valley of Fire State Park.
• How to get to free hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon that you don't need a reservation to hike.
• A neighborhood with the best food in the city.
• A delicious, not to be missed, three-course dessert experience.
• Tons of other things you can do in the area if you've already been to Red Rock and Valley of Fire.
• How to hike to Hot Springs in the area.
• Where you can hike nearby to see epic sunsets and waterfalls.
• The best local spot for boating.
• The best Instagram spots in Las Vegas, NV.
• One overrated attraction in Las Vegas, NV, and where you should go instead to get an even better experience.
• A few must-visit attractions on the strip.
• The best of the best of the strip and Fremont, according to a local.

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 Where the locals stay in Las Vegas, NV
  • Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa
    Outdoor Activities Mentioned in this Episode's "perfect day":
  • Valley of Fire State Park
    • Atlatl Rock
    • Fire Wave
    • Rainbow Vista
  • Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
    • Calico Basin
    • Kraft Mountain Loop Trail
    • Ash Canyon Trail
    • First Creek Trail
    • Oak Creek Trail
    Extra "Beyond the Strip" Outdoor Activities Mentioned in the Episode
  • Hoover Dam
  • Grand Canyon National Park
  • Arizona Hot Spring Trail
  • Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail
  • Historic Railroad Hiking Trail
  • Death Valley National Park
  • Zion National Park
  • Rhyolite
  • Mount Charleston
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area
  • Willow Beach
  Las Vegas, NV Restaurants Mentioned in this Episode:
  • Makers & Finders
  • Red Rock Grand Café
  • The Cracked Egg
  • La Cantine
  • 888 Korean BBQ
  • Nabe
  • Sweets Raku
  Las Vegas, NV Instagram Photo Spots Mentioned in this Episode:
  • Seven Magic Mountains
  • Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck
  • Fountains of Bellagio
  • Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

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.

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.