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Big Blend Radio travel podcast featuring expert interviews and conversations covering Travel and Leisure, Destinations, and Event News.

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#480
Tuesday · 26 min
Fallingwater & Beyond: Frank Lloyd Wright's Laurel Highlands
On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures" Podcast, travel writer Debbie Stone takes us to the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania. Most people know the area for Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous house, but it's actually a mecca for Wright's work. Debbie starts at Polymath Park, a private conservation effort by Tom and Heather Papinchak. There, two Wright homes, Duncan House and Mäntylä, were taken apart piece by piece in Illinois and Minnesota and rebuilt in the Pennsylvania woods. She shares what it's like to actually spend the night in Mäntylä, living with Wright's design and his blurring of indoors and outdoors, and waking to a deer crossing the yard. She also describes dinner in a private treehouse-style dining pod at TreeTops Restaurant, with Heather Papinchak as chef. From there it's on to Kentuck Knob, one of Wright's last projects. It has an "invisible" window, a Woodland Walk with a piece of the Berlin Wall, and a British lord as its current owner. The finale is Fallingwater, the cantilevered masterpiece built over a waterfall so the Kaufmann family could hear the water throughout the house, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read Debbie's article: - https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/frank-lloyd-wright-laurel-highlands Plan your visit: - Polymath Park: https://www.polymathpark.com - Kentuck Knob: https://www.kentuckknob.com - Fallingwater: https://www.fallingwater.com - Laurel Highlands: https://www.golaurelhighlands.com Global Adventures with Debbie Stone: - Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/global-adventures-with-debbie-stone - Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/global-adventures-travel-magazine
#479
Tuesday · 40 min
All Aboard! Exploring the Gulf Coast on Amtrak's Mardi Gras Train
Happy World Car Free Day! On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel with Terri" Podcast, travel journalist Terri Guthrie kicks off a new series exploring Amtrak's Mardi Gras Train, joined by Knox Ross, Chairman of the Southern Rail Commission. Terri just rode the full route herself — from New Orleans, through coastal Mississippi, to Mobile, Alabama — and shares what stood out most about slow train travel along the Gulf Coast: the wide seats and legroom, alligator sightings from the window, and the walkable hotel scene waiting at every stop. Knox walks through how the route came back after two decades without Gulf Coast passenger rail service post-Katrina, the Mississippi-led push to fund it, and why it's become one of the highest-rated customer service trains in the entire Amtrak system, with 150,000 riders in its first year. Along the way: the best places to stay near each station, why downtown Mobile is quietly having a food-and-culture renaissance, what's in the café car, and the Facebook community of Mardi Gras Train superfans already planning their next trip. This episode kicks off Big Blend Radio's new Mardi Gras Train series — stay tuned for upcoming episodes diving deeper into Bay St. Louis and Mobile. Links & Resources - Amtrak Mardi Gras Service: https://www.amtrak.com/mardigras - Southern Rail Commission – Mardi Gras Service: https://www.southernrailcommission.org/amtrak-mardi-gras-service Listen to Terri's New Orleans Episodes: - The Roosevelt: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/the-roosevelt-new-orleans - Travel New Orleans: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-new-orleans-with-terri Keep up with Terri's Podcast & Digital Podcast Magazine at https://www.travelwithterri.com/
#478
Tuesday · 22 min
Riviera Maya Uncovered: Sharon K. Kurtz on Lomas Hospitality's More Inclusive Escape
On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine, and Travel" Show, in partnership with the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz reports live from the Riviera Maya, where she's a guest of Lomas Hospitality at the adults-only El Dorado Royale. Sharon shares what makes Lomas's More Inclusive concept different from a typical all-inclusive stay, from cenote swimming and horseback riding at the Bonanza Ranch to snorkeling with sea turtles and stingrays off Maroma Beach. She also talks culinary culture at the Fuentes Culinary Theatre, Grupo Lomas's 45-year story as a Mexican hospitality company, and the range across the resort collection, from family-friendly properties to the adults-only, over-the-water Palafitos bungalows. Along the way, the conversation touches on safe, hassle-free travel for U.S. visitors, sargassum-free beaches, destination weddings, and why this stretch of Caribbean Mexico has become one of the most talked-about travel regions in the world. Learn more: - Lomas Hospitality: https://www.lomashospitality.com/ - Sharon K. Kurtz: https://www.sharonkkurtz.com/ - IFWTWA: https://ifwtwa.org/ - Big Blend Radio: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/
#477
Sunday · 20 min
It's Fall Y'all in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana!
It's Fall Y'all in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana! Big Blend Radio host/producer Lisa D. Smith is joined by Natalie Roblin of the Avoyelles Commission of Tourism, filling in for regular co-hosts Wilbert Carmouche and Mary Guillory, who are at the Jefferson Highway Conference in Joplin, Missouri. Together they explore why fall is one of the best times to visit the Centre de la Louisiane. Natalie shares the story of how Marksville got its start with a broken wagon wheel (hence Broken Wheel Brewery), what's happening at Paragon Casino Resort and the Fox Theater, and how fall in Avoyelles is marked by food: home-cooked church dinner plates on Sundays, cochon de lait, sweet potato harvest season, boudin, barbecue, and even gas station breakfasts you won't forget. Then it's time to roll the windows down. Explore Bunkie Trade Days, Griffin's, Hoover's Five and Dime and the retro full-service gas station along the Jefferson Highway; learn about National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Outdoor Education Center in Woodworth; and discover the Solomon Northup Trail, the Louisiana Colonial Trail, the Zachary Taylor Parkway, and the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. Natalie also shares outdoor favorites including the Big Bend Museum and Sarto Old Iron Bridge, the Big Bend loop (LA 451), Spring Valley WMA, the Tunica-Biloxi Nature Trail, and Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, plus a Louisiana music playlist of swamp pop and Zydeco. Events mentioned: National Hunting and Fishing Day (Sept. 26, free, 8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Woodworth); Couillons of Comedy at the Fox Theater in Marksville (Oct. 3); Bunkie Trade Days (Oct. 3); church dinner plates and fairs throughout the parish in September and October. Plan your visit: https://TravelAvoyelles.com Events page: https://TravelAvoyelles.com/events Last Month's Fall Event Episode: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/fall-in-avoyelles-parish-louisiana-2026 New episodes of the Travel Avoyelles Podcast air every 3rd Sunday at 6pm CST on Big Blend Radio. Listen: https://travel-avoyelles.podbean.com/
#476
September 15 · 45 min
Yellowstone: America's First National Park, Still Wild After 110 Years
Travel writer and advisor Lisa Evans, host of Big Blend Radio's "Journey Jukebox" Podcast takes us to Yellowstone National Park — America's very first national park, marking 110 years of the National Park Service this year. This episode picks up right where her Cody, Wyoming visit left off: after basing herself in Cody, Lisa spent a day and a half looping through Yellowstone by chartered bus, and brings back a full rundown — bison herds thick enough to stop traffic for fifty cars, a moose sighting straight out of Lamar Valley, a surprise cinnamon bear, and the bighorn sheep on the way out of the park. From there we walk through the icons — Old Faithful (which kept everyone waiting an extra thirty minutes), the otherworldly colors of Grand Prismatic Spring and the Midway Geyser Basin, the bubbling mud volcanoes, and dinner at the historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel with a general manager who's spent 40 years working his way up through the park's lodging operation. We also get honest about the less charming side of visiting a place like Yellowstone: tourists stepping over barriers at Mammoth Hot Springs, walking up to bison for a closer photo, and — in one widely reported case — Pierce Brosnan's own $1,500 fine for wandering off a boardwalk into a restricted thermal area. With national parks already stretched thin on funding and staffing, we talk about why this isn't just about rule-following — it's about keeping the wildlife wild and the parks safe for everyone who visits them. Along the way, Lisa also looks ahead to her next stops — Clarksville, TN, and a trip up to Anacortes, WA — and shares more of the multi-generational travel trends she's seeing on the road. 🗺️ Plan your own trip: Full Yellowstone travel guide, park links, and resources: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/yellowstone-still-wild-at-110 - Missed her last stop? Catch Lisa's Cody, Wyoming episode & article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/cody-wyoming-western-culture 🎵 Journey Jukebox Music Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7humUf03LIW04t8LiJSSN9?si=71c11c52c77c4596 🎧 More about the Journey Jukebox Podcast: - New episodes air every 3rd Tuesday at 6pm CST: https://journeyjukebox.podbean.com/ - Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/JOURNEY-JUKEBOX---2026/#p=1 Follow Lisa Evans: - https://substack.com/@allabouttravelwithlisa - https://writerlisa.com/
#475
September 14 · 53 min
Chasing Truffles in Istria with Prodan Tartufi
Enjoy this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wanderers Compass" Podcast! Three years after Joelle's first truffle hunt in the pouring rain with a cooking group of sixteen women, she and Ryan return to Buzet, Croatia, to sit down with Višnja Prodan Jekić of Prodan Tartufi — a family truffle business now heading into its fourth generation. It started in the 1960s, when Višnja's grandparents didn't even know what truffles were — they thought they were smelly, inedible potatoes and fed them to the pigs, until Italian traders showed them otherwise. Today, the Prodan family hunts and trains their own truffle dogs (five of them, each with their own name and personality), collects from 50-60 local hunting families every week, and ships fresh truffles worldwide — to Michelin-star restaurants like Alchemist, Noma, and Geranium in Copenhagen, and markets as far as Japan, Singapore, and Dubai. In this episode, Višnja walks through what makes Istria's climate uniquely suited to truffles, how a dog is trained from puppyhood to become a serious hunter, the real differences between black and white truffles (and why white truffles can sell for €2,000-€5,000 a kilo), how to actually cook with truffles at home without overcomplicating it, how to spot a real truffle product versus a chemical imitation, and the story behind the largest truffle her family has ever found. She also shares her own favorite way to eat them — simple scrambled eggs — and what it means to be building a new generation of this family tradition while opening the business to travelers from around the world. 🔗 Read the article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/prodan-tartufi-istria-truffles 🔗 Learn more about Prodan Tartufi: https://prodantartufi.hr/hr/ 🔗 Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/ 🔗 More Wanderers Compass episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/wanderers-compass-podcast 🔗 Wanderers Compass Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/wanderers-compass-magazine New episodes of the Wanderers Compass Podcast air every second Monday on Big Blend Radio.
#474
September 11 · 41 min
Snorkeling the Solomon Islands: Two Weeks Aboard the MV Bilikiki
Author and adventurer Inga Aksamit returns to this shared Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" show with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) — to take us snorkeling for two weeks aboard the MV Bilikiki in the Solomon Islands. From a camouflaged crocodile fish and venomous sea kraits to a floating village market and the Coral Triangle's marine biodiversity, Inga shares what it's like to spend eleven days snorkeling with Snorkel Venture on one of the South Pacific's most remote liveaboard adventures. SOLOMON ISLANDS SNORKLE ADVENTURE RESOURCES: - Inga's article about her experience: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/snorkeling-solomon-islands - Plan Your Own Snorkeling Adventure: https://snorkelventure.com/ MORE ON INGA & IFWTWA: - Inga Aksamit: https://ingasadventures.com/ - IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ - Follow this podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa - Read its companion magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine
#473
September 10 · 56 min
Epic Southern Africa: Wildlife, Wine, Waterfalls, River & Rail Adventures
On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Quiltripping Travel" Podcast, travel writer and photographer Rose Palmer shares her epic month-long journey across Southern Africa with her husband — starting with wine tasting in Cape Town, riding the historic Rovos Rail into Zimbabwe, chasing wildlife and waterfalls at Victoria Falls, safari glamping in Botswana's Khwai Private Reserve and Okavango Delta, and ending with a river boatd cruise on the Chobe River. Rose talks border crossings, elephant migration, the best age to bring kids on safari, and why this trip topped even her Alaska road trip for pure epic scale. MORE ON AFRICA: - Read Rose's full article and see her photos: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/an-epic-month-in-africa - More of Rose's Africa stories: https://quiltripping.com/africa/ KEEP UP WITH ROSE: - Listen to more of Rose's "Quiltripping Travel" Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/quiltripping-travel-with-rose-podcast - Check out the "Quiltripping Travel" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/quiltripping-travel-magazine - Follow Rose's blog: https://www.quiltripping.com
#472
September 8 · 40 min
Explore Tualatin Valley, Oregon: Where Wine Country Meets the Great Outdoors
Just 30 minutes from Portland, Tualatin Valley is Oregon's underrated wine country — home to 40+ wineries, one of the state's most ethnically diverse food scenes, tax-free shopping, and a 21-mile paved trail past a giant wooden troll. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show," presented in partnership with the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Sylke Neal-Finnegan, VP of Communications and PR at Explore Tualatin Valley, gives us a conversational tour of the Willamette Valley's northwest corner. Beyond the vineyards, Tualatin Valley is shaped by a 50-year-old urban growth boundary that protects farmland and keeps its wine country sustainable including some dry-farming. Sylke also digs into the region's thriving arts scene — from the Broadway Rose Theatre Company to the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts — plus year-round outdoor adventure along the Tualatin River, Hagg Lake, and the fully accessible Banks-Vernonia State Trail. It's proof that this corner of the Willamette Valley offers a lot to experience. Featured image: David Hill Vineyards & Winery, courtesy of Explore Tualatin Valley. RESOURCES LINKS: - Plan your visit: https://tualatinvalley.org/ - Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ - Follow the Food, Wine & Travel Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-podcast-ifwtwa - Check out Big Blend Radio's "Travel Food & Wine: Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine
#471
September 8 · 18 min
Oklahoma City: A Destination for the Whole Family
Celebrate Intergeneration Month (September) with this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel with Terri" Podcast where travel journalist Terri Guthrie shares how Oklahoma City is a destination built for every generation — grandparents, parents, and grandkids alike. Hear about the whimsical, hands-on art of Factory Obscura, the massive Science Museum Oklahoma, the newly refreshed Frontier City theme park, the canal-side charm of Bricktown, and the high tea tradition at The National Hotel. Terri talks about Riversport Adventures where active families can go rafting, ziplining, and tread an 80-foot Sky Trail. A host to international Olympic Trials athletes, it's on its way to becoming a training hub for Team USA ahead of the next Summer Games. Oklahoma City is proving itself as one of the most underrated multigenerational travel destinations in the country — easy to navigate, packed with hands-on experiences, and offering something for every age and interest. It's also less than 3 hours from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, making it an easy road trip for Texas families. PLAN YOUR VISIT with Terri's OKC Family Getaway Travel Guide with links to attractions & activities, plus Part 1& 2 of this OKC podcast series: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/t/terri-guthrie KEEP UP WITH TERRI'S TRAVELS: 🎙️ Travel with Terri: https://www.travelwithterri.com/ 📻 Travel with Terri airs every other Tuesday: https://www.travelwithterri.com/podcast 📰 The Luxe Explorer Magazine: https://www.travelwithterri.com/magazine 🌎 Travel with Terri highlights on Big Blend Media House: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/t/terri-guthrie
#470
September 5 · 36 min
Getting to Know Travel Writer Linda Kissam: Food Wine and Shopping Diva
Travel writer Linda Kissam — Big Blend Radio's own "Food, Wine & Shopping Diva" and host of "Sip, Savor & Travel" — pulls up a seat for a fun round of Getting to Know You. Linda dishes on her spirit animal (koala, if you're wondering), the nonprofit she'd fund with a million dollars, her husband's boat-life drama in the Pacific Northwest, and her dream trips to England and Africa. She also talks gardens (Butchart Gardens gets a shoutout), dinner party etiquette when the menu goes sideways, and her go-to shoes — from barely-there earth shoes to sparkly five-inch heels. 🎙️ Listen to more episodes of "Sip, Savor & Travel": https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/sip-savor-travel-podcast 📖 Explore Linda's "Sip, Savor & Travel" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/sip-savor-travel-magazine 🌐 Follow Linda Kissam's adventures: https://foodwinetravelchix.com/
#469
September 3 · 34 min
Early Fall in California's Sequoia Country: Dark Skies, Trails & Tulare County Harvest Season
Fall is teasing us across the country, and California's Sequoia Country — home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia National Forest, the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and the welcoming communities of Tulare County — is right on the edge of the season's first cool breeze. In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Sequoia Country" Podcast, Sequoia Tourism Council members Suzanne Bianco (Visit Visalia) and Holly Streit (Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks), talk pumpkins, changing leaves, dark skies, and the harvest season events that make fall one of the best times to visit. Suzanne shares the local countdown to fall starting with Vintage Press's stuffed pumpkin dish in Visalia, and points listeners to cooler-weather hikes at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, Mooney Grove Park, and the Woodlake Botanical Garden loop around Bravo Lake and more. Holly talks changing colors in the giant forest, the importance of dark skies for migrating birds and bats, and previews the Sequoia Parks Conservancy's Dark Sky Festival (September 11–13) which will features a keynote from the scientist behind Wowsabout, the Jim Henson Company's preschool special exploring Sequoia National Park and the science of awe. The conversation covers shuttle schedules (Memorial Day–Labor Day), the foothill hikes at Potwisha and Paradise Creek, and giant forest trails including Congress Trail and the North Grove Loop. Then it's on to fall festivities: the Tulare County Fair, Visalia's Taste of Downtown (October 7) and Taste the Arts Festival, First Friday art walks, mixed-media artist Toni Best's gourd art, and early holiday-shopping tips through the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. 🌲 Plan Your Visit: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ 🌲 Visit Visalia: https://www.visitvisalia.com/ 🌲 NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon: https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm 🌲 Sequoia Parks Conservancy: https://www.sequoiaparksconservancy.org/ New episodes of California Sequoia Country air every first Thursday on Big Blend Radio. 🎧 Follow the Show: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-podcast 📖 Explore Big Blend Radio's "California's Sequoia Country" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-magazine
#468
September 2 · 38 min
An Austin Staycation: Bats, Museums & Live Music
On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World" Podcast, travel writer Sharon K. Kurtz takes listeners on a personal Austin staycation, joined by fellow Austinite and travel writer Marika Flatt, travel editor and associate editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. Staying right on the UT Austin campus at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, Sharon walked to the Texas State Capitol, the Blanton Museum of Art, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum, caught a live taping of Austin City Limits, and ended her trip watching over a million bats stream out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Together, Sharon and Marika swap tips on live music venues, hidden-gem hotels, Lady Bird Lake, and the best spots for margaritas, museums, and shopping — everything you need for your own Austin getaway. 🎙️ Tune in on the first Wednesday of every month at 12pm CST: https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com 📖 Check out the Big Blend Radio "Wander the World" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/gyoy/#p=1 🌍 Learn more about travel writer & photographer Sharon K. Kurtz: https://sharonkkurtz.com 📰 Read more from Marika Flatt at Texas Lifestyle Magazine: https://texaslifestylemag.com
#467
September 1 · 37 min
What's Really Up There? Night Sky Adventures with Star Watch Tours in Asheville
On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast, Steve and Karen Wilson chat with Dawn Bankson, owner of Star Watch Night Vision Tours, about exploring Asheville's night sky in a whole new way. Using military-grade PVS-7 and PVS-14 night vision goggles, Dawn takes guests out to dark-sky locations around the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mount Pisgah to spot meteor showers, satellites, and unexplained "travelers" in the night sky. Steve and Karen share their own experience catching the Perseid Meteor Shower, and the conversation wanders into UFO sightings, Bigfoot lore, and why fall and winter are the best seasons for stargazing in Western North Carolina. Plus, hear what's on tap at The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast this season, and get the scoop on their in-room beer keg package for Beer City USA visitors. Follow Dawn & Star Watch Night Vision Tours: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057159232266 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starwatchnight Stay at The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast: https://www.lion-rose.com More Adventures in Asheville: * Podcast Channel: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/adventures-in-asheville-podcast * Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/adventures-in-asheville-magazine
#466
August 25 · 31 min
Romantic Oklahoma City: A Couples' Getaway
On the last episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel with Terri" Podcast, Terri Guthrie took us inside The National Hotel in Oklahoma City — and now she's back to share why OKC might just be the most underrated romantic getaway in the country. In this episode, Terri maps out the perfect romantic itinerary: where to stay, where to dine, and how to soak up Oklahoma City's most enchanting and cultural experiences, all just under three hours from Dallas-Fort Worth. Terri and her husband Ron's home base is The National Hotel, a beautifully restored 1931 Art Deco landmark in downtown OKC with towering columns, hand-painted ceilings, and a lobby that feels like stepping into a grand European bank hall. For romantic dining, she takes us through Stock & Bond, the hotel's refined steakhouse celebrating Oklahoma's ranching heritage, and The Vault, a sultry speakeasy tucked behind the hotel's original bank vault door. A few blocks away, sky-high dining awaits atop the Devon Energy Tower at VAST, on the 48th floor, followed by a nightcap at its new, ultra-chic cocktail lounge. For something completely different, Terri raves about NONESUCH, an intimate 10-course tasting menu experience led by executive chef Garrett Hare, where each course is chef-presented and personally explained. Beyond the table, Terri digs OKC's cultural side: the First Americans Museum and neighboring Gallery C in the Horizons District, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum on Route 66, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (home to a stunning Chihuly glass collection), and the Myriad Botanical Gardens with its Crystal Bridge Conservatory. For breakfast and lunch, Terri's favorites include Kitchen 324, Tellers inside The National, The Gilded Acorn, and Malfi in Midtown. Then, stick around for Terri's on-site interview with Kaylee Douglas, Communications Specialist for the First Americans Museum. Kaylee shares how FAM tells the collective histories and living cultures of Oklahoma's 39 tribal nations, the WINIKO project reuniting sacred objects with tribal communities in partnership with the Smithsonian, the museum's Family Discovery Center for all ages, its award-winning architecture and programming, and the surrounding Horizons District, home to Okana Resort and Water Park and the Exhibit C gallery. Links mentioned in this episode: - Visit OKC: https://www.visitokc.com - First Americans Museum: https://famok.org And be sure to listen to The National Hotel OKC Episode: https://travelwithterri.podbean.com/e/the-national-hotel-okc/ Stay tuned for more of Terri’s Oklahoma City adventures! 🎙️ Travel with Terri: https://www.travelwithterri.com/ 📻 Travel with Terri airs every other Tuesday: https://www.travelwithterri.com/podcast 📰 The Luxe Explorer Magazine: https://www.travelwithterri.com/magazine 🌎 Travel with Terri highlights on Big Blend Media House: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/t/terri-guthrie
#465
August 22 · 43 min
Charles Dickens' England: From Debtor's Prison to Poets' Corner
Forget the Christmas Carol postcard version of Charles Dickens. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "English Connection" Podcast, Glynn Burrows digs into the real story — a childhood shaped by his father's debtor's prison, a stint in a blacking warehouse, and a writing career so prolific it basically invented the serialized soap opera decades before television existed. Along the way, he digs into what Victorian England was really like for the poor, why Dickens' novels mattered as social record as much as entertainment, and the genuine mystery still surrounding his personal life — including a young actress named Ellen Ternan and a sister-in-law who moved in three years after his separation. Glynn also makes the case for why doing your own research matters, whether you're tracing Dickens' story or your own family history. It all wraps up with where you can actually go in England today to walk in Dickens' footsteps — from his Portsmouth birthplace to his grave in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner — and a reminder that gratitude looks a little different once you know what people were living through less than 200 years ago. 📖 Read Glynn's article, "A Dickens Tour of England: From Portsmouth to Poets' Corner": https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/dickens-tour-of-england 🌐 Visit English Connection: https://EnglishConnection.uk 📚 Explore Glynn's English Connection Digital Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/english-connection-magazine 🎙️ Listen to more episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/english-connection-podcast
#464
August 21 · 18 min
Glamping vs. 5-Star Luxury: Two Ways to Experience Halifax, Nova Scotia
What's better: a glamping dome in the woods, or a five-star hotel on the boardwalk? Travel journalist and certified sommelier Darla Hoffmann didn't have to choose — she did both, fifty minutes apart, in Nova Scotia. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Darla takes us inside Nalu Retreat, a geodesic dome on the North Shore with a hot tub, a fire pit, and a chef-prepared dinner waiting in the fridge, before heading into Halifax for the total opposite: Muir, a five-star hotel in the Queen's Marque District with a hidden speakeasy you have to knock to enter, an on-site restaurant called Drift, and boardwalk views from every room. Along the way, we talk Nova Scotia wine (crisp Tidal Bay whites, a standout red from the Lucie Kuhlmann grape), local food (buttery Wolffish, a proper Halifax donair), and the city's history, from Citadel Hill to the 1917 Halifax Explosion. Darla also shares how a career in wine led her into travel writing, what she's working on next, and news on her upcoming book — a multi-year project pairing one wine with one signature dish from all fifty U.S. states. READ DARLA'S HALIFAX ARTICLES: - Salt Air, Scenic Hikes, and a Vibrant Food Scene: https://fwtmagazine.com/salt-air-scenic-hikes-and-a-vibrant-food-scene-halifax-nova-scotia/ - Nalu Retreat: Your Next Serene Getaway Awaits https://luxebeatmag.com/nova-scotias-glamping-escape-into-nature-nalu-retreat/ RESOURCE LINKS: - More About Darla: https://www.aboutwineinaz.com - Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ - Follow the Food, Wine & Travel Podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/ - Big Blend Radio's "Travel Food & Wine: Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1
#463
August 18 · 51 min
Cody, Wyoming: Western Art, Cowboy Culture & the Old West
In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Journey Jukebox" travel podcast, travel writer Lisa Evans takes us to Cody, Wyoming, a fascinating Western destination where the spirit of the Old West is still very much alive. Located just outside Yellowstone National Park, Cody combines Western history, art, craftsmanship, music, rodeo, and living history in a destination that's worth more than just a quick overnight stop. Lisa shares her experiences exploring the city's many layers, from the extraordinary Western functional art at By Western Hands to the historic buildings and frontier stories of Old Trail Town. The episode also takes us to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody Cattle Company, and the Cody Stampede Rodeo, where Lisa experienced her first "real" rodeo. She also discovers the city's lively music scene and talks about the musicians she added to the Journey Jukebox playlist. With American Adventures Month and America 250 as part of the conversation, this episode is an invitation to explore a destination where American history, Western heritage, artistry, entrepreneurship, and entertainment come together. As Lisa discovered, Cody is much more than a gateway to Yellowstone—it's a destination worth spending several days exploring. 🗺️ Cody, Wyoming Travel Planning Resources - Lisa's article on By Western Hands: https://www.seegreatart.art/discovering-cody-wyomings-legacy-of-western-art-at-by-western-hands/ - Irma Emporium: https://www.irmahotel.com/ - The Chamberlin Inn - https://chamberlininn.com/ - Heart Mountain WWII Japanese American National Historic Landmark: https://www.heartmountain.org/ - Buffalo Bill Center of the West: https://centerofthewest.org/ - The Cody Cattle Company: https://thecodycattlecompany.com/ - Cody Stampede Rodeo: https://www.codystampederodeo.com/ - Cody Firearms Experience: https://www.codyfirearmsexperience.com/ - By Western Hands: https://www.bywesternhands.org/ - Old Trail Town: https://oldtrailtown.org/ 🎵 Journey Jukebox Music Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7humUf03LIW04t8LiJSSN9?si=71c11c52c77c4596 Lisa's Cody playlist includes artists such as Righteous Vendetta, Kaylen Beasley, and Luke Bell, giving the episode its own musical Western soundtrack. 🎧 More about the Journey Jukebox Podcast: - New episodes air every 3rd Tuesday at 6pm CST: https://journeyjukebox.podbean.com/ - Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/JOURNEY-JUKEBOX---2026/#p=1
#462
August 17 · 29 min
Discover Shelby County, Kentucky: Horses, Bourbon, Food, Farm & Outdoor Adventures
Discover Shelby County, Kentucky, just east of Louisville, with Janette Marson, President and CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism, on this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). Known as the Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World, Shelby County offers an authentic Central Kentucky experience where horses, bourbon, food, farms, history, shopping and outdoor adventures come together. Janette takes us inside the region's remarkable horse culture, including more than 100 Saddlebred farms, Thoroughbred farms and the largest Icelandic horse farm in North America. We also explore the area's bourbon heritage, including Bulleit and the special mother-daughter team behind Jeptha Creed Distillery. Food is another big part of the story, from Kentucky barbecue and bourbon mash-fed livestock to Talon Winery, local restaurants, farm-to-table dining and family farms such as Mulberry Orchard and Gallrein Farm. We also talk about historic downtown Shelbyville and Simpsonville, antique shopping, family attractions, horseback riding, lakes, fishing, camping, golf, festivals and the region's growing appeal for road trippers and pet-friendly travelers. And because Shelby County is a four-season destination, Janette shares ideas for visiting throughout the year—from bourbon tours and horse farms to fall pumpkins, winter shopping and spring and summer horseback riding. - Explore Shelby County, Kentucky: https://www.visitshelbyky.com/ - Learn More About IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ - Follow the Podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/ - Check out the "Travel, Food & Wine" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1
#461
August 16 · 36 min
End-of-Summer & Fall Fun in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana: Fairs, Food, Music & More
End-of-summer and fall are a wonderful time to experience Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana! From church and school fairs and live music to Bunkie Trade Days, Halloween fun, local food and seasonal events, there are plenty of reasons to visit. In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel Avoyelles" podcast, hosts Lisa D. Smith talks with Wilbert Carmouche and Mary Guillory of the Avoyelles Commission of Tourism about what's happening throughout Avoyelles Parish as summer winds down and fall begins. They talk about upcoming fairs, community events, live Cajun and Zydeco music, Halloween celebrations, shopping, art, food and local traditions—including the church and school fairs that bring communities together throughout the fall. You'll also hear about some of the food that makes Avoyelles special, from gumbo and jambalaya to homemade cakes, cochon de lait, locally grown produce, sweet potatoes and those wonderful fair plate lunches. As always, the best way to experience Avoyelles is to get out and meet the people, enjoy the food and become part of the community. * Plan Your Avoyelles Parish Visit & Get Event Info: https://travelavoyelles.com/ * Listen to new episodes and follow the Travel Avoyelles podcast: https://travel-avoyelles.podbean.com/

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