Places I Remember with Lea Lane

Send us Fan Mail Belgium can feel like a quick hop between Brussels and Bruges, but the best moments often happen when you widen the map. We start in Brussels, a surprisingly rewarding capital for art history and food, then trace the city’s signature sights: the UNESCO listed Grand Place, Art Nouveau treasures like the Horta Museum, the retro futuristic Atomium, and even comic strip murals that ce...

Send us Fan Mail We love travel stories, especially from our listeners! Real tales where the smallest detail can trigger panic, wonder, or a laugh. We move from tracking lions by day to sharing water with penguins and a sea lion that swims up just to play, then jump to gorilla trekking where the rules for staying safe are simple and non negotiable. Along the way, we talk about a surprisingly effec...

Send us Fan Mail Where would you relocate if you could choose anywhere? And what's the best way to go about it? More Americans are packing up and relocating abroad, and we dig into what makes a place feel safe, walkable, healthy, and genuinely enjoyable day to day. We compare two helpful lenses for choosing a destination: global livability rankings (think Copenhagen, Vienna, Melbourne, Tokyo)...

Send us Fan Mail Toronto is a city built out of neighborhoods, food, and constant surprises. We sit down with Ashley Rochefort, Media Relations Manager at Destination Toronto, to unpack what makes Canada’s largest city feel so alive, from its long history to its modern identity as “the world in a city,” where roughly half of residents are born outside Canada and cultures show up block by block. We...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with travel expert Angie Orth, host of Traveling with AAA and founder of AngieAway.com, to talk about the kind of travel that feels vivid and real: big bucket list wins, smart planning, and what to do when the “easy route” disappears overnight. Angie takes us from a Maldives liveaboard dive retreat with whale sharks and tiger sharks to the moment war-related airspace c...

Send us Fan Mail The Florida Keys Overseas Highway is a living corridor of reefs, bridges, history, and local tradition. We sit down with journalist and photographer Andy Newman , who spent 44 years with the Florida Keys Tourism Council, to build a true start-to-finish Florida Keys road trip. We talk logistics: how long the drive takes, why the mile markers function like addresses, and when you ca...

Send us Fan Mail We’re joined by American expat resident Cherie Siebert to trace Vienna from its Habsburg-scale grandeur to its everyday pleasures. Vienna can feel like a living museum and a laid-back neighborhood on the same afternoon. We talk through how easy it is to get around on foot and by public transportation, where palace areas like Hofburg, Schönbrunn, and the Belvedere fit into a real d...

Send us Fan Mail Sicily is an Italian island in the Ionian sea between Italy and the African coast. Greece, Rome, the Arab world, and Norman Europe left remnants there that you can still experience.  Chef, blogger, and tour director Ric Orlando tells us why Sicily feels different from the rest of Italy. His “deep dive” trips take the Anthony Bourdain approach seriously: spend time with locals, fol...

Send us Fan Mail Wonder what luxury at sea really takes when the cameras stop rolling? We sit with Captain Kerry Titheradge from Bravo’s Below Deck, a leader trusted with 300-foot vessels and volatile reality TV moments. We unpack the true costs of chartering a superyacht, why five-star hotel service can’t match a dialed-in crew at sea, and how leadership—not boat handling—is the captain’s hardest...

Send us Fan Mail A four-month plan turned into eight years on the road, and that leap reshaped everything. We sit down with Caryl Eve Dolinko, author of A Woman’s Guide to World Travel, to unpack how purpose-led planning makes travel deeply rewarding—especially for women considering solo adventures. What do you actually want from your trip? Whether it’s tracing your ancestry, learning to cook regi...

Send us Fan Mail We head to Périgord— the historic heart of France's fertile Dordogne region —to map a four-color journey through Noir, Blanc, Pourpre, and Vert: cliffside castles, prehistoric cave art, limestone towns, vineyard hills, and green valleys stitched with old paper mills.  Our guests, Stephanie Williamson and Emily Conyngham, know the area from the inside, with details and choices...

Send us Fan Mail Year’s end is the perfect time to chase moments that help us fall in love with travel. We stitch together a lively route from New York's Erie Canal’ s quiet power to Namibia’s Etosha, where elephants, zebra, and predators converge around water in an arid dreamscape.  Along the way, we meet a winemaker who steers us into Spain's Alicante desert for a paella cooked over gr...

Send us Fan Mail  We visit Delhi, Agra, and Mumbai with linguist and educator Dr. Jilani Warsi . Old Delhi draws us into the Red Fort’ s vast red sandstone walls, the bustle of Jama Masjid, and the color and flavors of Chandni Chowk where chai, sweets, and silks leave their mark.  We balance that with New Delhi ’s calm and the Lotus Temple’s open welcome to all faiths, then look upward at Qutub Mi...

Send us Fan Mail Margie Goldsmith , author of Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce, suggests "do one thing every day that scares you" – a mantra that transformed her into the adventure-seeking "badass" she is today. She shares captivating stories from her journeys across more than 100 countries, revealing how memorable travel experiences often arise from unexpected human c...

Send us Fan Mail Bob Eckstein, the brilliant, funny award-winning illustrator and New Yorker cartoonist, shares how his career evolved from writing to cartooning and his passion for uncovering extraordinary stories in ordinary subjects throughout the world.  His latest book, " Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums ," showcases North America's most captivating museums and the t...

Send us Fan Mail Tano and Nicole, the founders behind Bono Events International, share secrets about Tuscany and Umbria, neighboring regions in the heart of Italy. We start with Tuscany's iconic rolling vineyards, coastal fishing villages, great cities including Florence and Siena, and magnificent art scene and traditions. Then we focus on Umbria's rich religious heritage in Assisi , for...

Send us Fan Mail Barcelona , where Roman foundations meet Gaudí's fantastical creations, has captivated travelers for generations—becoming the ninth most visited city worldwide. Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Familia Basilica, has been under construction for over a century. At Park Güell, Gaudí's connection with nature manifests in colorful mosaics and whimsical structures. The Casa Batlló,...

Send us Fan Mail Mexico City pulses with energy that spans nearly seven centuries, from its 1325 Aztec founding to its contemporary status as a sophisticated global metropolis. The sprawling capital reveals itself as a layered cultural treasure through the expert insights of Arturo Sanchez, Head Concierge at Andaz Mexico City Condesa Hotel, who shares his perspective on this magnificent city. At t...

Send us Fan Mail Train travel enchants with its unique blend of scenery, experience, and connection, as illustrated by Railbookers’ offerings around the world. Frank Marini and Gareth Jones explore top train journeys, eco-friendly travel, and essential tips for maximizing rail adventures.  • Train travel combines both scenic beauty and cultural richness  • Railbookers offers tailored vacations for...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Thompson, the founder of Luxama Travel, shares her personal experiences and expert knowledge as we traverse the legendary 'Strata Statale 163 Amalfitana' on Italy's Amalfi Coast, a cliff side route famed for breathtaking views and exhilarating challenges.  Discover the charm of this coastal paradise, where the art of "dolce far niente," or the sweetn...

Send us Fan Mail Thatcher Baker Briggs, the founder of Thatcher's Wine in LA, spills the secrets to crafting the ultimate wine vacation , balancing leisurely tastings with relaxation, over the perfect four to five-day getaway. Thatcher offers invaluable tips on wine tasting etiquette , like the art of spitting versus drinking, especially when you're behind the wheel, and emphasizes the i...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Laurie Marker, the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, shares her mission to save one of the world's most endangered big cats. Dr. Marker offers insights into the delicate balance of arid grassland ecosystems and the critical role these majestic creatures play. In a world where cheetah populations are declining, learn how innovative models in Namibia are empowering...

Send us Fan Mail There's so much more to New York than Manhattan. In this episode we'll discover the "hidden gems" of upstate and western New York's waterways: the serene beauty of the historic Erie Canal, the charm of villages nestled along the way, and the natural delights of the Finger Lakes, with its surrounding farms, vineyards and waterfalls. Chris Jennings, the Gene...

Send us Fan Mail Captivating travel memories from 2024, featuring guests who share unique adventures and insights. These  include: Andre Van Ketz with a road trip around Cape Town, where whale watching becomes an unforgettable experience. Lila Kresic-Djurek tells of Spanish visitors falling in love with Croatia's wine and cuisine, while Harry Mitsitis paints a heartwarming picture of travel’s...

Send us Fan Mail Discover Wyoming's stunning natural landscapes and rich culture with Ryan Hauck, Executive Director of Cody Yellowstone. From the eruptions of Old Faithful to the vistas of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone . We also journey through the Shoshone Forest , and discuss the diverse wildlife that inhabit these lands, including tips on securing lodging and camping spots. We delve int...