Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball

The Brevard Music Center is home to celebrated artists, distinguished faculty, and students from all over the world who come together each summer to prepare and perform in a beautiful park-like setting. From the end of June to the beginning of August, gifted young musicians participate in a rigorous program of instruction and performance including orchestral ensembles, private lessons, chamber mus...

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the United States Climate Action Network (USCAN), members Nakisa Glover of Sol Nation and Susannah Tuttle of NC Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL) join Dayna Reggero of the Climate Listening Project to talk about solutions for traveling and protecting the places we love with compassion, justice and love for people and place. The USCAN is a vital network for 1...

Author, musician, speaker and sailor Chris DiCroce and wife Melody sold their house and almost everything they owned to move onto a sailboat and discovered the greatest triumphs often came from their greatest challenges.  Tired of the lives they were living, Chris and Melody, along with their dog Jet, took a leap of faith in their attempt to break away and were brought face to face with the realit...

Explore one of Western North Carolina’s most iconic places with Mary Jaeger-Gale, General Manager at Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. The Park features six hiking trails, an Animal Discovery Den, rock climbing with instructors, monthly guided hikes and more. Special moments you'll cherish await you here. Visit Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park once, and you’ll want to come back...

Continuing the Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project Series with Dayna Reggero and special guest, Sara Day Evans, the founding director of Accelerating Appalachia. Accelerating Appalachia is the world’s first nature-based business accelerator, connecting innovative businesses, investors and mentors aligned with people, place and prosperity. Find out how they are creating a new regenerativ...

Peggy Ratusz and Paula Hanke are on the road delighting audiences with their sensational act, “Love Is a Rose: Celebrating the Music of Torch Singer Linda Ronstadt,” featuring some of her best works. Peggy and Paula have been friends for over a decade and collaborated before, but their newest chapter is truly a project from the heart. “Love Is a Rose: Celebrating the Music of Torch Singer Linda Ro...

The Asheville Art Museum is opening its renovated and expanded building in summer 2019. Big changes are happening during their major expansion and renovation project in the heart of downtown Asheville, NC. When the Museum opens, you’ll see fresh approaches, additions to the Collection, exhibitions, educational programs, and so much more.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel ! Visit speaking...

Melissa Reardon, editor-in-chief of WNC Magazine, the regional lifestyle publication that captures the wonder of one of the most beautiful places in the world, highlights some of the top ways to experience summer in the mountains and explores fun travel opportunities in Western North Carolina from Lake Toxaway to Boone to Blowing Rock. Melissa also offers up some great ideas to begin planning your...

Much of what happens around us or to us happens rather by chance. You may initiate actions, but what follows depends upon many factors. Sometimes situations arise on their own, such as an accident or a chance meeting. Or in the case of Maestro Murry Sidlin when he happened upon a book entitled Music in Terezín: 1941–1945. And so began his journey to find out how Jewish prisoners at a World War II...

Johnny Morris hiked the entire Appalachian Trail to raise money and awareness for MemoryCare, an Asheville nonprofit founded by his mother, Dr. Margaret Noel, that provides services to caregivers and patients with dementia and other memory impairments. Find out how Johnny carries the experiences and lessons he had on the AT forward into a different lifestyle and how those experiences/ lessons chan...

Visiting with Michelle and Dale Isom at the lovely 1915 Historic Federal Courthouse and Post Office in Wilkesboro, NC, home to the Blue Ridge Artisan Center and The Artisan Café.  Find out how they are expanding cultural horizons for children and communities through educational programs to help preserve traditions from one generation to the next and how they are supporting and promoting local and...

Speaking of Travel is on location in the heart of North Carolina’s Surry County and the Yadkin Valley wine country. Discover all there is to see and do in and around an area rich in history, recreation and wineries. The Surry County Wine Trail is showcased in a full-color map brochure highlighting 16 wineries in and around the Yadkin Valley, along with five breweries and distilleries. The map simp...

Burt is to off Tampa. The trip has become routine, as he flies down most weekends to continue the process of becoming permanently settled in Florida. As a frequent flyer, Burt knows how to make the most of his time in the airport. “If you can get TSA Pre-[check] or Global Entry, you can get through security lines much, much quicker,” Burt said. “There’s usually no line, so that saves 15 or 20 minu...

McCall is ready for vacation. She is from Franklin, North Carolina, and is traveling to Florida for a sunny escape with friends. McCall lives an hour away from the airport, so she is a practiced hand when it comes to planning ahead. “Wherever I’m flying to, I have the app downloaded on my phone,” McCall said. “I check in before I leave and try to get here about an hour and 30 minutes early, just s...

Alice and Chuck meet up with friends in different locations every year, and this year’s vacation brought them to WNC. They are originally from Ohio and decided to explore Asheville after hearing that it was a great place to be. When it comes to taking vacations, Alice likes to be prepared. “I’m a great organizer,” Alice said. “I have things planned out. I start laying stuff out. By the time I’m re...

Trevor is on his way to a coaching convention in Tampa with a unique accessory. As a director of basketball operations, his hat was prominently adorned with a piece of a basketball net — telling a story of its own. The piece was cut from a net the night before, symbolizing Appalachian State University’s Women’s Basketball Team’s victory in the Invitational National Tournament. As a professional ta...

Joseph is heading home. Some might call it St. Petersburg, but Joseph calls it paradise. While he may not be a native, Joseph is a regular visitor to Asheville; and he has a few tips when it comes to smooth travel. “Depending on the airline… make sure you download the app,” Joseph said. “You can check in.” Joseph loves the ease of traveling through AVL. “The one thing about Asheville Regional is t...

Since 2006, the Blue Ridge Honor Flight, a non-profit organization, has been transporting veterans from WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to Washington, DC on an all-expense paid visit to the memorials dedicated to their honor. Honor Flight Board VP Marybeth Burns and Fundraising Chair Lisa Parham share how the efforts of a community help to honor our veterans for the sacrifices they have m...

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project Series continues with Dayna Reggero and celebrates Earth Day with guests Jill Kubit of DearTomorrow and Frida Berry from Parents Roar in Sweden. Dayna heads to New York to participate in the United Nations Women's International Forum (WIF) Leave It Better Than We Found event and Earth Day 2019 with women from around the world.  Jill Kubit tel...

Bruce T. Martin is an American Fine Art photographer who uses photography to document the world, explore perceptions and question our viewpoints. Using his knowledge and imagination, Bruce blends a unique mosaic of visual details in his photographs to create a fresh perspective on the Maya's endangered worldview and disappearing legacy. His book, Look Close See Far, A Cultural Portrait Of The...

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project Series continues with Dayna Reggero and guests. Artist/biologist Shannon Bodeau has a new Climate Listening Project – From The Same Soil, a collaboration with the UNC Asheville McCullough Fellowship. Shannon interviewed people from around the world and created hand-drawn graphite portraits, weaving science and storytelling through art. Also, two 9...

Daniel Young is a talented and highly successful badass of fun and travel and has created a lifestyle that’s truly coming from a soulful place. Daniel is known for his gift of spreading positive energy and charisma, and know-how, in whatever scene he chooses to show up. From 2012 to 2014 he worked as a guide to whitewater kayaking in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Also being a talented musician, he looke...

The Honor Flight Network flies WWII, Korean and Vietnam vets to DC to experience their memorials. Guests include Jeff Miller, president and co-founder of the Honor Flight Network, board member Marybeth Burns and Viet Nam War vet Warren Dupree. The Blue Ridge Honor Flight is dedicated to honoring our veterans for the sacrifices they have made to keep our nation safe by providing them with an all-ex...

Hunter is headed back home to Maine after a busy semester at Brevard College. After locating his gate, he also found he had some company to help him pass the time. Samson, one of the airport’s Paws for Passengers therapy pets, was there to offer Hunter an enthusiastic greeting. “We have 23 registered therapy dogs who volunteer here at the Asheville Regional Airport,” said Karen, Samson’s handler....

EJ is gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime. EJ works with a Christian outreach ministry in Brevard, and he is excited for his 15-day excursion exploring the history behind biblical texts in Israel. With an extensive packing list and a family at home, EJ understands the importance of preparation. “I needed to look over the packing list a million times,” EJ said. “This is a trip I have been pr...