Destinations Beyond Expectations

With outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, whale watching, and more, Greenland is a haven for nature lovers and adventurers.  Malisha Mendis from the Short Girl on Tour blog joins Stevie to share more about Greenland and some top things to do while you’re there. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 3/21/25   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:28 - The Landscape and Terrain of Greenland 3:20 - Most Popular or th...

Known for its lush surroundings, Madeira offers some incredible hiking opportunities that come with amazing views. Joining Stevie to talk more about Madeira is Maria Kru from Picture the World , a fantastic photography and travel blog. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 3/7/25   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Madeira's Natural Beauty and Where it's Located 3:53 - The History of Madeira 6:44 - T...

Italy is a country that so many travelers have on their bucket lists - it has beautiful beaches, incredible art, historic cities and much more to discover. Stevie is joined by LivTours founder and Rome native Angelo Carotenuto for a conversation about Italy’s most visited cites, and other Italian destinations that travelers should have on their radars. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 2/28/25   Timeco...

You may have heard of Colombia’s big cities like Bogotá, but there is so much wonderful culture, food, music and coffee to discover throughout Columbia’s 32 departments. Joining Stevie to talk about the beautiful country of Colombia is Ginna Taylor from Broken Boots Travel . Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 2/7/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 2:56 - Why is Colombia a Special Place for People to Visit? 6:4...

Stevie and Maddie got a lot of great questions about their adventures in Portugal, so they figured they'd close the 10 Days in Portugal series by doing a little Q&A. In this episode, you’ll hear Maddie and Stevie talk about things like their favorite day on the trip, how they decided to travel to Portugal and much more. Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 1/31/25 Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - Why...

Stevie and Maddie review their last few days in Portugal, which featured some fun adventures in the vibrant city of Lisbon. Stevie and Maddie's time in Lisbon included exploring the city by tuk tuk, learning more about azulejos at the National Tile Museum, and seeing one of Portugal’s top soccer clubs in action. Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 1/24/25 Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:17 - Traveling to See...

The Algarve is the southernmost area of Portugal that has breathtaking coastlines and is a popular vacation destination. On this episode, Stevie and Maddie talk about the town of Lagos and their time exploring the famous Benagil Cave by Kayak. Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 1/17/25 Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:32 - Train to Lagos 1:52 - Laundry Near Our Hotel 3:17 - Praia De Benagil Sea Cave 4:48 - Seven...

Today on part 2 of our series, we’re heading north to the magical city of Porto. Those visiting this charming city can enjoy breathtaking views of the Douro River, Porto’s unique bridges, and the beautiful tile work at the famous Sao Bento train station. Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 1/10/25 Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 2:18 - The Train to Porto 2:12 - Lunch and Free Time in Downtown Porto 3:39 - Sunset Wa...

Join Stevie G. and his fiancée Maddie for the first episode of a 5-part series that recaps their 10-day adventure in Portugal. Today’s episode covers the first two days where Stevie and Maddie got their feet wet in Lisbon and took a day trip to Sintra, which included a stop at the famous Pena Palace. Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 1/3/25 Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 2:18 - The Design of Day 1 2:58 - Strolli...

In addition to its beautiful wineries, Temecula has done a great job of becoming a year-round destination, adding some outstanding restaurants and gaining a great reputation as a wedding destination. Joining Stevie to talk more about Temecula and its wineries are Holly and Bill Bembenek, owners of the Temecula Wine Trolly Wine Tours . Show Notes ⬇️ Published on 12/27/24 Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:30...

Berlin is a dynamic city that’s known for its famous sites like Museum Island and the East Side Gallery. Joining Stevie on the podcast to talk about some of Berlin’s top sites to see is Claire Waggoner from the Tall Girl Big World blog. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 12/20/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - What About Berlin Makes it an Exciting City to Visit? 2:44 - Areas to Stay in Berlin 3:38 - A...

When you travel, have you ever though about how you can leave a place better than you found it? Today’s episode features Susanna Shankar, AKA Sooz, from Curiosity Saves Travel , who joins Stevie for a discussion on the idea of regenerative tourism. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 12/13/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 2:34 - What the Term Regenerative Tourism Actually Means 6:19 - How Long has the Concept...

Whether it’s a tiny town with mining history like Silver Plume or a college town like Boulder, you can find stunning scenery, fun outdoor activities and unique history in the communities that are in close proximity to the Mile-High City. Katie Chavez from The World on my Necklace travel blog sits down with Stevie to talk about some of the fascinating towns that aren’t too far from Denver. Show Not...

Known for its Jazz history, tasty food and Mardi Gras celebration, there is nowhere in the world quite like New Orleans! Joining Stevie to talk more about some exciting things to do in New Orleans is Liz Wood from the Roaming with Red blog. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 11/29/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 2:02 - New Orleans Never Gets Old 3:56 - The Experience of Riding the Streetcar in New Orleans 7...

Today’s conversation is going to take us to three magical areas of Costa Rica - Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and La Fortuna. Jessy Vanpoperinghe from The Worried Wanderer blog stops by the show to walk us through some of the key stops on a trip she took to Costa Rica, which included hiking around a volcano, sipping chocolate tea, ziplining through the clouds, and much more. Show Notes ⬇️   Publishe...

The towns around Italy’s Amalfi Coast are certainly worth a visit because of their delicious Italian food, historic sites, and gorgeous coastline views. Joining Stevie for a conversation about some of the stunning Amalfi Coast towns for visitors to explore is Madison Krigbaum from the Madison’s Footsteps blog. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 11/1/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:43 - Where is the Amalfi...

During the Christmas season, Strasbourg, France becomes a winter paradise, with its historic Christmas market, sparkling lights, and spectacular wintery experiences. Friend of the show Jen Ciesielski from the Dabbling in Jet Lag blog joins Stevie today to explain more about why Strasbourg, France is such a magical place to be in during the holiday season. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 10/25/24   Ti...

Lisbon is a popular European destination to visit because of its breathtaking views, energetic neighborhoods, and great nearby day trips. Joining Stevie to dive deeper into some of Lisbon’s amazing sights and things to do is Priscilla Rodriguez from the Priscilla Wanders travel blog. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 10/18/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:56 - Why Lisbon is a Favorite City for Many Travel...

Spain's breathtaking architecture, lively festivals, rich cultural legacy, and mouthwatering food make it an unforgettable tourist destination. Stopping by to talk about 5 highlights from her trip to Spain is blogger Summer Meddock . Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 10/11/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Why Spain is a Memorable Travel Destination 4:50 - Basilica de La Sagrada 6:19 - The Picass...

We all know Montreal is a popular city for tourists, but today we're putting the spotlight on two other nearby destinations in Quebec, Laval and Oka, that have a ton of great things to do. If you’re interested in learning more about Oka’s cheese, national park, and outdoor tranquility or Laval’s scrumptious food scene and exciting outdoor adventures, you’re in the right spot because Kathryn D...

Known for being the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy was a cultural hub where literature, science, and the arts all thrived. Joining Stevie to talk about some top sites to see in Florence and more about Florence’s history is Kasia Chojecki from the Amongst Romans blog and podcast. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 9/27/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:39 - Why Florence is a Special Place 3:3...

With wineries, outdoor adventures, historical markers, and friendly small towns, Southern Illinois is truly a hidden gem that is totally worth checking out. Today, Stevie is joined by Jessica Baine from the Caffeine Until Cocktails blog, who talks about the Shawnee National Forrest, things to do in the Fall, and much more when it comes to visiting Souther Illinois.  Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 9/...

On the days when New York City gets some of its best weather, there are so many amazing things to do from experiencing the buzz of Central Park to catching a perfect sunset on a rooftop bar and more. Stevie's guest today is Kate Vernier from the Explore with Kate blog, who talks all about great things to do on a great day in NYC. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 9/13/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1...

The dynamic borough of Brooklyn, New York, is well-known for its many neighborhoods, the famous Brooklyn Bridge, and other popular tourist destinations including Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum. Joining Stevie to talk about Brooklyn is Becca from Half Half Travel . Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 8/23/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:56 - Where Brooklyn is Located and What Makes it Unique 4:40 - T...

With beautiful coastal scenery, quaint seaside communities, and a wealth of cultural heritage, Nova Scotia can be an epic vacation destination for history buffs, lovers of the great outdoors - or really anyone! Meggan and Jenn from The Travel Mug Podcast join Stevie to talk about Nova Scotia and the opportunities it holds for travelers. Show Notes ⬇️   Published on 8/2/24   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro...