Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball

Steve Henderson, a Vietnam War vet and Marybeth Burns, a board member of the Blue Ridge Honor Flight, explain how Brothers Like These provides healing for vets through the arts and creative writing. The Blue Ridge Honor Flight is honored to partner with The NC Veterans Writing Alliance Foundation to present Brothers Like These , a staged reading by Vietnam War Veterans who perform their own writte...

Ida and Bernie are heading home to Washington, D.C., after a quick trip to Asheville for Ida’s birthday. Bernie travels regularly for work, and he picked up a few helpful tips along the way. “I’m always trying to stay hydrated,” Bernie said. “It’s healthy for you, and it helps if you’re going to be on long flights. Bring your own stainless steel, reusable water bottle. [Then you] have… the ability...

Desiree is New York bound for business. She travels regularly for work and leisure, so this frequent flyer knows her way around AVL. “I am always ready to just get home,” Desiree said. “So, I park on the highest [level of the] parking deck. I know exactly where my car is and can find it without forgetting.” Desiree knows that flying AVL means flying home, and she loves the ease and familiarity of...

Diana is kicking off an overnight trip to Orlando for a holiday party, and Asheville’s nonstop flights help her travel with ease. As a flight attendant, Diana is a pro when it comes to making her way through an airport.  “I think passengers don’t realize that they can bring an empty bottle through security and, on the other side of security, fill that bottle up with water,” Diana said. “That way,...

Lance is on his way to Orlando to visit family and friends back home. He currently lives in Waynesville, and he’s no stranger to flying in and out of AVL. He says preparation is the key to stress-free travel. “Pack as soon as you can,” Lance said. “Don’t do it last minute. Just try to relax. Grab a coffee, and just chill.” Lance enjoys the simplicity and efficiency of traveling through the Ashevil...

Jen Stevens is the author of the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program and Executive Editor of International Living. Over the years, Jen has taught hundreds of folks with no prior travel writing experience to get paid to travel. Discover how to travel the world and get paid for your stories and even travel for free. Jen explains how you can get paid to travel and why now is the best time to get into tr...

Nicole Will and Sue Ann Fisher, owners of Asheville Wellness Tours, have created a network of local health and wellness practitioners and craft experiences to encourage connection with ourselves, others and nature. Discover what led them to Asheville and the creation of Asheville Wellness Tours and why they've chosen this niche market of wellness tourism. Nicole and Sue Ann share some great w...

Timmy and Susana have a passion for performing, teaching and entertaining with family concerts and educational school programs. But life as a touring artist sometimes includes the good, the bad and the strange. Traveling for them is a way of life and brings smiles to so many, but some odd things do happen on the road! Timmy and Susana delight us with stories and songs guaranteed to bring a smile t...

Mark Gordon Smith, founder of Private Italy Tours, shares why falling in love with Italy is easy. Italy is more than pasta and wine. With historic cities, beautiful coastlines, endless history and the nicest people, one visit is just not enough. Mark has traveled across Italy for over 35 years and presents small group tours of Italy through its most beautiful and inspiring regions. Find out how to...

Kelly Hayes-Raitt is a full-time traveler and house sitter, journalist and inspiring public speaker. Kelly shares her travel stories and how she discovered house sitting as a flexible way to live and write. For the past decade, Kelly has cared for other people’s homes and pets in far-flung places like Maputo, Mozambique and Ya’an, China, as well as fabulous cities like Hanoi, Paris, Singapore, Ber...

Robert and Scott are The Cerny Brothers, an Americana duo based in Nashville. Their inspiring music is born from traveling and meeting fans on the road in diverse cities and rural areas all over the US. The brothers grew up in the heartland of Illinois, but after college we went to L.A. and had a completely different experience. For Robert and Scott, touring allows them the opportunity to meet all...

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project Series with Dayna Reggero recaps conversations with experts from around the world on how to find common ground and connect climate change stories with discovery. We understand climate and weather are important factors in our decision-making around travel. And this year we shared new and challenging opportunities for those involved in climate chang...

Chris Webber, Development Manager of Make-A-Wish® in Central & Western NC, explains how the gift of a wish helps transform the lives of children with critical illnesses and ways we can help make dreams come true. Find out the Make-A-Wish®  history, hear some inspiring travel wishes and ways you can get involved. The Make-A-Wish® Foundation has tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and suppor...

Madeleine Besson is a French singer, songwriter and artist. Her new EP, “In The River,” showcases her soulful and blues-flavored style and is creatively immersed with original songwriting and vocalizing. After developing her musical talents as a multi-instrumentalist while just a young child, Madeleine spent her early years touring the world on movie sets and theaters with her artistic parents. Th...

Yolanda Robertson is the owner of Savored Moments Travel and is a travel-planning expert who helps family, friends and groups deepen their connections through well-planned, savory travel experiences. For most of her adult life, she was a single mom who struggled to find time for herself, and it was often difficult to find the quality time to connect with her children. Now that her children are gro...

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project Series with Dayna Reggero continues with special guest, Veronica Butcher, joining us from Mothers and Others for Clean Air (M&O). M&O is a unique partnership of leading public health and child advocacy organizations working to advance public policy to improve air quality and fight climate change in order to reduce the effects of air pollut...

What if there was a way to really discover more about your destination, tailored just for you, from locals like you? Where you can find out what to do, what to know and where to go. Well, good news! Patrick Gallagher is Founder & CEO of the LGND (Legend) Travel App, an easy-to-use app where you can get great recommendations on all there is to see and do by local people who live in that city. A...

Deb is on her way to home to Charlottesville, Virginia. She was in Asheville for business but got to mix in some much-needed family time during her visit. As a regular traveler, Deb has learned a thing or two about being prepared. “Never check your bag when you’re flying to [a destination], because you may not have it when you get there,” Deb said. “I haven’t faced that very often; but there was o...

Josh and Rachel travel a lot for work, but this time they are headed to see family in Mississippi. Being frequent flyers, Josh and Rachel are pros when it comes to maximizing flexibility and convenience on the go. “Always pack a carry-on bag, never check a bag,” Josh said. “You don’t have to wait for your bags at the end of a trip.”  “It’s a lot easier if you’re boarding in a later zone or if you’...

Maria and Ron are headed home to Miami. The couple was visiting Asheville for a convention, but they made sure to hit the highlights during their stay. Ron is no stranger to travel, and he has few tricks up his sleeve. “I like… TSA pre-check. It saves time,” Ron said. “It was pretty easy. You just sign up online, get your appointment and… do it within a half hour. It gets you in and out pretty qui...

Chelsea is Ohio-bound after spending some time in Asheville for business. She travels on a weekly basis for work, so she is a practiced hand with several helpful travel tips. “Have everything ready,” Chelsea said. “If you have TSA pre-check, that’s very convenient. If you don’t, make sure you have your liquids ready and have easy shoes [to remove]. Pack as light as you can, that way you don’t have...

Yolanda is on her way back home to St. Louis. She’s been working in the Asheville area for several months now, but she always makes a weekly trip home to connect with friends and family. As someone who travels often, Yolanda knows the importance of traveling light. “Travel lightly, carry only the necessities,” Yolanda said. “Always check your bag. It’s too much… especially when you have connecting...

Remi Oguntoye, co-founder of ExplorEquity, explains how approaching an overriding theme of equity with travel makes the experience meaningful and provides tips to travel mindfully and sustainably. ExplorEquity is educating and growing awareness of global equity issues by developing immersive experiences in areas hardest hit by circumstances beyond their control, including Puerto Rico. Discover wha...

Did you know the Asheville Art Museum is the third oldest art museum in North Carolina? It was established by local artists and incorporated in 1948, and has seen several homes over the years. And now, with its current state-of-the-art facility, the museum will celebrate its 70th anniversary with the opening of the new Asheville Art Museum at 2 South Pack Square. Join Kristi McMillan and Lindsey G...

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Betsy Phillips has a voice as serene and calming as the flatlands of her native Midwest. Her new EP, “Like We’re Talking,” with Dan Knobler, features material touching on everything from personal relationships to her childhood home. Find out how she came to pursue her love of music, her love of travel and how she made the decision to move to Nashville.  Thanks for...