Delightful Destinations

With next year being the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country, I think it’s fitting for us to make a trip back to Virginia.  Our 10th state hosted so many historically important events in the timeline of the United States.  From some of the first colonies to pivotal battles in the Revolutionary and Civil War, Virginia has been front and center for so much of our history. But there’s m...

I have a friend that’s made an effort to visit every baseball stadium in the country.  He’s pretty close now. I think he only needs 4 or 5 more and he’ll have it.  One of the reasons he loves this quest is that it gives him an excuse to visit cities  he wouldn’t otherwise go to.  I get what he’s saying.  I have this goal in life to run a half marathon in every state of the country.  I’ve checked 7...

This podcast has taken me all over the country.  We’ve even had discussions about trips you can take through Europe and other places.  But sometimes the coolest spots to hang are right under your nose.  Truthfully, one of the reasons I wanted to start doing Delightful Destinations was to learn more about some of the areas right near me that I didn’t know much about.    In my time living in the Bal...

If you’ve been a listener of this program than you may have heard me mention before that I grew up in New England.  I spent the first 18ish years of my life in New Hampshire.  When I got to high school, snowboarding became a huge part of my life and personality.  It was what my friends and I loved to do all winter long.  I was happiest when I was on a mountain. My favorite thing to do was get to t...

About 10 years ago I decided that I wanted to run a half marathon in every state.  I had run a race in Nashville and then done another in San Diego.  During my run in Southern California I had this epiphany that running a half marathon was a great way to see a city and the areas around it.  Over the next few years I visited a variety of states from Idaho, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.  They all had a...

One of the things I’ve really loved about doing this podcast is discovering the hidden gems.  Sometimes it’s a particular attraction in a city I’m already familiar with, like a museum or something.  And sometimes it’s a beautiful, and historic resort, that’s tucked away in the mountains of Virginia. On this week’s episode we are heading to let’s say north central Virginia into the Allegheny Mounta...

I spent a great weekend in Richmond, Virginia.  It was the summer of 2019.  My wife and I went down for a wedding and ended up having a blast.  And we had some random incidents that made the trip one that we will never forget.  I tell the story in my conversation today.  I’m laughing about it right now just thinking about it. Richmond is one of those cities that I think gets overlooked.  It’s a co...

Sports can unite a community.  When a local team is doing well, people are excited.  They’re happy and they want to invest in that team.  But can a sports venue change a community?  Hagerstown, Maryland may be the blueprint for other communities around the country. In this week’s episode we’re heading to Western Maryland to discuss Hagerstown and Washington County.  One thing you’ll hear us talk a...

There’s a phrase that I’ve used during my previous interviews that sometimes sets my guests off.  I guess I can understand.  It could come across as being insulting, but I never mean it that way.  That phrase is ‘Middle of Nowhere.’  Or sometimes I’ll say ‘Off The Beaten Path.’  Some guests take that as my way of saying it’s boring or slow. But today’s guest gets it and they even pride themselves...

Most of the conversations I’ve had for this podcast have been with representatives from counties, states or major cities.  But I think it’s time we swing through a small town near my home.  I live in Baltimore Maryland.  I always say Baltimore is a major city but it kind of feels like a small town since it’s sandwiched between Philadelphia and Washington DC. We are part of an area called the 95 Co...

Something I’ve loved about doing this podcast is having the ability to learn more about places that I’ve heard a lot about but have never visited.  Places like South County in Rhode Island, South Carolina, Dutchess County New York to name a few.  But sometimes I get to speak with someone from a place I’ve literally never heard of.   Today’s conversation takes us on a trip to the mountains of south...

One of my favorite memories of my life happened in Portland Maine. I won’t go into too many details because it’s not relevant, but it involved a concert at the historic State Theater in Portland.  I have always had a fondness for Portland.  It goes all the way back to my younger years going camping with my Grandfather.  We’d swing through Portland from time to time.    It’s such a cool city that p...

It’s been a few episodes since we’ve made our way into New England on this show, so let’s go back.  I spent the first 18 years of my life living in New Hampshire, and I go back up there fairly often to visit my family.  But do you want to hear a secret?  This is kind of a source of shame for me.  I’ve never been to Rhode Island.  True story.  I’ve been all around New England but have never made it...

One of my bosses loves Charleston South Carolina.  No joke, the other day she came into my studio and said, “I haven’t been to Charleston in two weeks and I think I’m starting to get hives.”  She loves it.  And I hear that from a lot of people.  In fact, another coworker is going down to Charleston soon to take part in a 10K.  South Carolina seems to be one of those places that, at least in my are...

I’ve mentioned before that I live in Baltimore.  I’m not a Baltimore native, but I’ve lived here for about 18 years now.  One thing I’ve learned in my nearly two decades in Charm City is that people here have no love for Pittsburgh.  Really it all stems from the NFL rivalry between the Ravens and Steelers.  But I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on why there seems to be so much tension bet...

It feels like we’ve been taking a little trip around New York recently.  We’ve discussed a few different areas in the Empire State, and now we’re going back.  I’ve said before that it feels like New York is really a few different states all combined into one.  Each region seems to have it’s own personality. This week we are going to Rochester.  I’ve been lucky enough to visit Rochester before.  My...

This was a fun one.  I spent about 8 years of my life living just outside Philadelphia.  There was a period of time where, on the off chance I’d have some time off on a weekend, my friends and I would take a little drive north into Bucks County.  There are some beautiful, and funky, spots that were perfect for a little day away.   My personal favorite spot was New Hope.  Now, it’s been about 20 ye...

Let’s go back up to New York.  I feel like the state of New York really is like 6 or 7 states combined.  There are so many unique areas throughout the state.  In this conversation I’m taking a trip up the Hudson River to beautiful Dutchess County. You might not be familiar with Dutchess County by name, but you know it’s role in the history of this country.  Have you ever heard of a guy by the name...

I’ve had a few different conversations on this podcast with different areas in Maryland.  It’s the state where I live and work, so it makes sense.  I have my own personal biases about what places are the best to visit in this state, and what locations would make great vacation spots.  For me, most of those places are near the beach or somewhere out in the lesser populated areas.  Today’s conversat...

If you’ve been listening to this show, you probably know that I live in Baltimore.  I’ve lived here for the last 17 years.  But my first 18 years were spent in Southern New Hampshire, right on the border of Massachusetts.  I would always tell people that Boston was my city, and I still might say that when the Red Sox are doing well.  And while I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of Mass...

Let’s kick off the new year with some inspiration to get out of your house and hit the railways.  I love taking the train.  I live in what’s known as the Northeast Corridor.  Essentially it’s the area between Washington DC and Boston.  The whole route is connected by rail and people often use them to get around.  Prices can be cheaper and I find the train to be so much more convenient than flying....

When I think of Sarasota Florida, the first thing that comes to mind is baseball.  I live in Baltimore and the Orioles have their spring training home right there in Sarasota.  I think about the Grapefruit League and all the teams that start preparing for their new season under the sunny skies of Florida. But Sarasota County has more to offer than baseball stadiums. Sarasota County falls just sout...

I remember when I was first getting ready to move to Maryland.  Everyone I knew had some kind of comment about the National Aquarium in Baltimore.  Those voices got even louder when I officially moved to Baltimore.  I couldn’t believe it.  How was an aquarium this huge attraction for everyone?  All of my old friends and family who visit Baltimore always want to go to the aquarium.  Even my wife ha...

I think it’s fascinating how many beautiful and exciting places there are right in our own backyards that many of us have never seen.  This podcast has opened my eyes up to so many things around where I live in Baltimore Maryland.  I’ve lived in Maryland for the last 17 years and I’ve had conversations through this podcast about places in this state that I’ve never even seen.  I can’t help but thi...

I’ve lived in Baltimore Maryland for the last nearly 17 years, I spent a year in DC and about 8 in Philadelphia.  But I grew up in New England.  The first 18 years of my life were spent growing up in southern New Hampshire.  Like most people in New England, I was really into winter sports. I started snowboarding and spent most of my winters on the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.  Li...