Round Trip With Colleen Kelly

Guest: Heidi Hayes - Director of Public Relations, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Las Vegas is having a moment, but not for the reason most people think. The city is still great at the classics like casinos, nightlife, and people-watching, yet what surprised us most is how much Vegas has expanded into a true travel hub with next-level entertainment, immersive attractions, a serious fo...

Guest: Amanda Marr, Director of Marketing & Communications, Visit Sevierville You know that feeling when a place surprises you fast and then somehow sticks with you for years? That’s Sevierville, Tennessee for me. It’s set in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you get big mountain scenery and outdoor adventure, but you also get an easy home base with true small-town w...

Guest: Jane Wooldridge - Award-winning travel and business journalist & Author of Frommer’s Comfort in the Wild:100+ Idyllic Nature Destinations, No Roughing It Required You can love wild places and still want high-thread-count sheets. Travel journalist and author Jane Wildridge joins me to talk about Frommer’s Comfort in the Wild, a beautiful, practical guide to 100+ nature destinations where...

Guest: Megan Kudla, Producer & Travel Writer Rome is iconic, but it can also feel like a lot, especially when you’re trying to pick the right neighborhood, book tickets, and squeeze the “big stuff” into a short stay. We wanted a plan that feels chic, simple, and actually doable, so I brought on my producer Megan Kudla to break down her Rome girls trip and the exact choices that made two nights...

Guest: Audrey Huttert, General Manager of The St. Regis Venice Water taxis, soft pastels, and a view that steals your breath—our Venice journey starts inside the St. Regis Venice, a historic palazzo reimagined with contemporary art and quiet, personal service. We sit down with General Manager Audrey to trace the hotel’s path from Europa Regina and Britannia days to its 2019 rebirth, and we unpack...

Want New York City without the New York price tag? We brought in Pauline Frommer to show exactly how to make it happen, with practical strategies that stretch your budget while keeping the magic intact. From rush seats on Broadway to off-season hotel wins, this conversation is a masterclass in traveling well without overspending—or getting fooled by AI-driven pricing. We dig into the Frommer legac...

Guest: Jenny Gowan, Special Events Manager at Wilderness Travel Looking for travel that does more than check boxes? We sit down with Wilderness Travel’s special events manager, Jenny Gowen, to unpack how truly adventurous journeys are built: small groups, local leadership, and a guiding principle that we’re not spectators. From the company’s pioneering roots in 1978 to today’s topic-driven itinera...

Steve Guilday - Director of Travel at AARP Services Inc. What if a $20 membership could make your bucket list trip finally happen? We sit down with Steve Guilday, Director of Travel at AARP, to reveal practical, stackable ways to cut costs on flights, hotels, rental cars, tours, and cruises—without sacrificing comfort or adventure. Steve explains how AARP’s nonprofit model passes negotiated saving...

Suzanne Kenzer - Freelance Travel Journalist Ready to swap your Paris-London loop for a city that blends fairy-tale grandeur with everyday ease? We head to Copenhagen with travel journalist Suzanne Kenzer to unpack a long-weekend plan that hits royal palaces, storied museums, waterfront strolls, and a dining scene that’s as welcoming as it is ambitious. Think crown jewels at Rosenborg, the lifegua...

Paul Kelly, Turkey Farmer + Managing Director of KellyBronze Holiday travel doesn’t have to be chaos, and turkey doesn’t have to be dry. We open with hard-won airport strategy—exact arrival windows, snack planning, and the surprising magic of flying on Thanksgiving morning—then bring on Paul Kelly of KellyBronze to change how you think about the main course. Paul is a two-time Guinness World Recor...

Johnny Jet - Travel Expert Named “the original travel influencer” by Forbes Fear at the gate. Tears, a canceled dream trip, and three years grounded. That’s where Johnny Jet started—before a last-minute call and a single turned page sent him onto a plane and into a life of travel, family memories, and quietly powerful habits that make journeys work. We sit down with Johnny to unpack how anxiety be...

Ralph Velasco – Chief DRIFTER at Continental DRIFTER® Experiences What if the best photos happen after you put the camera down? We sit with travel photographer and tour leader Ralph Velasco to rethink how we move through the world—less rushing, more noticing, and a renewed focus on why we went in the first place. After 17 years of fast‑paced travel, Ralph embraces “pre‑tirement,” dialing back the...

What's the one travel essential that seasoned travelers never leave home without? Hint: it's not your passport, credit card, or smartphone. It's travel insurance – that often overlooked protection that can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a financial disaster. Travel insurance might not sound like the most thrilling topic, but as Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip...

Have you ever wondered what it's truly like to witness a glacier's blue ice from your private balcony while sipping mimosas at 10 AM? Join me as I unpack my bucket list Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises, an experience that left both me and my husband utterly spellbound. My conversation with Mary Jacquel, Director of Alaska Planning & Marketing for Princess Cruises, reveals why Prince...

Audrey Wilson, Author & Video Producer Travel has the power to change everything—even when we least expect it. 🌍✈️ In this inspiring conversation, Audrey Wilson shares how she went from avoiding air travel for 20+ years to becoming a globe-trotting thriller author. Her adventures across California, Ireland, the Bahamas, and Colorado not only helped her conquer travel anxiety but also fueled t...

Experience Europe by Train: Why Rail Travel Beats Flying | Interview with Rail Escape What if the journey could be just as unforgettable as the destination? In this episode, we sit down with Julian Schmid from Rail Escape to uncover why train travel in Europe remains the ultimate way to explore the continent’s beauty, culture, and diversity.  🚄 Why choose trains over planes in Europe? Julian expl...

Discover Wisconsin: Hidden Gems, Outdoor Adventures & Small-Town Charm with Noreen Rueckert, Director of Green County Tourism; Malorie Paine, Representative with the North Central Wisconsin Tourism Partnership; and Meridith Jumisko, Public Relations Director for Visit Kenosha. Tucked just beyond Chicago's reach lies Wisconsin – a treasure trove of experiences that might have you reconsider...

Looking for the best travel rewards programs in 2025? We break down the brand-new U.S. News & World Report Travel Rewards Rankings (2025–2026) with Senior Travel Editor Elizabeth Von Tersch. Discover which airline loyalty programs and hotel rewards programs actually give travelers the most value: ✈️ Best Airline Rewards 2025 – Alaska Airlines takes the top spot over United & American. 🏨 B...

Dreaming of your 2025 adventures? We're serving up a diverse platter of travel inspiration to fuel your wanderlust as holiday festivities wind down. This episode delivers the perfect mix of accessible weekend getaways and exotic international journeys to brighten even the darkest winter days. We kick off with a fascinating look at how entertainment shapes travel choices. The "Glickid"...

Have you ever dreamed of sailing across crystal blue waters on a majestic tall ship while exploring charming coastal villages untouched by mass tourism? Join Colleen Kelly and her daughter Dunovan as they recount their extraordinary journey aboard a Star Clippers vessel through the Mediterranean, taking listeners on a vicarious adventure to Corsica, the French Riviera, and the picture-perfect harb...

Ever dreamed of a destination that feels like stepping into another world without the hassle of long-haul travel? This week, Colleen and Megan uncover two gems that deliver exactly that - Southern Illinois and Prague, Czech Republic. Southern Illinois emerges as the surprise star of our Midwest explorations, now incredibly accessible thanks to Contour Airlines' direct 45-minute flights from Ch...

What does it mean to truly experience the Arctic? Not just viewing it from a distance, but immersing yourself in its wild landscapes, connecting with its indigenous communities, and learning from experts who've dedicated their lives to understanding this extraordinary region?  Megan recently returned from Adventure Canada's Heart of the Arctic expedition, a transformative 12-day journey th...

Venturing into the far reaches of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland aboard Adventure Canada's Ocean Endeavor reveals a world few travelers ever experience. Through frost-kissed waters and remote communities, this expedition cruise unveils both the stunning natural wonders and the rich cultural tapestry of the North. The journey takes you through breathtaking Arctic landscapes, from the bird-co...

Galveston Island was so fun, it took two episodes! Hear from Will Wright, Chief Creative Officer of the Galveston Historical Foundation, on this historic city. Megan and Colleen share more on their favorite parts of the trip. Plus, can travel really slow aging? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yee-Haw! On this two-parter episode of Round Trip, Colleen and Megan head south to Galveston Island, Texas. They talk to Executive Director of Visit Galveston, Tony Lyle, to hear the ins and outs of the islands. Plus, hear about their experience visiting the island while filming Family Travel!  FOR MORE INFORMATION: TONY LYLE: https://www.visitgalveston.com/ WATCH THE EPISODE: https://www.pbs.org/...