The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast

🎙️ Destination Diaries: Grapevine, Texas Guest: Elizabeth Schrack Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau 📍 Grapevine, Texas Episode Description Right between Dallas and Fort Worth sits a destination that blends small-town charm with big personality. Think historic Main Street, wine tastings, festivals, and a calendar that always seems to have something going on. In this episode of Destination Dia...

🎙️ Destination Diaries: Marana, Arizona Guest: Stefanie Boe Discover Marana 📍 Marana, Arizona Episode Description Just outside of Tucson sits a place that feels like Arizona without the overwhelm. Wide open desert, saguaro silhouettes, luxury tucked into rugged mountains—and a pace that lets you actually breathe. In this episode of Destination Diaries, Dannelle connects with Stefanie Boe to explo...

Shipshewana & LaGrange County, Indiana Guest: Sonya Nash, CEO LaGrange County CVB 📍 Shipshewana / LaGrange County, Indiana In this episode of Destination Diaries , Dannelle connects with Sonya Nash to explore the rich cultural heritage, slower pace, and meaningful experiences that define Shipshewana and LaGrange County . Home to one of the largest Amish communities in the Midwest, this destinatio...

Brown County, Indiana Guest: Cristina Villani, Markting Director  📍 Brown County, Indiana In this episode of Destination Diaries , Dannelle chats with Cristina Villani about one of the Midwest's most beloved creative and nature-rich destinations — Brown County, Indiana . Often called the "Little Smokies of the Midwest," Brown County blends scenic beauty, artistic heritage, and small-town charm in...

McCormick's Creek State Park Guest: Marce Johnson, CEO Organization: Owen County Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development 📍 Spencer, Indiana In this episode of Destination Diaries , Dannelle sits down with Marce Johnson from the Owen County Chamber to talk about one of Indiana's most beloved outdoor escapes — McCormick's Creek State Park . As Indiana's first state park, McCormick's Creek offers...

🎙️ Destination Diaries: Clarksville, Tennessee Guest: Michelle Dickerson Visit Clarksville 📍 Clarksville, Tennessee Episode Description Set along the Cumberland River, Clarksville blends history, creativity, and a growing food scene into a destination that feels both rooted and evolving. In this episode of Destination Diaries, Dannelle connects with Michelle Dickerson to explore why Clarksville i...

🎙️ Destination Diaries: Vincennes, Indiana With Guest: Janice Barniak, Executive Director In this episode of Destination Diaries , Dannelle connects with Janice Barniak to explore one of the most historically rich — and often overlooked — destinations in the Midwest. Welcome to Vincennes, Indiana — Indiana's oldest city. If your travel style leans toward meaningful places with layered stories, Vin...

Here are your Destination Diaries – Season 2 show notes for: 🎙️ Destination Diaries: Lindsborg, Kansas With Guest: Holly Lofton, Director Lindsborg Convention & Visitors Bureau In this episode of Destination Diaries , Dannelle chats with Holly Lofton from the Lindsborg CVB about a destination that proves you don't need international airfare to experience global culture. Welcome to Lindsborg, Kansa...

🎙️ Destination Diaries: Branson, Missouri With Guest: Heather Hermen, Senior VP, Chief Marketing Officer Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau In this episode of Destination Diaries , Dannelle sits down with Heather Hermen from the Branson CVB to explore how this Ozark Mountain destination continues to evolve while staying true to its welcoming roots. Branson has long been known for its live entert...

Love it — here are your Destination Diaries show notes for Cari 👇 🎧 Destination Diaries: American Gothic House Center Featuring Cari Nicely | American Gothic House Center Administrator In this episode of Destination Diaries , we travel to one of the most recognizable — yet surprisingly personal — pieces of American culture. You may not immediately recognize the name Eldon, Iowa … But you absolut...

🎧 Why Curiosity Is the Best Travel Skill You Can Have The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast When we talk about becoming better travelers, we often focus on: Packing smarter. Planning better. Finding deals. Maximizing points. But what if the most powerful travel skill… Isn't logistical at all? In this episode, Dannelle explores why curiosity — not confidence, not experience, not efficiency — is the sin...

🎧 What Makes a Place Feel Welcoming The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast Some places look great on paper. But others feel right the moment you arrive. You pull into town… step out of the car… and think: "Yeah… I like it here." That feeling? That's welcome. And in this episode, Dannelle explores what truly creates that sense of comfort — beyond attractions, rankings, or marketing slogans. Because welc...

Absolutely — here are full, rich show notes for this episode that match your voice and message 👇 🎧 Why Road Trips Are the Most Accessible Way to Travel The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast Travel doesn't always need to be big. Or flashy. Or expensive. Or perfectly planned. Sometimes, the most meaningful travel is simply the kind that works with real life. In this episode, Dannelle explores why road...

🎧 How to Build a Trip Around One Perfect Day The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast What if the secret to a better trip… wasn't planning more? What if it was planning less — but with more intention? In this episode, Dannelle introduces a simple idea that can completely transform how you plan travel: Build your trip around one perfect day . Not a flawless itinerary. Not a packed schedule. Not a color-co...

🎧 Travel Isn't a Checklist: Why Slower Trips Create Better Stories The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast Travel is supposed to feel exciting. But if we're honest? Sometimes it feels exhausting. In this episode, Dannelle dives into something many travelers feel — but rarely talk about out loud: The moment when travel quietly turns into a to-do list. Packed itineraries. Must-see pressure. The creeping s...

🎧 The Art of the First Stop The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast Every road trip has a beginning. Not the destination. Not the big attraction. But the moment when you shift from everyday life… into travel. In this episode, Dannelle explores the surprisingly powerful role of the first stop — and why choosing it intentionally can transform your entire trip. Because the truth is: Most of us don't start...

Sometimes the places that stay with us the longest… aren't the ones we planned for. They're the towns we almost skipped. In this episode, Dannelle reflects on why small towns often leave deeper impressions than big cities — and how curiosity, slowing down, and simple human connection can transform a roadside stop into a lasting memory. From the unexpected delight of the World's Largest Ball of Pai...

🌸 Episode Description When winter finally loosens its grip, Wisconsin explodes into color — and nowhere is that more joyful than at the state's flower festivals. In this episode of The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast , host Dannelle Gay takes you on a springtime road trip through Wisconsin's most beautiful blooms , from tulip fields to peony farms, lavender gardens, and even cranberry blossoms. Whet...

Why Visitor Bureaus Are the Unsung Heroes of Great Road Trips The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast If you think visitor bureaus are just places to grab a map and hit the restroom, this episode might change your mind. In this episode of The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast , host Dannelle Gay makes the case for why visitor bureaus, welcome centers, and tourism offices are some of the most powerful — and mo...

🎙️ Raised by Road Trips The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast Some people grow up in one place. Others are raised on back roads, state parks, and roadside motels where an in-ground swimming pool feels downright glamorous. In this personal episode of The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast , host Dannelle Gay reflects on how growing up on road trips shaped the way she travels — and the way she sees the world....

🎙️ Travel Smarter: How Choosing a Travel Theme Creates Better Trips & Bigger Memories The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast What if the secret to better travel wasn't seeing more — but seeing what actually matters to you ? In this episode of The Traveling Cheesehead Podcast , host Dannelle Gay explores how choosing a travel theme can completely transform the way you plan trips, experience destinations,...

From the roar of the Fox River paper mills to the hum of today's 3D printers, Wisconsin has always been a state of makers. In this episode, Dannelle Gay explores how a landscape of forests and factories inspired generations of innovators — from Kimberly-Clark's world-changing paper products to Milton Bradley's cardboard playgrounds and today's STEM-driven makerspaces. It's a story that proves big...

From Frank's in Kenosha to Miss Katie's in Milwaukee, Dannelle Gay takes you on a nostalgic road trip through Wisconsin's most beloved diners — where coffee is bottomless, the pie case is always full, and community still gathers around the counter. Featured Highlights Why diners are the heartbeat of Wisconsin mornings Iconic dishes: eggs, hash browns, butter burgers, and Friday fish fries Dessert...

Episode Summary: From brats and butter burgers to engines and ice-cream scoops, Wisconsin's makers have shaped how America eats, works, and plays. In this episode, Dannelle Gay takes you on a storytelling road trip through the state's most iconic brands — Johnsonville, Sargento, Duluth Trading Company, St. Croix Rods, Milwaukee Tool, and more — revealing the grit, pride, and community that keep "M...

When most people think of Wisconsin winters, they imagine endless shoveling, frozen eyelashes, and the eternal hunt for the left glove. But locals know something the rest of the world doesn't: when you stop fighting winter and start leaning into it, that's when the magic happens. In this episode, The Traveling Cheesehead takes you on a heart-warming tour of Wisconsin's coziest escapes — proving th...