Travel Connections

Welcome to the second episode devoted to Kentucky and The Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You could say that out of my friendship with my next guest, the idea of this Kentucky Series was created. Heather Sunseri was a part of my audience for my blog Adventures of Empty Nesters , and back in 2019, she learned I was planning to take our first trip to Kentucky to discover The Bourbon Trail. Her knowledge of...

Our favorite spirit is Kentucky Bourbon. To be more precise: We enjoy Woodford Reserve the MOST. Our kids sip it, our parents love it, and we tend to serve it to our guests and friends more than any other adult beverage. We have history and take our bourbon drinking very seriously. Back in 2019, before the world shut down, my husband Craig and I, and two of our best friends, went to Kentucky to di...

Come travel the world with us today! Are you looking to find adventure? You, my friend, are in the right place for an exhilarating 34 minutes!  My travel philosophy? Say yes and figure out the rest. I always encourage everyone I talk with to find adventure, and no one exemplifies this philosophy better than my next guest. Scott Eddy has a unique background. Although he began his career in investme...

I am a wine lover, and my wine education and favorites have grown since our kids left the nest. When our children were young, there was little time to indulge in learning about wines, so we chose as best we could and primarily drank wines from California. We lived in California until two years ago when we moved to the state of Washington. Being in close proximity to the wineries is certainly a tre...

A Visit to Camano Island I started this podcast with the dream of talking about and focusing on the connections we make when we travel. Nothing exemplifies this idea more than my trip to Camano Island, Washington.   I was invited to explore the island and attend the 23rd Annual Studio Tour by the Whidbey & Camano Island Tourism Board. My hosts had no great expectations other than for me to have a...

A No Vacation, Maui Vacation This episode is a fun one. It's not too long and will provide you with some very unique travel ideas you can use right from your own living room.  I share a couple of podcast episode reminders. Have you had a chance to listen to my interview with Linda Miller Nicholson? Her episode is called  Colorful Pasta-Making & Italian Travel with Salty Seattle . She shares how sh...

Pasta-making from the BEST From the moment I stepped into her pasta studio, Linda Miller Nicholson, also known as Salty Seattle, exuded warmth and enthusiasm that was palpable.  Her expansive studio is located about 30 miles east of Seattle, and it is super cool! Cleverly designed with a fireplace, chic seating, and rainbow-colored pasta tools. Woodblock counters cover the surfaces of each worksta...

Well, we have another fantastic episode for you! Today, I will introduce you to my friend, author, and fellow travel writer, Sara Broers. I promise you will learn about places you have never heard of and you will love it! But first, let me tell you a little about Sara. She went from Iowa Mommy Blogger to CEO and is a leading advocate and expert in Midwest Destinations. Sara Broers is a travel enth...

Let's talk about equestrian travel and a lot more! Not only do we plan to ride over and talk about equestrian travel, but today is a first for Travel Connections! We have a repeat guest! Laura Fernandez first came on the show during the podcast's launch back in Episode #5. We have asked her back on the show again because there is so much more to talk about! But first, let me give you a little back...

What is active travel? & How is a podcast created? Today's episode is a two-for-one! I am introducing you to the man behind the mixing board of this podcast, Erik Hulslander. With his expertise, every episode sounds professional and fantastic! We will take you behind the scenes of Travel Connections and how Erik, my audio engineer, is an active global traveler and marathon runner. He loves to see...

Today's episode is a fun and personal kind of catch-up episode.  Did you know that our debut episode for Travel Connections was published on October 1, 2021? We have created 17 episodes thus far! I am so thrilled that I joined this new platform. Have you listened yet? I love talking with other people in the travel space. The podcast gives me a unique opportunity to go even further inside of a tour...

Tours by International Culinary Tours are perfect for savvy travelers looking for experiential travel enjoyed outdoors with small groups. Does the idea of a culinary tour sound enticing? Since 1990, International Culinary Tours has been one of the premier boutique tour operators specializing in culinary, wine, and cooking tours to Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Morocco. They have also expande...

Art & Life on Whidbey Island In Part Three of my special three-part series of Whidbey Island, WA, I have a wonderful conversation with Holly and David Price. The couple moved from Seattle to Whidbey 28 years ago, and they built their dream home on five acres on the South end of the island. David has developed his career as a painter, showing in galleries in California, Oregon, Arizona, and Seattle...

In Part Two of my special three-part series of Whidbey Island, WA, I have a fantastic conversation with restaurateur and business owner Jenn Jurriaans.   She takes us through her early connections growing up visiting Whidbey Island as a child to their exciting beginnings creating their restaurant Prima Bistro. Prima Bistro is a Northwest Bistro inspired by French Classics located in Langley on Whi...

This is a personal introduction created just for you and it's all about our spectacular weekend getaway on Whidbey Island, in Washington. On each episode of Travel Connections, I ask each guest: "Travel Connections is about the deeper connections we make when we travel. I would love to hear about special trips and connections or personal travel stories that have made an impact."  So this introduct...

Wow, I had such a great conversation with Marilyn Ball of Speaking of Travel . Through her love of responsible travel and adventures, she uses her podcast Speaking of Travel as a portal for great storytelling from others who have unique travel stories.  As a nature lover and environmentalist, Marilyn helps raise awareness of the natural environments of local communities by creating a support netwo...

The Importance of Good Health for Travel and At Home January 2022 is the perfect beginning to create better health! We all need good health for travel and just for living each day. My special guest Eddie Stone, CEO of Touchstone Essentials, is a health industry expert, someone I trust, and a good friend for many years! I am confident that the more information we gather about our health, the better...

As an Italian food lover, today's episode was extra delightful for me as I interviewed executive chef Michael Lombardi of SRV Boston. We met while traveling to Italy on tour with Oldways in Northern Italy.  Although he earned his degree in business, his travels to Europe to study Italian cuisine helped pave the way for an illustrious restaurant career in Paris, Italy, New York, and Boston. Food is...

Have you ever thought about walking the Camino De Santiago in Spain? Are you familiar with this intriguing challenge? Every year thousands of adventurers from around the world, walk part or all of this ancient pilgrimage 500+ miles across Spain. Travelers are drawn to this journey for their own reasons, and author Meg S. Maloney shares her incredible and insightful adventure in her book Slow Your...

Suzy Mighell is a Dallas-based influencer and the personality and content creator behind the popular blog and lifestyle brand  Empty Nest Blessed .  EmptyNestBlessed.com  is where Suzy shares everything from fashion and beauty to travel, wellness, parenting, and more! Known for her joyful spirit, she shares her life with her followers while creating content to encourage and inspire them. Suzy has...

Hey travelers, Welcome to Episode, lucky number 7 . This is a super exciting episode for me! I absolutely love to read, and travel has provided me with the perfect excuse for keeping my nose in a book. I read books made of paper as well as read electronically on my iPad. I am not the one who is downloading and binging on the latest Netflix series. No, I am deliriously happy to sit and read for hou...

I have just returned from a glorious 16 day trip to Italy. It was so important to me to share my adventures with you and tell you the truth of what it's like to travel now in 2021. In this episode, you will find current and practical information for a trip to Europe. Protocols and rules may change, but this will give you some great info regarding Passenger Locator Forms and my experience with COVI...

Can audio change your life? I think it can, how about you? Wow, did I have an exciting and fun-filled discussion with Laura. Let me introduce you! Laura Fernandez is a trailblazer in the audio space, which led her to her current position as SXM Media's Travel + Tourism VP-Head of Industry. Her work has focused on developing media solutions that connect travel brands with their target consumers in...

Sara Baer-Sinnott is President of Oldways and it is a nonprofit food and nutrition organization helping people live healthier, happier lives, through cultural food, traditions and lifestyles. She has been an instrumental figure at Oldways since its early days, joining the staff in 1992. Oldways was created to preserve and promote traditional foods and traditional ways of eating. The founder Dun Gi...

Coleen Kirnan is the host and owner of Tuscan Women Cook. Suzanne enjoyed the tour four years ago and had an incredible time there learning to cook the most delicious Italian dishes. Imagine having a best friend in Tuscany, who knows all the best places to cook, to dine, and to shop. She is on a first-name basis with the best gelato makers and has exclusive access to the most spectacular vineyards...