Welcome to the Where Else to Go podcast where we talk about where to go - and where else to go - whether that's across town or around the world.
This week's episode features Erin Bender talking about her hometown of Perth, the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. While Erin and her family spend most of their lives on the road, they've been traveling non-stop for over four years, she was quite willing to dish about home. She says:
Perth is a place no one visits in Australia on the West Coast. And the place people don’t even realize that they are missing. White beaches, some of the most beautiful wildlife in the world and home to some of the best wine in Australia.
Take a listen and learn why Erin thinks Perth is so special.
Erin Bender has been traveling the world with her family since May 2012. It's an open-ended, unplanned, round-the-world trip discovering amazing places for families. They have stayed in hostels and 5-star luxury resorts, traveled on scooters and cruise liners, danced with leprechauns and abseiled cliffs. Her children have been singled out by Forbes as the some of the World’s Most Well Travelled Kids. The kids enjoy travel as much as Erin and her husband, Josh, and don’t want to stop.
You can follow the adventures of the Benders at Travel with Bender. Connect with her on social: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, and LinkedIn. You might also enjoy their YouTube channel.
Thanks for joining us. If you want to make sure you get every episode of the podcast, you can subscribe via iTunes or Google Play. The biggest way you can help support this podcast is to subscribe, followed by leaving a rating and review. I'm still very new to the podcasting platform and appreciate your support.
Please come back next week to join us talking about where to go. . . and where else to go, whether that’s across town or around the world. And hey, take a minute and leave a comment below about where else you want to go.
Welcome to Episode #23 of the Where Else to Go podcast. This week we're talking with Katie Hammel about visiting Iceland in the off season.
If you've perused any travel media lately, you know that Iceland is hot, hot, hot. But Katie gives us some suggestions from traveling to Iceland when it's down right cold.
Here's what she says:
Iceland's tourism is exploding, but most people still visit in the summer high season. Go in March or April or September or October and you'll see fewer people. Go from November to February and it's even better. You'll have to take some precautions, bring the right gear, and limit where you go (as some places around the country are just inaccessible in the winter) but you can still do plenty of amazing things in the winter, and you'll encounter fewer crowds and pay lower prices. You can still go horseback riding, glacier climbing, caving, snorkeling, whale watching, ride in a helicopter, or take a brewery tour, all on trips from the city. Plus you might get to see the Northern Lights--you can see them via boat or on a bus tour, go in search of them by yourself, or book a trip to go float in a hot spring. When they are particularly strong, you can even see them from the city.
Take a listen and understand why Katie thinks Iceland is a perfect place to visit:
Here's the driving trip, complete with routing details, that Katie recommends. She's added in many of the activities and locations that we talked about.
Katie Hammel is a travel writer who has been published in the NY Daily News, San Francisco Chronicle, BBC Travel, and other publications. She lives in San Francisco. She's been to Iceland six times and considers it her favorite place in the world. You can read more from Katie here, as well as connect with her on social media on Twitter and Instagram. Although she is no longer working with Trip Creator, Katie still thinks you should check out what they have to offer travelers.
Thanks for joining us. If you want to make sure you get every episode of the podcast, you can subscribe via iTunes or Google Play. Please come back next week to join us talking about where to go. . . and where else to go, whether that’s across town or around the world.
Hello! Thanks for joining us for the special Halloween episode of the Where Else to Go podcast. Joining me today to talk about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando is Rick Howard.
Now in its 26th year, Halloween Horror Nights include nine haunted houses (mazes), five scare zones (transitional areas with staging and characters), and two shows. Rick and I talk about the horror genre, the craft and creativity of the genre, and our experiences at HHN26. The event runs through November 5th, 2016. If you miss it this year, it's not too early to make plans for 2017.
Take a listen.
Some helpful links:
Thanks for joining us. If you want to make sure you get every episode of the podcast, you can subscribe via iTunes or Google Play. Please come back next week to join us talking about where to go. . . and where else to go, whether that’s across town or around the world.
Hello, and thanks for joining us for Episode #22 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Today we're talking with Julie Fox about the Minho Region of Portugal.
I first visited Portugal in 2011 for a very short period of time and was fortunate to go back again in 2015 for a much longer period. I came very close to the Minho Region, and if I'd only had this information then, I may have extended my time in the country to go a little farther inland.
Minho is bordered by the River Douro to the south and the River Minho to the north, the latter also dividing it from Spain. It has a depth of Celtic influences and also shares a deep culture with Spain. It's known as one of Portugal's greenest and most traditional provinces, and after talking with Julie, it's hard to understand why so many travelers pass it by.
Julie says:
The Minho region in the north which includes the historical cities and towns of Braga, Guimarães, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo and Caminha, are rich in history, architecture, gastronomy and culture, and the landscapes are spectacular. You've got everything - beaches, mountains, rivers, forests. If you really want me to pick one spot in this beautiful area, I'll go with Ponte de Lima, although it's probably the hardest to get to without a car. Each of them has something special to offer the luxury traveler.
Take a listen.
Some helpful links:
Julie first visited Portugal in 2007 and swiftly fell in love with the country. As well as authoring her own book, Money Saving Tips For Travel in Portugal, she is a contributor to Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Travel Guides to Portugal, Lisbon, and Europe, Travel 42 Guides, The Huffington Post, CNN and AFAR. She helps others discover the beauty and culture of Portugal and plan their own trips by providing information, inspiration, and tips for living and traveling in Portugal through her popular blog, Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal.
You can follow Julie on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.
Thanks for joining us. If you want to make sure you get every episode of the podcast, you can subscribe via iTunes or Google Play. Please come back next week to join us talking about where to go. . . and where else to go, whether that's across town or around the world.
Hello! Thanks for joining us for Episode #21 of the Where Else to Go Podcast. Today we'll be talking with Samantha about Namwon, South Korea. Samantha is a travel blogger and is currently teaching ESL in Namwon. She fell in love with the area and wants us to as well.
Namwon is about a two hour KTX train ride from Seoul, or a three to four-hour bus ride, depending on traffic. It's an hour from Jeonju, which is rising on the Korean travel lists for its traditional housing (Hanoks). Samantha says that Namwon is a lovely walkable city, but that too many people don't know it exists.
For anyone interested in traditional Korean culture, Namwon is the setting for one of Korea's most famous love stories, Chunhyangjeon. (Think of it as Korea's Romeo and Juliet minus the tragic ending.) There's a beautiful park you can wander around called Gwanghallu that has the story laid out, and you can also go to an amusement park based around Chunhyang.
If you're interested in nature, Namwon is also one of the cities based around Jiri Mountain (Jirisan), one of Korea's three most important mountains along with Hallasan and Seoraksan. There are a bunch of trails of varying degrees of difficulty, and one notable short one that gives you a beautiful view of the city. If you come in autumn, you'll get rows of fall foliage, and if you come in early spring, you might just catch all the cherry blossoms lining the main river.
If you like food, Namwon is also located in Jeollabuk province. The Jeolla provinces are considered the food provinces of Korea, so if you want good Korean food, it's here.
Samantha offers the following details (and links) for getting to Namwon:
Suggestions on Where to Stay
What to do is Namwon:
Samantha is a travel blogger at There She Goes Again and is finishing up her teaching contract in Namwon, South Korea, after which she'll spend time traveling to Jeju and Seoul for a few weeks before flying home to the U. S. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Thanks for joining us. If you want to make sure you get every episode of the podcast, you can subscribe via iTunes or Google Play. Please come back next week when we'll be talking about where else to go, whether that's across town or around the world.
Welcome to episode #20 of the Where Else to Go Podcast. We're glad to have you with us for today's show which features Gemma Armit talking about where else to go - the Caribbean Coast of Colombia.
Gemma is a teacher of politics and current affairs in Scotland and is also a travel blogger at Two Scots Abroad. Gemma and her husband are just back from a 17-month career break during which they traveled in the Americas and Europe. Although they've returned home, they're not giving up traveling, they'll just be doing it a little differently.
Today Gemma talks about their adventures on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. They had been traveling for a couple of months in Peru and Bolivia and kept getting recommendations about going to Colombia. After time spent in the bigger cities, Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena, they ventured out to the coast. Once there, they found their hearts stolen by both the beaches and the towns of Santa Marta, Costeño, Tayrona National Park and also Minca, a tiny town tucked away in the Sierra Nevada mountains!
You can find more information about places mentioned in links below.
And some other helpful information about the rest of their time in Colombia.
You can follow Gemma on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, and YouTube. They have some exciting adventures shaping up as they hit the road in a different way.
Thanks for listening! Remember, you can also find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, and while you’re there, please take a minute and leave us a rating and review. You can also subscribe to the podcast on Google Play.
Welcome to the Where Else to Go podcast. I'm so glad to have you join us for Episode #19 featuring Kimberly Erin Davies talking about where else to go – San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.
Kimmie grew up being taught that travel is education in a less formal environment, and has since been doing her best to practice this belief. She now works as a travel blogger, traveling the Americas, writing and inspiring others to push the boundaries of travel. She is an adventurer and loves to climb mountains, take multi-day treks, surf, scuba dive, and paraglide.
Kimmie was passing through Chile for a short visit on her way to Easter Island, but fell in love with it and ended up moving to the north part of the country and a town called San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro is a sleepy little town with a relaxed kind of hippie vibe. It is an open, free, be yourself type of destination, with wonderful restaurants, and some of the best scenery you could dream of. You will never run out of things to do in surreal San Pedro de Atacama, from volcanoes to hot springs, to world class star gazing and sand boarding on ‘the moon’, you will never be bored.
Even though she has now moved back home to Canada, Kimmie makes return visits regularly, sharing her love of San Pedro with family and friends
Some of the things that Kimmie recommends:
Restaurants:
You can read more about Kimmie's travels - to San Pedro and more - on her blog, Walk Aboot Travel. Follow her on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Hello, and welcome to episode #18 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Whether you're looking to travel around the block or around the world, we're here to give you some inspiration to begin researching where to go. . . and where else to go.
My guest today is Marysia Maciocha, an ex-lawyer from Poland, who describes herself as a crazy Polish girl traveling around the globe. She travels most of the time, with intermittent breaks for family events, and remains enthusiastic about the constant change of landscape, religion, mentalities, languages, and kitchens.
Marysia and I talk about travel to Benin, a country in west Africa. Most tourism centers around Cotonou, the governmental seat, and even though French is the official language, Marysia says it is possible to get around relying only on English. Of course, she speaks six languages so it's easy for her to say that, but if you're willing to make a bit of effort with the language, you'll find Benin is an underrated destination full of interesting culture and history.
Our conversation ranged from hotels and food to voodoo practices and the slave trade. Benin is full of things that you won't find just anywhere. Take a listen.
You can find Marysia's stories about her travels on her blog, My Travel Affairs, and stories specifically about traveling in Benin here. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram.
Thanks for listening! Remember, you can also find the podcast on iTunes, and while you're there, please take a minute and leave us a rating and review. See you next week when we'll be talking about Where Else to Go. . . San Pedro de Atacama.
Rwanda is a small landlocked country just south of the equator in central and east Africa. The country is mountains in the west and savannah in the east, and although primarily an agricultural economy, tourism is becoming an important part of the economy.
While many people only know about Rwanda for its horrible history of genocide, travel blogger Bret Love fell in love with it. He says:
Rwanda. It's relatively off the beaten path for most American travelers, and there's a lot of amazing ecotourism attractions beyond following Dian Fossey's footsteps and trekking with gorillas in Volcanos National Park. A lot of people associate the country with the Civil War and genocide that ended in 1994. But President Paul Kagame has completely transformed the country over the past 22 years, with an impressive infrastructure, impeccably managed tourism industry, and some of the most beautiful landscapes we've ever seen.
Bret Love is a journalist with 23 years of experience, whose freelance clients have ranged from the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Rolling Stone to National Geographic and Yahoo Travel. Along with his wife Mary Gabbett, he is the co-founder of Green Global Travel, an award-winning blog focused on ecotourism, nature/wildlife conservation & cultural preservation that hopes to inspire and inform people on ways to live and travel more sustainably. Bret and Mary also co-founded Green Travel Media, a content marketing agency, as well as a new Fair Trade e-commerce store that's opening on Earth Day 2016.
You can follow all of Bret and Mary’s travels on Green Global Travel, where they’ve recently opened a shop focusing on items from their travels. I purchased a pillow cover from the shop and was very pleased with both the customer service and quality. Find them on social media at Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram.
Thanks for listening! Remember, you can also find the podcast on iTunes, and while you’re there, please take a minute and leave us a rating and review.
Welcome to the Where Else to Go podcast. Episode #16 features Elena Paschinger talking about where else to go - southern Brazil.
Elena is a tourism management graduate from Austria turned travel writer, teacher, business consultant and public speaker. She became totally impassioned with meaningful, culturally authentic, and engaging travel experiences after spending one and a half years living and working in New Zealand. Tracking the exponential growth of creative travel around the world, she has actively participated in developing and promoting creative destinations through her international consulting business. Her most recent achievement includes moderating an international panel discussion on creative travel and community development for the UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organization at the ITB International Travel Trade Show in Berlin.
When most people think about visiting Brazil, they think about Rio or Sao Paulo, but Elena advises us to head south to the cities of Porto Alegre and Florianopolis. It's about a 1:40 flight from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre, and the same from Buenos Aires as well. Once in Porto Alegre, you can reach Florianopolis by another flight or a five hour bus ride.
Elena makes the following recommendations (click through the links for more information).
Follow all of Elena's travels on her blog, Creative Elena. She has also written a book, The Creative Travelers Handbook. You can follow her on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.
Thanks for listening! Remember, you can also find the podcast on iTunes, and while you’re there, please take a minute and leave us a rating and review.
See you next week when we'll be talking about where else to go - Rwanda.
Photo credit: Some rights reserved by Gustavo Facci
Welcome back to the Where Else to Go podcast. We took a brief two week hiatus, allowing some time to update our site and take care of other technology related matters.
We're back this week with a practical look at a country that has always fascinated me - Israel. My guest is Susan Schwartz, Managing Director at ConvExx, Susan travels to Israel frequently both with family and to visit family, and shares some recommended sites, dispels the myths of danger, and gets us excited about seeing this country so rich in history.
Thanks for listening! Remember, you can also find the podcast on iTunes, and while you’re there, please take a minute and leave us a rating and review. See you next week.
Join me for episode #4:
When you think about traveling to Peru, you most likely think about Machu Pichu in the Andes. But today's guest, Chris Backe, wants you to think about visiting the ruins and historical sites in Northern Peru for your next "where else to go" vacation.
Chris is the blogger behind One Weird Globe, which explores the world's offbeat and bizarre destinations, and is the publisher of Choose a Way books, the tap-your-own-adventure guidebooks to real-life destinations. He's been seen in Atlas Obscura, Mental Floss, the Daily Mail, and dozens of other publications. Chris and his wife, a fellow traveler from Canada, have spent time living in Peru, and he shares what we've been missing in northern Peru.
Chris says that northern Peru features an array of authentic, ancient, and well-preserved ruins from both pre-Inca and Inca civilizations. Machu Picchu, for all the attention it receives, ends up putting many worthy places in a big shadow. Offerings like the Huaca de la Luna (the temple of the moon) and Chan Chan (a UNESCO World Heritage) in Trujillo make for a pleasant stay – and having a beach town in Huanchaco only 20 minutes away is a nice bonus as well. Kuelap Fortress, one of the biggest stone fortresses remaining in the world, is located near Chachapoyas and is one of the most easily approached ruins in Peru. Chris has written about some of the other historical sites in this blog post.
If you're ready for something more exotic, a few towns in Peru have "witches markets", selling potions and ingredients that look like they belong in a witches potion! There's also the Guinea pig breeding tour in Puno, the Museo del Cerebro (Brain Museum) in Lima, and a spectacular museum of 100+ cars (in photo above), an easy taxi ride from Lima.
Besides his blog, you'll find Chris on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
If you’re enjoying these podcasts, please take a minute to subscribe on iTunes. And don’t forget to leave a rating (5-stars is always nice!) and/or review.
Located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, Oman is a travel destination that is surrounded by mystery and myths. Tourism is on the rise in Oman, and it is predicted to soon be one of the largest industries in the Sultanate. Part of the rise in tourism can be attributed to cruise lines making Oman a port of call, but the country's tourism slogan - "Beauty has an address" - is helping to position it as a safe, affordable, and beautiful travel destinaton.
On Episode #11 of the Where Else to Go podcast, I'm joined by Nicole Brewer, a Detroit native, who has been living and working in Nizwa, Oman, for the past three years. She says she's found the locals to be extremely nice and accommodating, and wishes more people would experience the beauty that Oman has to offer.
A couple of the resorts that Nicole loves are the Shangri-La in Muscat and a 5-star resort in the mountains, Alila Jabal Akhdar. And she impresses upon us both the beauty and the cultural aspect of tourism in Oman.
To follow more of Nicole's adventures and travel writing, check out her blog, I Luv 2 Globetrot, and follow her on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
If you're enjoying these podcasts, please take a minute to subscribe on iTunes. And don't forget to leave and rating (5-stars is always nice!) and revivew.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Brewer
With its convenient location in southeastern Tennessee -it's an easy getaway from Atlanta, Knoxville, Nashville, Hunstsville, and Birmingham - it surprised me that most people don't think of Chattanooga. It seems like an overlooked city, a definite where else to go destination, and it could easily be added on to a visit to this part of the country.
Joining me on Episode #12 to talk about Chattanooga is Cory Lee.
Cory Lee was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, but that certainly has not diminished his desire to travel - wheelchair and all. He has been everywhere from Australia to Iceland, just to name a few, and he blogs about his accessible (and sometimes not so accessible) travel adventures on CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com. Cory hopes to inspire others to break out of their comfort zones and start rolling around the world.
Getting around a city can be a bit frustrating for Cory at times, as he looks for accessible public transporation and taxis. He visits Chatannooga frequently as not only is it close to his home in Lafayette, Georgia, (about a 30 minute drive), but it's a easy city for him to get around.
Cory says there are plenty of superb restaurants, attractions, outdoor activities, and even an arts district in Chattanooga. Its'a a growing city, with new businesses popping up around the city. It's also near the Ocoee River, where part of the 1996 Olympics took place, and a short drive from the Great Smoky Mountains. You'll want to listen to the full podcast for all the places Cory recommends, but here are a links to a few stories that give you a little more background.
To follow Cory's travels, and learn more about accessible travel, check out his website, Curb Free with Cory Lee. You can follow him on social media at Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
If you’re enjoying these podcasts, please take a minute to subscribe on iTunes. And don’t forget to leave a rating (5-stars is always nice!) and review.
Thanks for joining us for Episode #10 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Although it wasn’t planned, we seem to be on an island theme, covering islands destinations from around the world.
Our guest today is Gary Arndt and we’re talking about where else to go, Micronesia.
Micronesia, in general, refers to the thousands of small islands located in the Pacific and comprised of several countries. These countries include: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and the United States with three territories (Guarm, Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island).
Gary talks about his visits to this part of the world, gives some recommendations for divers and non-divers, and explains why – apart from location – this is one of the easiest parts of the world to vist.
Highlights include:
In March 2007 Gary sold his house and he’s been traveling around the world ever since. So far he’s visited all 7 continents, over 175 countries and territories around the world, all 50 states and every US territory, every Canadian province, every Australian state and territory, over 125 US National Park Service sites and over 300 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gary is a self taught travel photographer who was named Travel Photographer of the Year by both the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association.
You can read about Gary’s travels and see his award winning photography on his blog,Everything Everywhere. You can also follow and connect with him on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram.
Photo courtesy of Gary Arndt.
Welcome to Edpisode #9 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Thank you for support as this podcast has grown and evolved, it means a lot to me.
Today's guest is Jennifer Dombrowski and she's going to help us understand why Venice gets such an undeserved bad rap and give us some suggestions for turning that around, making Venice a great where else to go destination. We talked about how, just a few streets off the main area, you can find delicious, reasonably priced food, how to enjoy the other islands, and information on getting around and enjoying Venice.
Jennifer says:
"Venice is one of the must-sees in Italy, but there is so much more to the Italy's city built on the water than meets the eye (or your guidebook tells you). Venice is actually just one of the islands in the Venetian Lagoon and it's well worth hopping around on the water buses to see just how different one island is from another."
Some of the islands she recommends:
Many of the recommendations Jennifer made in the podcast are small spots that don't have websites. When in Venice, find a local who can help you location the place, or maybe even make another recommendation. Here are a few spots Jennifer recommends that do have websites.
Jennifer Dombrowski is a location independent globe trotter who is based in Italy. She works as a freelance social media strategist and is an award-winning travel writer. She is also a travel correspondent on Traveling on the American Forces Radio Network. Luxe Adventure Traveler was named one of the top travel blogs to watch by the Huffington Post and has been featured by top publications such as National Geographic, CNN, Buzzfeed , and The Telegraph. Her iPhoneograpy has also been featured on publications such as USA Today and Travel + Leisure and on the Travel Channel.
You can read about Jennifer's travels on her blog, Luxe Adventure Traveler, and follow her on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe on iTunes. While you’re over there, please take a moment and leave us a rating or review. That helps this very new podcast get discovered by others.
I hope you'll join me next week when we’ll be talking about Micronesia.
Episode #7 features another island (last week was Marco Island in Florida), but this week we're heading west to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Joining me as my guest today is author and adventurer, Heidi Siefkas. Originally from small-town Wisconsin, she now lives in Kauai and also calls the Midwest and South Florida home. Heidi’s books include When All Balls Drop and With New Eyes. Currently, Heidi is writing her third book, Cubicle to Cuba, which features a humorous collection of stories about her travels to Cuba, Peru, New Zealand, Italy, and other far-flung places.
Known as the garden isle, Kauai is a different experience than the much of the rest of Hawaii, but beaches and active outdoor adventure are still plentiful. Some recommendation that Heidi makes include:
You can connect with Heidi on your favorite social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.
Be sure to join us next week when we continue talking about islands, this time the Galapagos.
Welcome to Episode 3 of the Where Else to Go podcast. In this episode, I tackle a difficult subject, animal tourism, with my friend, Diana Edelman. I first met Diana a couple of years ago at a trade show, and since then have watched her become a responsible elephant tourism expert.
Where else does Diana recommend? Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, one of the true elephant sanctuaries in the world. If you like adventure, feel a commitment to making the world a better place, love animals, or want to explore more of the countryside of Thailand, Elephant Nature Park may be the perfect spot for your next vacation.
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Today I chat with writer and tour leader Victoria De Maio.
So where else does Victoria recommend? Puglia, Italy.
If you’ve been to other parts of Italy, or love the slow pace of the countryside, Puglia may be the perfect spot for your next vacation.