Parks & Travel

Celebrate Women's History Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show with Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). From musicians, poets and writers to painters and textile artists, Tanya talks about the various women NPAF artists-in-residence over the years, and you can hear their Big Blend Radio interviews in this playlist here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/women-artists-in-parks/ 

National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) is known for offering unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Chaco Canyon and Fort Union in Northern New Mexico, and Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. These artist residency opportunities are perfect for artists of all mediums, from painters and sculptors to photographers, composers, writers, musicians, and more. Learn more: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Watch for Big Blend Radio's NPAF Retrospective, a digital publication featuring 8+ years of podcast interviews with artists and park representatives! Keep up with us by getting our newsletter at https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/join-our-newsletter/ 

From outdoor adventures and spring flower power to museums, restaurants, events, and family-friendly activities, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Sequoia Country" Podcast focuses on spring fun for everyone in Tulare County, California.

Located in Central California, Tulare County is home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest, and charming art and agricultural communities including Visalia, Tulare, Exeter, Dinuba, Porterville, Three Rivers, Lindsay, and Woodlake.  

Featured guests from the Sequoia Tourism Council include 

Plan your visit to Tulare County, at https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ 

Celebrate World Conservation Strategy Day with this special episode of Big Blend Radio focusing on Sustainable Travel and Tourism. Hear what destinations are doing around the world to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices to safeguard the planet for their local community and future generations, and the ways travelers can be part of sustainable solutions. 

FEATURED GUESTS:

North Lake Tahoe, California, offers a retreat into nature, history, and adventure, far from the neon lights and casinos of the southern shore. Lake Tahoe is the second-deepest alpine lake in the U.S., with strikingly clear waters and a fascinating geological history.   

Ohis episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast, travel writer Sharon K. Kurtz shares her North Lake Tahoe experiences including Granlibakken Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Donner Memorial State Park, and Vikingsholm Castle, along with the area's Winter Olympic legacy, and indigenous history of the Washoe Tribe. Learn more: https://www.gotahoenorth.com/ 

Sharon Kurtz is an accomplished travel writer and award-winning photographer based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to exploring the world and sharing her adventures through compelling storytelling. Her travels have taken her to more than 50 countries on six continents—her carry-on is always packed, ready for the next adventure. Enjoy Sharon’s writing at https://sharonkkurtz.com/. 

Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World with Sharon" Podcast features award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz. New episodes air every first Wednesday at 12pm CST at https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com/  

This episode is also being shared and featured on other Big Blend Radio Network Channels including "Parks & Travel" and "Vacation Station." Check out our network of podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Vacation Station" Travel Show features innkeeper Maria Chamberlain. Maria and her husband Brian own and run The Inn at OxBow Acres which is a newly renovated and eco-friendly, Bed & Breakfast/Equestrian Center in Northern New Hampshire.

Fields, flowers, orchards, and a gorgeous view of the Mahoosuc Range offer a peaceful setting to relax and unwind.  Located in the Great North Woods, this unique destination is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast, New England traveler,  and couples seeking uninterrupted time together. 

The inn is also available for weddings, retreats, and family gatherings. Close to many spectacular sights and ski areas as well as the Corridor 19 snowmobile trail, this pristine year-round lodge is a favorite escape for guests from all over the world.

Visit: https://www.oxbowacresnh.com/  

As summer draws near and the call of nature beckons, campers are looking for ways to elevate their outdoor dining experience beyond the standard fare of hot dogs and s’mores.

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, Linda Kissam "Food, Wine & Shopping Diva," talks with Robert Schueller about how Melissa’s World Variety Produce is changing the game with their innovative approach to upscale campsite cuisine. Melissa’s diverse selection of fresh produce and culinary inspiration is a beacon for outdoor enthusiasts seeking flavorful and nutritious meal ideas to fuel their escapades. 

Read Linda's article featuring 10 cuisine-inspired things to stock up on that go beyond hot dogs and s’mores, and check out some of Melissa's camping recipes, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/an-upscale-taste-of-adventure 

Travel writer Linda Kissam appears on Big Blend Radio every first Saturday. Follow her podcasts here:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1LoD5wiSJu4NM4KZxuJYoj 

Follow Diva Linda's adventures here: https://allingoodtaste.info/ 

This episode is also being shared and featured on Big Blend Radio's "Eat, Drink & Be Merry" channel and "Parks & Travel" Channel. Check out our network of podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

In honor of Black History Month, we're revisiting this Big Blend Radio interview with Dana Dierkes, former Public Affairs Specialist for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, who shares the history of Brigadier General Charles Young, Charles Young, who was appointed acting superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant national parks in 1903, becoming the first black superintendent of a national park.  Learn more about Charles Young and the Giant Sequoia Tree named in his honor, here: https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/historyculture/young.htm 

From Alaska to Hawai'i and California, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou" podcast focuses on the life of famous writer Jack London.

Linda's essay "Jack London and Me" is included in the 2024 San Francisco Writer’s Conference Anthology. In it she shares her deep connection to a man considered to be our nation’s greatest adventure writer. As Linda shares, "Our lives intersected in mysterious ways that leave me feeling a special connection with him." The anthology "How We Change" is available on Amazon in e-book and print format here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Change-Foundation-Conference-Anthologies/dp/1647150116/ 

Follow Linda Ballou's adventures at https://lostangeladventures.com/ and learn more about her books at http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/ 

This special live stream (Aired Feb 13, 2025) of Big Blend Radio’s ADVENTURES IN ASHEVILLE Show with Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of The Lion and The Rose Bed & Breakfast, focuses on the rebuilding of Asheville, North Carolina, post-Hurricane Helene, and the many experiences you can enjoy today as visitors to region. 

Big Blend Radio hosts Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith are currently in Asheville and during their stay at The Lion & The Rose B&B, took a driving tour of Downtown Asheville and the Riverside Arts District with Steve & Karen. There is still evidence of destruction from the hurricane however as you can see in the short video, the city is open with a strong and vibrant resiliency, and welcoming visitors with open arms. Video: https://youtu.be/XnXh3aEslZQ  

Traveling to Asheville directly helps support the local businesses and regional community, and there is so much to do from brewery hopping and rooftop cocktails to public art viewing and shopping, chasing waterfalls and hiking, and visiting some of the area’s iconic attractions like the Biltmore Estate, Pisgah National Forest, and the North Carolina Arboretum. The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast is a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. This charming lodging destination is back open and welcoming visitors.  More: https://www.lion-rose.com/ 

Plus, watch for drone photographer Jay Schulz’s “Rekindle the Love” video project that will showcase several of Asheville’s local business. It be featured on Feb 14 on his site, https://www.sidebysidedrone.com/ 

It's all about Parks, Plantations, and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina, on this episode of Big Blend Radio's JO GOES EVERYWHERE! Podcast with travel writer and photographer Jo Clark. 

Hear all about Jo's adventures at Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Place, and Hampton Park, plus, where to eat, sip, and stay. Check out her article about it all here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/winter-in-charleston-south-carolina/ 

Jo Clark is a travel writer and photographer based on South Carolina’s Grand Strand. She has a thirst for knowledge, history, great food, and wine! Her Big Blend Radio podcast "Jo Goes Everywhere!" airs every 2nd Sunday at 7pm EST. Follow the show on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yfkjm8sd