When I think of a quintessential Pacific Northwest setting, I envision nature in abundance! Walking on the beach and strolling through deeply wooded forests with lovely hiking trails, scenic roads, and peaceful breezes are the perfect combination for every traveler. On Camano Island, in the state of Washington, located just over 60 miles north of Seattle, in Possession Sound, you will find all of this, with just one more thing - buried treasure.

No, I'm not kidding; for the past 16 years, the creative people of Camano Island have celebrated the thrill of the hunt. Northwest Glass Quest is celebrating its 16th year and will be held February 14-23 this year. The Camano Chamber of Commerce organizes the event. And for 10 days, businesses and parks throughout Stanwood & Camano Island hide plastic clue balls. You win a limited edition Hand-Blown Glass Ball when you find a plastic clue ball. These glass ball prizes are one of a kind and so beautiful. It is a fantastic activity for all ages, and there is an excellent website where all your questions and tips for a successful quest can be answered. The website is called NorthwestGlassQuest.com.

In this episode, I invited Amy Bush, a jewelry designer and owner of Loyalsmith Jewelry and the current president of the Camano Arts Association, back to the podcast.

• What is Glass Quest, and how does it add to Camano Island's unique all-season visitor experience?
• The importance of regenerative travel - How to give back while traveling!
• What are "kind" questors?
• Additional super fun things to do while participating in Glass Quest
• Where to eat while on Camano Island
• Suzanne's enthusiasm for the PNW Winter Wonderland of Camano

Important Links:

Northwest Glass Quest

Loyalsmith Jewelry

Camano Arts Association

Tapped Camano

The Baked Cafe

Camano Commons Marketplace

Blue Heron Kitchen & Bar

Short Term Rentals, Inns and Cottages

Suzanne's Favorite Cottage

The Camano Shop

Camano Cookies

Canopy Tours Northwest

Arrowhead Ranch

Camano Island State Park

Cama Beach Cafe

Related Episodes:

A Visit to Camano Island, Washington: An Artists' Studio Tour

An Invitation to Discover Regenerative Travel with Embrace Whidbey & Camano Islands

Kayaking & Island Life on Whidbey Island

Orchard Kitchen: Farm Focused Fine Dining on Whidbey Island, WA

Welcome to a wonderful new episode of Travel Connections. My special guest is a personal travel connection for me. On a sunny summer afternoon, my family and I attended the most spectacular Gathering on a ranch called Rancho San Julian, just north of Santa Barabara. We enjoyed a delicious dinner as we sat at long ranch tables under the shady canopy of 150-year-old vines. It was just dreamy!

Elizabeth Poett is a seventh-generation cattle rancher, author of the bestselling cookbook The Ranch Table, and star-host of the cooking and lifestyle show Ranch to Table, one of the founding shows of the Magnolia Network. Elizabeth was born and raised on Rancho San Julian, her family's historic 14,000-acre cattle ranch on California's Central Coast. In 2007, Elizabeth started Rancho San Julian Beef, a business selling her family's ranch-raised, grass-fed beef directly to chefs and consumers. Her meats quickly became popular with California cooks and local chefs and have been served at restaurants across California. Elizabeth is also the author of the blog The Ranch Table and hosts a number of Ranch Table events, cooking workshops, educational events, and intimate farm-to-table meals throughout the year.

In this episode, you will hear all of the details of The Ranch Table from the lovely Elizabeth Poett.

• What is the origin of The Ranch Table?
• How does Elizabeth inspire people to have fun in the kitchen?
• Why cooking doesn't have to be perfect
• How her cookbook was a year-long journey created right on the ranch
• What happens at a Gathering at Rancho San Julian? Hint: It's fantastic and delicious!
• How farmer's markets influenced Elizabeth's passion for cooking
• How our connection through food brings people together
• The 2025 dates for Gatherings at Rancho San Julian with Elizabeth Poett

Related Episode

A California Road Trip Through the Central Coast - A companion episode to the interview with Elizabeth Poett. In this episode, I share the road trip itinerary that was created around our dinner at The Ranch Table.

Important Links:

The Ranch Table

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

Elizabeth Poett

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Suzanne’s Amazon Shop

Is a California road trip on your bucket list? Have you been? Have you traveled through the Central Coast of California? This episode focuses on a small area of California just north of Santa Barbara. What a place!

In this episode, I share what we did, where we ate, and what we sipped. It was a glorious road trip curated by my daughter-in-law, Kylie. However, I had a BIG reason for creating this adventure! I discovered Elizabeth Poett through her television show called Ranch to Table. Once I learned more about her unique Gatherings at their 14,000-acre ranch, Rancho San Julian, I knew I had to go!

We created a California road trip to the Central Coast all around this special dinner at Rancho San Julian, which is about an hour north of Santa Barbara.

I share the details of this exceptional dinner, highlights of our meals along the way, and excellent wineries you need to visit! I love that this itinerary was specially curated for our taste, but once we went, I knew that you needed to hear all about it. Thank you, Kylie, for your incredible eye for detail and for creating such a fantastic itinerary. Here we go!

• Our exceptional experience at a delicious Ranch Table Event at Rancho San Julian with host Elizabeth Poett
• Fly into Santa Barbara Airport - It's fantastic!
• Travel for a reason
• Plan in advance
• The benefits of reserving an Airbnb with a small group
• Leave room for spontaneity and serendipity in your travels
• The unique details of our winery tours and dining experiences in the area are incredible! See the links below!

Next on Travel Connections!

A special interview with Elizabeth Poett from Ranch to Table - Publishing November 1, 2024

Suzanne's Next BIG Trip: South America with Collette! Stay Tuned - There are a few introductory details in this episode! Check out our social media channels to follow along: @suzannestavert on Instagram and @AdventuresofEmptyNesters on Facebook.

Dining on this California Central Coast Road Trip

The Ranch Table

Bar Le Cote

Bell's

Bob's Well Bread Bakery

Little King

Peasants Deli

The Hitching Post II

Wineries:

Future Perfect

Liquid Farm

Brave and Maiden

Spear

The Hilt Estate

Sea Creatures

Other Road Trip Episodes Mentioned in this Episode:

Kentucky:

A Conversation About Bourbon with The Experts at Woodford Reserve

Delicious Southern Food & The Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Ouita Michel

Angela Correll: Kentucky Writer, Traveler & Hospitality Innovator

Hidden Gems in Kentucky and Other Compelling Stories

From Montana to Calgary

Best of: Our Road Trip to Banff, Lake Louise & Calgary, Canada

Welcome to another of my Best of Series of episodes. This is where I talk about the highlights of a fantastic travel itinerary. In this episode, I describe our tremendously successful road trip from Whitefish, Montana, to Calgary, Canada, which includes the most picturesque destinations of Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake.

It was really well planned, not too hard to execute and I did learn some tips along the way that I do think will help you a great deal. You can take what I've done and mold it to what you like to do, and hopefully, this gives you a framework for how to build your road trip through such a remarkably beautiful landscape.

• What makes a trip successful?
• How to use this episode as an inspiration for your next road trip to Banff and beyond
• Don't miss Glacier National Park in Montana!
• The beauty of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
• How tourist crowds can affect your trip
• Why stepping out of your comfort zone can enhance your travel experience
• What is the Calgary Stampede, and why should you go?

Glacier National Park

• Lake McDonald Lodge
• Russel's Fireside Dining

Banff, Canada - Favorite Dining/Bar Experiences

• Lupo
• The Bison
• Banff Springs Fairmont Hotel - Rundle Bar

Calgary, Canada

• Calgary Stampede
• Hyatt Regency Calgary

Are you familiar with the Italian phrase "La Dolce Vita"? It means "enjoying life's pleasures, indulging, and cultivating joy."

In this episode, I am thrilled to share our adventures in Italy with you. We just returned from a jam-packed adventure that lasted 12 days. The good news is that we traveled through Italy for 12 days! The bad news is that I covered a lot of ground—maybe too much.

After one night in Rome, we took a high-speed train to Bari, rented a car, and drove south through Puglia. In Puglia, you are literally in the heel of Italy's boot, and our itinerary was ambitious. We stopped in Lecce, Alberobello, Polignano a mare, Monopoli and Matera.

Truthfully, if you have yet to research or plan to go to this region of Italy, these names will sound like any other Italian village. However, once you hear me describe them, you should be ready to decide whether you want to see them too! Let's look at this as an introduction. I wish I had access to a podcast episode like this one when planning my trip!

• Where is the region of Puglia, and why should I go there? (Hint: It's spectacular!)
• Tips to create your own itinerary
• Hot tip about Rome
• The most amazing hotel we have ever stayed!
• Craig's "Best Breakfast of his life"
• What are trulli?
• How to enjoy La Dolce Vita!

This episode is meant as an introduction to another wonderful region of Italy. Each region offers its own kind of magic, culinary focus, and traditions. You will find that each region is so special, as are the people who live there!

Which regions of Italy have you been to?

Important Links:

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Suzanne’s Amazon Shop

Rome

The Tribune Hotel

Lecce

Palazzo Maresgallo

Matera

Sexitantio

Montefollonico

iCastagni

Welcome to a special episode of Travel Connections. The original subject of this episode was initially scheduled to focus on our fantastic trip to Puglia, Italy. However, something incredible and unexpected happened to me, and I thought it would be fun to share a little behind the scenes! I decided it was a good time to change direction and report this exciting news!

Good Morning America reached out to me and asked if I would do an interview focusing on Empty Nesters. What? Let me think about this! I started my website, Adventures of Empty Nesters, ten years ago. So, obviously, empty nesters are a favorite subject of mine! From start to finish, the entire experience with GMA was uplifting and validating. I thought it would be fun to share how it all happened. The producer also asked for family and travel photos and videos to include in the piece.

In this short but fun episode, I share how this all came about and how it all connected to my life as an Empty Nester. What a thrill!

• How did the GMA episode come about?
• Why are empty nesters so important?
• Tips to Succeed in the Empty Nest
• The Best of Adventures of Empty Nesters
• Future possibilities with Good Morning America

You can find the GMA episode in several locations:

AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com - (Just scroll down a little)

YouTube

Suzanne's YouTube Channel

Good Morning America

Today's episode is an important topic near and dear to my travel heart. Are you an intentional traveler? Have you given this idea any thought? I have connected with Susie Chau, a creative go-getter in the travel world.  She helps Entrepreneur Moms take month-long summer sabbaticals and consistent vacations to strengthen family bonds through travel. Susie and I met over eight years ago at a conference, but I saw a recent video of hers on Instagram. I loved what she was saying and knew I had to ask her to come on Travel Connections!

As a travel expert, Susie Chau's perspective on intentional travel is unique and inspiring. A Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist since 2021 and a Certified Travel Designer by the Transformational Travel Council, she brings a wealth of experience to the table. Her journey began in 2016 when she founded Carpe Diem Traveler after a year-long sabbatical to all seven continents with her husband. 

As Susie and I both believe, travel can be so much more than just an escape. It's about relaxation, exploration, and, most importantly, personal growth. When done with intention, travel can have many layers, each offering a unique experience.

We talk at length about what makes a travel experience go even deeper. And also, how can your travel be a positive experience for the places you go and the people you meet? Does every traveler realize how they contribute to a destination? These ideas about travel are so exciting and can bring a travel experience to an even higher level of enjoyment!

Come join in the conversation!

• Why travel can be so much more than a means to escape
• What is transformational travel and the Transformational Travel Council?
• How Susie created a course for entrepreneurial Moms
• Why should we travel with intention?
• What does the acronym S.O.U.L stand for? (Hint: It's brilliant!)

Important links:

Carpe Diem Traveler

Instagram

Linked In

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Suzanne's Amazon Shop

Instagram:

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Have you been on a cruise to Alaska?

Welcome to a very special episode of Travel Connections. Why is it so special? Well, it's because I am interviewing my daughter, Alex Karlen. Alex and I took our very first ocean cruise on the Celebrity Edge. And I thought, who better to tell the story and add her colorful insights than my exceptional and clever daughter? We have not traveled together in quite a while, and I was thrilled she could clear her calendar to come with me!

Her fantastic husband, Brent, took care of their four-year-old twins while she and I embarked on our unique Alaskan Adventure.

In her work world, Alex is a Director and Branch Manager for the Pacific Northwest in the creative space. She is a fantastic baker, an excellent home cook, and a voracious reader when she has any spare time.

You will hear us talk about Ann and Steve Teget. Ann and Steve organized this special group of guests for a Friends of Postcard Jar Cruise. They are experts on cruising and have written a lot about it on their website, Postcard Jar. They are my go-to people for cruising.

I was curious if I would be a good fit for an enormous, 3,000-person ocean liner, but this incredible ship was perfect for me to see if we liked it. We loved it! The ship design was over the top incredible, the service was top-notch, and Alaska—oh wow. Nature on such a grand scale is a sight to behold. And the cruise embarked from our hometown of Seattle! It was kind of a no-brainer!

• What is it really like on a Celebrity Edge Cruise to Alaska?
• Alex and Suzanne pro-tips!
• All of the amenities on The Celebrity Edge
• What is a flair bartender?
• Why Alaska is a MUST-see!
• Details of the Spectacular Dawes Glacier!

Let me know what you think about cruising! Have you been to Alaska? I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Essential links in this episode:

Postcard Jar - Fantastic news of cruises and travel by Ann & Steve Teget

Travel Connections Podcast

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Instagram:

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Suzanne's Amazon Shop

Are you looking for a couple of ingredients for a successful summer trip? Welcome to this minisode or mini-episode. Do you have 8 minutes? In this quick episode, we catch you up and provide a few bite-size bits of travel news!

I share some fun information, and you can check out the highlights below:

1. I'm catching you up on my fantastic cruise to Alaska with my daughter Alex. I'll give you some highlights and let you know that I am creating a special episode devoted to the cruise, which will be published on July 26th.
2. Our podcast team is taking a mid-season hiatus because everyone is traveling simultaneously! We will reconnect later this summer.
3. I share my summer travel plans with you!
4. I offer three summer travel tips for a happy vacation. Make your plans early, as it is crowded everywhere!

• Look for personal travel connections
• Be patient - Seriously, this is a must!
• Learn to pivot

This quick and "newsy" episode is a speedy highlight travel reel. We will take our travel break and see you on July 26th with a brand-new regular format episode.

Safe travels, friends!

Instagram:

Suzanne Stavert

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Facebook:

Adventures of Empty Nesters

Suzanne's Amazon Shop

Today’s guest is a very special someone and my personal Travel Connection. She is the queen of embracing life even when it is really hard. I met her not too long ago, in September 2023, while I was a host with Tuscan Women Cook in Tuscany. You may remember from a prior episode my interview with Coleen Kirnan, the owner of Tuscan Women Cook.

JeriLynne Clifford and her husband Scot were part of a group participating in a week-long immersive experience in Tuscany. We learned cooking techniques from the local Italian nonnas or grandmas, sampled delicious local ingredients, and visited other neighboring towns.

Meeting this special couple was a treat, but what you don't know is that we learned prior to their arrival that JeriLynne and Scot's house burned down while they were traveling in Italy. Lightning struck the house, and they lost absolutely everything.

Embracing life with gratitude even through the tears

Understandably, our first encounter was during probably one of the more difficult times of her life. Impossible to imagine, right? However, she was gracious and inspiring and I couldn't believe how engaging they both were. The entire week was a tremendous success and the two of them fit in with the group seamlessly. JeriLynne talks about how Italy was instrumental in the start of the healing process for them.

JeriLynne is known as The Hill County Bon Vivant and has been a tastemaker for as long as she can remember. She was 16 when she catered her first wedding and continued to cater full and part-time throughout her life. She first realized her love for adventure in food, entertaining, and traveling when she started planning family vacations and events.

In this episode, she shares her personal (and inspiring) saga and then gives us the delicious details of her new weekly subscription, Mastering the Ease of Home Cooking. Every week, she shares a new menu, recipes, and a grocery and prep list to help you be successful in the kitchen.

• How to move forward when tragedy happens
• Living with gratitude
• What is a bon vivant?
• How Italy helped start the healing process
• What the arches in her new home will mean to her
• What is the secret to success in the kitchen
• The importance of learning to pivot
• What is Mastering the Ease of Home Cooking?

For all of the details of JeriLynne's new business Mastering the Ease of Home Cooking - Click HERE!

Important Links:

The Hill Country Bon Vivant

Mastering the East of Home Cooking

Other episodes featuring Italy:

Travel to Tuscany Stories From the Heart - Angela Correll

The Italian Cooking School of Your Dreams - Coleen Kirnan

Travel to Italy Today - Alice Salvagnin