Travel Connections

So you want to learn more about cruising? You have come to the right place! My friends and fellow travel writers Ann and Steve Teget have taken over twenty different cruises - all over the world. If you need a question answered, they are just the pair to do it!

Ann and Steve began writing about their travels in 2014 when Ann was diagnosed with two chronic illnesses and needed a hobby to lift her spirits. Since then, their blog, PostcardJar.com, has blossomed into a joy-filled site that inspires readers to live and travel well.

Both native Midwesterners, the Tegets write about travel, food, and healthy living.

Since 2019, this married couple has lost a combined 200+ pounds and adopted a healthier and more active lifestyle. They now seek destinations and travel experiences that enhance their healthy lifestyle and well-being.

Ann's healthy living journey was featured on the cover of Woman's World Magazine and the "Fearlessly Facing 50 and Beyond" podcast.

This dynamic writing duo was named the 2019 Midwest Network's Bloggers of the Year. Additionally, the Tegets own and operate a successful Airbnb in Pawhuska, Okla. Their Airbnb, called Postcard Place, has received more than 185 consecutive 5-star reviews and was featured in The Pioneer Woman Magazine.

1. The importance of connecting with their audience
2. Authentic travel
3. How to create healthy travel habits
4. Their recent cruise with Holland America
5. The first-ever Postcard Jar Cruise
6. Sage advice for first-time cruisers
7. Postcard Jar Friends Cruise to Alaska 2024 (I am going too!)
8. How to flourish as you travel and in everyday life

If you have never cruised before:

• Find a great travel agent
• Know that all cruises are not the same
• Consider inside passage travel
• A group cruise is a great introduction

Today's episode is Part Three of my series of three episodes devoted to cruising. In Part One, we talked with Lina and David Stock of Divergent Travelers all about their global, super adventurous type of cruises. Next, in Part Two, you will hear all about our incredible experience with Viking Cruises. Lastly, Ann and Steve finished the series by sharing their extensive experience sailing on larger ships worldwide.

Hopefully, you feel well-prepared to make an informed decision about cruising! I sure do!

Important Links from this Episode:

PostcardJar.com

Sign Up for Postcard Jar News

Postcard Jar Instagram

Postcard Jar Facebook Page

Postcard Place Airbnb

Holland American Cruise Info

Italy Unfiltered

Postcard Jar Friends Cruise to Alaska 2024

What is it really like to take a Viking Cruise?

This episode is part of a three-part series I created to talk about cruising. I invited friends and colleagues Lina and David Stock of Divergent Travelers to speak with me about cruising in Part One. In this episode, we will discuss my experiences sailing with Viking Cruises.

In Part Three of the series, you are going to meet my friends, Ann and Steve Teget, of Postcard Jar. They are travel writers and global travelers who have taken over 20 cruises. They are experts in the field and share a lot of super valuable information.

This was my husband Craig's first cruise ever, and he thoroughly enjoyed it! He told me that one of his favorite aspects of the cruise, besides the delicious food, the impeccable service, the history, the crew, and the itinerary, was the other guests! He made a lot of friends and had a blast meeting new people from around the world. It is fun for me to hear him talk about it and share it with other people.

• Juicy details of our adventure through Northern France on the cruise Paris and The Heart of Normandy
• What's it feel like to cruise on a Viking Cruise?
• Unexpected Delights of a Viking Cruise
• How to choose your next Viking Cruise
• Surprising benefits of cruising

Make sure you check out these important links:

Viking Cruises

Paris & The Heart of Normandy Itinerary

My first cruise with Viking Cruises on the Elbe River - Berlin to Prague

Information on our cruise to Alaska

To find out more about Lina and David of Divergent Travelers

AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com

Suzanne's Instagram

Suzanne's Amazon Travel Store

Adventure travel is red hot, and no two people personify this type of travel more than my guests, Lina and David Stock of Divergent Travelers. Holy cow, they are so exciting and have stories that will blow your mind. I am not exaggerating in the slightest. You will also learn how adventure travel and cruising go super well together!

We cover a lot of ground during this interview. Our conversation is part one of a three-part series devoted to cruising. Not your grandparents' type of cruising...

We begin by hearing about how they started this global travel journey.

Lina & David Stock have been exploring the world together since 2001 in over 100 countries and all seven continents. They are experts in adventure travel, photography, and destination marketing. They have worked with many travel brands and tourism boards worldwide since starting the multi-award-winning DivergentTravelers.com in 2013.

My husband and I recently sailed on a Viking Cruise from "Paris to the Heart of Normandy" with these extraordinary travel experts. You will hear about our shared experience on that unforgettable cruise with Viking in Episode 6.

Here are some of the highlights of this episode!

• Lina & David's favorite styles of cruises? Expedition and small groups - You will learn the difference!
• Small Group Travel: "We like small groups. We like it to be intimate and go off the beaten track. We love to go to places that not many people get to go. I want to be on a ship that's the only ship in port with a maximum of 200 passengers" - Lina Stock.
• Expedition Travel - In Alaska, David and Lina cruise with a company called UnCruise. Most of their trips are about 80 passengers or less, so it's very small. They take the guests from the ship by a Zodiac boat to land, where you can go kayaking or bushwhacking because there are no trails. It's the most intimate way you can be in a destination.
• A 21-day trip to Antarctica, which includes South Georgia Island and The Galapagos with Aurora Expeditions.
• The fantastic experiences on a Windstar Cruise - Luxury cruising on sailing ships and a private island!
• How do the Divergent Travelers choose their next adventure?
• How you can travel with them through their tour company Divergent Travel Trips - Custom itineraries that can't be found anywhere else
• They give their best advice for how to flourish in life and travel.

All of this and so many MORE details! This conversation is full of practical and unique information that will ramp up your adventure travel enthusiasm.

Remember to check the links to know where to find Lina and David Stock from The Divergent Travelers.

DivergentTravelers.com

Facebook Link

Instagram Link

Twitter

YouTube

Divergent Travel Trips

Uncruise Adventures

Windstar Cruises

Aurora Expeditions

If you are like me, the words "farm-to-table" make me sit up and take notice. I just love to make and eat food that is fresh and locally sourced. Using ingredients grown and created nearby where I live supports my local community and improves our way of life, but I don't necessarily connect these farm-to-table words to cocktails. However, I sure do now!

I am always looking for local businesses doing great and innovative things. It was such fun to read about sisters Venise and Belinda through an article in our local newspaper, The Seattle Times. I was intrigued and impressed with their story and bought a Simple Goodness Sisters Cocktail Farm Box for my husband, Craig.

We loved everything about the cocktail box! The recipes were delicious, and the syrups they created with natural farm goodness were divine. It was totally and completely a home run for us!

Belinda Kelly is the foodie and flavor master behind the recipes. She founded Happy Camper Cocktail Company, one of America's first mobile bars, in 2016. Simple Goodness Sisters launched in 2018 due to the fanfare for Belinda's easy-to-mix, flavorful cocktail syrups that distinguished her "farm-to-bar" cocktail menu. Today Belinda co-farms the Simple Goodness Farm and co-owns the Simple Goodness Sisters beverage brand and Simple Goodness Sisters Soda Shop with her sister Venise.

Venise Cunningham is the co-owner of Simple Goodness Syrups and the owner of Simple Goodness Farm. Venise transformed a 10-acre dairy property into the world's first cocktail farm, growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers exclusively for use in cocktails. Venise is a first-generation farmer who has cultivated deep ties and connections with the local farm community. Her passion for growing healthier, local food has helped develop her sustainably tended farm to support both the Simple Goodness Sisters product line and the Simple Goodness Soda Shop menu. ​

• These ladies are delightful - I had so much fun hearing their stories!
• Farm life and how these cocktail syrups are created
• Farming strategies, what to grow!
• What is their Soda Shop like?
• Visit Wilkeson, WA - Small town living in the Pacific Northwest.
• What makes a balanced cocktail?
• Benefits of co-owning a business with your sister
• Venise and Belinda share their "secret" to a successful entrepreneurial adventure.
• Where to find these fantastic cocktail & mocktail syrups
• What is the Cocktail Farm Club?
• Future events at The Soda Shop.

Remember to click the links to Simple Goodness Sisters social media and website to find their products and more important information.

Important Links from this Episode:

• Simple Goodness Sisters Website
• Simple Goodness Sisters Instagram
• Suzanne Stavert -Instagram
• AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com
• Suzanne's Amazon Shop
• Pinterest

Are you looking for small group tours for women? I sure am! Once you meet and hear from my special guest, Shelly Wildman of Walkabout Tours, you will be ready to pack your bags!

Shelly and I had the best time talking about all things travel. The demand is high and discerning travelers are looking for just the right tour + adventure!

Just imagine that a dear friend has planned a trip just for you and your closest girlfriends where you visit tiny villages, eat local cuisine, and explore historic sites away from the crowds.

"On a Walkabout trip, travelers experience carefully curated itineraries aiming to provide women with experiences of self-discovery, growth in faith and wisdom, and expansion of horizons into the wider world."

Sounds pretty perfect to me!

Shelly shares how her faith, love for travel, and passion for adventure all come together in the most unforgettable small group tours.

• How her travel dreams came true, creating a unique tour company
• The benefits of traveling in small group tours for women
• Lives seem to intersect in such exciting ways when we have a chance to travel together!
• Travel is back, and we must plan ahead (Even to 2024!)
• Travel solo; bring a friend or a daughter!
• Hear about the fun details of the tours for 2023: Paris & Burgundy, London, and the countryside & Tuscany - (Check out 2024 tours too!)
• What is an adventure with intention?

For 2023, here at Travel Connections, we have chosen "Flourish" as our action word for the year; Shelly shares that "we flourish when our gifts and passion come together." She suggests that we think about what we are good at and what we are passionate about, put them together, and see what happens. Great advice!

Shelly is delightful, insightful, fun, and intentional, offering poignant travel stories that will fill your heart. Don't miss my conversation with this incredible travel entrepreneur. Make sure you click on her links below in the Show Notes.

Where do your dreams take you?

Do you travel during the holidays? We love to go somewhere where the holiday decor is bright and sparkling. We don't always leave on December 26th, however! Travel during the holiday season can be challenging, but it is also a unique time of year to see a new destination.

We tried something new, and we traveled to Dublin, Ireland, and Edinburgh, Scotland, to enjoy the holiday cheer and spend New Year's Eve watching the fireworks display over the historic Edinburgh Castle. It was EPIC!

Was it cold? Yes, but no more than where we live in the Pacific Northwest! However, during this episode, I will share our New Year's Eve adventure, standing in 32 degrees in the pouring rain, waiting for the Pet Shop Boys (you may remember them?) to begin their Hogmanay Concert!

What is Hogmanay? You will learn that too! It is the Scottish word for New Year's Eve.

I also share how I plan a trip and that, in addition to personal research and asking other travelers, I go to Pinterest! Pinterest is the #2 or #3 (depending upon who you ask) search engine! It has been super helpful to me. Here is a link to my Pinterest: HERE!

In this fun and comedy-filled episode (I have some stories), you will hear about our favorite spots in Dublin, which includes a visit to Guinness, Jameson Distillery, and the museum where U2 is front and center.

I share my insider perspective on Edinburgh, a city that stole our hearts, and about a restaurant where they celebrate the history of witches. Our trip to Dublin and Edinburgh was delicious too!

I am happy to share the links below to favorite restaurants, city sights, and a couple of tips for easy travel. Make your reservations in advance for everything!! Travel is BACK, and you will save yourself disappointment and hassle.

Also, did you know we have a travel and book store on Amazon? I share my favorite things just for you!

Click Here to get all of the trip links!

Well, Hi there, everyone. It's been three months, did you miss me? Over here at Travel Connections, we took a three-month hiatus. I wasn't sure I would like it and was kind of afraid you all might forget me. But this is not true, right??

It was great to have a few months to catch up on other projects and travel!

In this opening episode of Season 2, I share that we are celebrating Ten Years of adventures with my blog and website AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com, how this podcast was created, and why!

In addition, I tease you with some colorful details about our cruise with Viking Cruises, "Paris and The Heart of Normandy," and our holiday vacation in Dublin, Ireland, and Edinburgh, Scotland.

My action word for 2023 is FLOURISH! I plan to flourish in my daily life and travel life. What better way to celebrate the RETURN of Travel than to thrive while doing it! How do you plan to flourish this year?

• How my time in Rome exemplifies the impressive return of travel!
• Our ultimate New Year's Eve in Scotland
• Travel Inspiration! A sneak peek into our travel plans for 2023! So many unique destinations!

There is still time to listen to Season 1 and catch up! I appreciate you listening to the podcast, and remember to sign up for these summaries that publish every time we have a new episode!

In Season 2, I will again introduce you to the most extraordinary people and offer details about travel you may not have ever heard of or considered. I am thrilled to get to do this again this year.

Truthfully, travel may be the conduit to all happiness.

I am so happy to be back, and I promise to work hard to produce the very best content for you. I am always delighted to receive requests from our listeners, and you can reach out via email at [email protected].

Exciting News from your favorite Travel Podcast!

I am very excited to share this episode with you! I know I say that before every episode, but seriously, this is cause for celebration. In this episode, I will be interviewed by my creative business coach and podcast mentor, Linsi Brownson. We are turning the interview spotlight on me! Linsi has been instrumental in supporting this challenging goal of creating a brand-new podcast!

We are celebrating the first anniversary of Travel Connections, and it feels fantastic! Linsi is a seasoned podcaster, and it would be a fun exercise to have her interview me about my experience with one year of podcasting under my belt.

At Travel Connections, we recorded thirty episodes with the most interesting and enlightening guests. These episodes include colorful and exciting destinations, delicious food, wine and spirits, thoughtful conversations, inspiring personal travel connections, and much more!

I can't wait to get started on this special episode, but first, let me tell you about Linsi!

Linsi Brownson is a business coach for artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs. Her motto, "love your business, own your life," is centered on her belief that entrepreneurship is a powerful tool to create the life you want. But to have this life, you must take charge of how you spend your time and energy. She aims to help entrepreneurs banish busyness and focus on what is most profitable and fun.

Before becoming a full-time coach, Linsi owned an interior design firm and a branding and marketing agency, and she currently co-owns a custom kitchen company. She loves building businesses and helping creative people turn fantastic ideas into inspiring life stories! In addition to her work, Linsi hosts the Be Brilliant In Your Business Podcast, A creative cocktail of pep talks and practical tools to help entrepreneurs have fun and get things done.

• Why was Travel Connections created?
• How podcasting is storytelling at the highest level
• Juicy stories from BTS
• How Linsi was integral in the success of the podcast
• Why are these summary pages so important?
• How connecting through travel will make the world a better place
• Where does Suzanne find her guests?
• How every connection seems to link back to someone or something
• Exciting News for the 2023 Season

I wondered how it would feel talking about myself for an entire episode, but it was cathartic. It allowed me to pause and look at what we do from the outside. I saw that we have succeeded in our goal to create a thoughtful and enlightening podcast with incredible guests talking about super exciting things. And the stories that have come to the surface are epic.

Storytelling is the best way to explore a fascinating subject like travel. Honest conversations with experts and enthusiasts help to pave the way for the perfect podcast. In addition to travel, we eagerly discuss food, wine, and spirits.

I can't wait for you to hear Season 2. But while you wait, make sure you listen to all these fantastic episodes in Season one. You will learn a lot, smile, and be totally engaged in what my guests have to say.

This podcast could not happen without my humble team of experts. I want to give a special thank you to Erik Hulslander of Hear No Evil Media, who makes everything sound amazing! And a big thank you to Linsi Brownson for offering her incredible interviewing skills and making this episode so personal!

I appreciate you listening, and don't forget to share this podcast with everyone you know! And get ready for the season, which begins in February 2023.

Let me introduce you to Angela Correll, a Kentucky writer, world traveler, and hospitality expert.

Welcome to Part Four of The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Series, where we delve into the super popular Bourbon Industry, explore beautiful towns in Kentucky, and talk about the fantastic food scene there as well.

My history with Angela is by way of Tuscany! I had to travel all the way to a tiny village in Italy called Montefollonico to meet Angela Correll. Our meeting was kind of accidental but so special! On the podcast, I ask every guest about a connection they have made when they travel. To share a story or two about deeper connections we make when we travel. Angela is a personal travel connection for me.

When I was creating this series about Kentucky, I just knew that we needed Angela to add her exciting stories to the mix. She is a fascinating person, and I have personally read all three of her books and loved each one in the series.

Let me tell you a little about Angela. Her resume is impressive, and we discuss much of it during our interview.

Angela and her husband, Jess, live on a grass-fed cattle farm. She spends parts of glorious springs and autumns in Tuscany; in the summer, she spends her time raising and preserving an organic garden and winters hunkered down by the fire with books to read and write.

She is the award-winning author of Grounded, Guarded, and Granted, a trilogy of novels that became Amazon bestsellers and were adapted to the stage for sold-out audiences at the Pioneer Playhouse, Kentucky's oldest outdoor theater.

The stories span settings in Angela's native Kentucky and the home of her heart, Italy. Angela and Jess are founders of Wilderness Road Hospitality, a suite of businesses comprised of: The Inn at Wilderness Road, The Bluebird Restaurant, Esther's Wellhouse and Spa, Mama DeVechio's Pizzeria, Cerulean Catering, Kentucky Soaps & Such, as well as several renovated historic homes that provide comforting hospitality to travelers visiting Stanford, Kentucky. Stanford is the second oldest city in the state!

• How Angela and I met in Montefollonico, Italy - Lucky me
• Angela's deep roots in Central Kentucky (9 generations!) Her family traveled with Daniel Boone.
• Her city vs. country living perspective and how too many goats may have changed her life!
• The importance of restorative hospitality
• How small towns and big spaces are super popular right now.
• Angela's series of books and how her passion for writing came from her love for books
• How travel provides so many opportunities
• The meaning of "Kentuscany"
• How Angela and Jess helped to transform Stanford Kentucky.
• Kentucky Soaps & Such is an adorable part of her suite of businesses.
• Angela teases us by not sharing a big announcement - Coming soon! Sign up for her newsletter HERE to learn what is happening next!

• To learn more about Angela Correll- Go to AngelaCorrell.com

The other three Kentucky Bourbon Series Episodes

1. Chris Morris & Elizabeth McCall - Woodford Reserve: A Conversation About Kentucky Bourbon with The Experts at Woodford Reserve
2. Heather Sunseri: Hidden Gems in Kentucky and Other Compelling Stories
3. Ouita Michel: Delicious Southern Food & The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Three words. Ouita is delightful. For those who may not know Ouita, this newest episode in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Series is an excellent introduction! Anyone you ask about Ouita says the same thing. "She is amazing! Lovely and delightful!" However, just because she is super lovely doesn't mean she isn't uber-talented - Oh, she is VERY TALENTED.

I was fortunate enough to talk with Ouita Michel, listen to her insightful thoughts and stories, and discover that we have a lot in common! Not the James Beard part or anything in the paragraph below.

Ouita Michel is an eight-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee, including nominations for Outstanding Restaurateur and Best Chef Southeast. Michel and her restaurants are regularly featured in local and national media, such as the New York Times, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, Food Network, and the Cooking Channel. She was a guest judge on Bravo TV's, Top Chef series.

Ouita lives in Midway, Kentucky, where she oversees her newest venture, Holly Hill and Co. This lifestyle brand celebrates farmers and agriculture, culinary traditions, old and new, chefs and local talent, and community bonds.

Check out her new video series, Up Home with Ouita Michel.

Episode Highlights

• Go behind the scenes of Bravo TV's Top Chef when she was a Guest Judge on Top Chef Kentucky.
• Memories of Gourmet Magazine and the Culinary Institute of America
• Holly Hill and Co - A must-see website
• Her praise for Woodford Reserve, Master Distiller Chris Morris & Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall
• Food and bourbon pairings - Yes!
• The Kentucky Bourbon Trail and her personal highlights!
• What is benedictine?
• Restaurant life and more!

Ouita Michel's Holly Hill and Co

• Link to Woodford Reserve => HERE
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail Trip Details
• How to Find Adventure & Thrive in the Empty Nest – Suzanne's E-Book
• My Amazon Travel Store – Suzanne's Favorite Must-Haves
• Hear No Evil Media Podcast Audio Production by Erik Hulslander