Vacation Station

From Arizona and New Mexico to Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina, this special episode of Big Blend Radio's WORLD OF ART Podcast with artist Victoria Chick features a panel discussion covering Art Destinations Across America.

FEATURED GUESTS & DESTINATIONS

- CLIFFORD GARSTANG is the author of six works of fiction and lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Hear about the art connection in his short stories and books, as well as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Links to Visit: https://vmfa.museum/  and https://cliffordgarstang.com/ 

- ROSE PALMER is an award-winning travel writer and photographer based in Pennsylvania. She is the publisher of Quiltripping.com. Hear about the art in Paducah, Kentucky and read her story about this UNESCO Creative City, here: https://quiltripping.com/pilgrimage-to-paducah-2/   

- STEVE & KAREN WILSON are innkeepers and owners of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast that's located in the heart of the Montford Historic District in Asheville, North Carolina. Hear about Beer City USA's popular River Arts District. Links to Visit: https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/  and https://www.lion-rose.com/ 

- SHARON K. KURTZ is an award-winning travel writer and photographer based in Austin, Texas. Hear about the new Wonderspaces Austin that features an immersive and interactive art show along with a full bar serving signature cocktails. Links to Visit: https://austin.wonderspaces.com/ and https://sharonkkurtz.com/   

Celebrate Family Reunion Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's Vacation Station "Hey Wanna Go" Travel Show with travel advisor Cheryl Ogle. From cruises and resorts to budget-friendly adventures, hear about ways to reunite with loved ones of all ages and abilities to create those special memories. 

Check out Cheryl's blog on family reunions and multigenerational travel: https://tinyurl.com/ywr392af 

On Big Blend Radio every third Wednesday, Cheryl is a world traveler, accredited travel advisor, and owner of Hey Wanna Go that specializes in travel to Europe and the UK, as well as river and ocean cruises. More: https://heywannago.com/ 

Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer, Parks & Rec Month, Picnic Month, Family Reunion Month, and more on this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Go to Natchitoches” Podcast. 

From Zydeco and Meat Pie Festivals to cruising Cane River Lake and exploring Cane River Creole National Historical Park, K. Nicole Connell of the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau talks about the various multigenerational experiences this beautiful and historic destination offers. 

Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest settlement in Louisiana. Celebrating a vibrant blend of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Creole cultures, this charming city is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area and Louisiana’s No Man’s Land.  Plan Your Visit to Natchitoches and check out the event calendar at https://natchitoches.com/ 

Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show and check out the past episodes here: https://natchitoches-louisiana.podbean.com/ 

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features travel blogger Feuza Reis who shares the ins-and-outs of purchasing property in Sicily, especially through unique 1 Euro Homes project in San Piero Patti. 

A small village that's home to around 2,500 residents, San Piero Patti is located approximately 2 hours from each major airport in Sicily,  1 hour from Messina, and just 20 minutes from Patti, a larger city with around 9,000 inhabitants. This hilltop area offers stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. From here, you can see the Aeolian Islands, and on a clear day, you can also see Panarea at the very bottom on the right, Stromboli. Read Feuza's article about it all in "Live in Italy" Magazine, here: https://liveinitalymag.com/buying-property-in-sicily-1-euro-homes/ 

Feuza Reis, also known as Fuse, combines her expertise in mid-budget travel with her deep affection for Europe in captivating stories and visuals on her blog, Fuse Travels. Originally from Brazil, Fuse's passion for travel truly blossomed six years ago when she fell in love with Italy. She plans to move to Italy in three years and brings almost four decades of travel experience to her audience. Keep up with her at https://fusetravels.com/. 

Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ 

Follow this Podcast Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1chVylr9kzBMftUgBoLS-m 

We're going to the Blue Ridge Mountains on this episode of Big Blend Radio's JO GOES EVERYWHERE! Podcast with travel writer and photographer Jo Clark. From beer and moonshine to museums and rock churches, hear about Riner, Radford, Roanoke, and Rocky Mount. They are all an easy day trip from each other, with the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby. Read Jo's article about these historic towns here:  https://recipestravelculture.com/4-rs-blue-ridge-mountain-towns/ 

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 

From the Oz Museum and the Ad Astra Missile Silo to the World's Largest Belt Buckle and the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA travel writer Kathleen Walls focuses on interesting oddities and troadside attractions in Kansas. Read Kathleen's article about it all here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/theres-something-odd-in-kansas/ 

Kathleen Walls is publisher/writer for American Roads and Global Highways at https://www.americanroads.net

A member of the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association, her articles and photographs have appeared in numerous magazines and online publications. 

Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) at https://www.ifwtwa.org/ 

Follow this podcast here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1chVylr9kzBMftUgBoLS-m 

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show" with the International Food Wine & Travel Association features Ange Chew, Executive Director of Discover Surrey. Hear about Surrey''s vast natural beauty, global dining, affordable accommodations and rich, vibrant culture. 

A vibrant mosaic awaits in Surrey, the second largest city in British Columbia by population, next to Vancouver.  t’s a diverse, complex and authentic region that’s experiencing change at a rapid pace, but taking it all in stride. Plan your visit to Surrey, B.C, here: https://discoversurreybc.com/ 

Learn more about the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association at https://www.ifwtwa.org/ 

Photos courtesy of Discover Surrey BC.

Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month in Tulare County! From park adventures to community events, it's all about summer fun on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Sequoia Country" Podcast.  

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 Sintia Kawasaki-Yee - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Suzanne Bianco - Visit Visalia,  and Alida Verduzco Silva - Tulare County Resource Management Agency.

 Plan your visit with these websites mentioned in the podcast:

It's all about beautiful Slovenia on this episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast with Sharon K. Kurtz. Located in Central Europe, Slovenia offers breathtaking natural landscapes, a rich history, and a solid commitment to eco-friendly practices. 

Over half of Slovenia's terrain is covered in pristine forests, making it a leader in forest conservation and green initiatives. This compact country boasts numerous protected areas, including the majestic Triglav National Park. Read Sharon's article about her experiences here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/discovering-green-slovenia/ 

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://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1ALXeV1vR6H10EtkPvgDW5 

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/ or follow her on https://www.instagram.com/shar_kurtz/ 

Celebrate Great Outdoors Month and National Rivers Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show that focuses on Itasca State Park in Minnesota and the Empress Boat Club in Iowa Falls.

FEATURED GUESTS:

The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST. Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/ 

Featured photo of Mississippi Headwaters with People, Copyright (2024), State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. Reprinted with Permission courtesy of MN DNR. Photo of Empress Boat, courtesy Empress Boat Club.