Vacation Station

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Jessica Carter, Director of Parks and Public Engagement for the Save The Redwoods League, who discusses the upcoming Second Annual California State Parks Week.This special park celebration is presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California, and California State Parks Foundation. 

Held June 14-18, 2023, State Parks across the state will offer special community events with in-person and virtual programming. This week-long event celebrates California’s 280 state parks and the people who visit and help protect these iconic places. A complete list of the week’s events and how to participate are available at https://castateparksweek.org/

Airing every third Friday, this episode is part of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Series in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: https://www.carrerafineartgallery.com/

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This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Jefferson Highway" Show focuses on the Iowa Sociability Caravan that will take place a few days before the Jefferson Highway Associaiton Conference held June 7-10, 2023 in Mason City, Iowa.

This special driving event will be similar to historic caravans of old. It begins in Lamoni, Iowa on the morning of Monday, June 5th and will have subsequent overnight stays in Des Moines and Iowa Falls before arrival in Mason City on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 7th. The tour will include visiting JH sites and communities in Iowa and will be designed to bring further awareness to the JH byway and its future as a Heritage Tourism portal. Full details: https://www.jeffersonhighway.org/

Featured Guests:

- Roger Bell, President of the Jefferson Highway Association

- Diana Thies - Executive Director of Iowa Falls Chamber Main Street: https://iowafallschamber.com/

- Jim Hamman - Iowa Falls Historian

- Ashleigh Eckels - Executive Director of Osceola Chamber Main Street: https://theosceolachamber.com/

- Evon Sallee - The Hotel Osceola (formerly Arlington-Howe Hotel that was built in 1884): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089245389879

Created by the Jefferson Highway Association which was originally founded in 1915, the Jefferson Highway is an international highway, also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at: https://jeffersonhighway.org/

Special thanks to the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau who represent Louisiana's Oldest City, which is also on the Jefferson Highway. See: https://www.natchitoches.com/

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From Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and ‘Akaka Falls State Park to the Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden and Earth Heritage Gallery, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Vacation Station" Travel Show features travel writer Debbie Stone who shares her adventures exploring the Island of Hawai'i. Read her story here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/explore-nature-and-culture-on-the-island-of-hawaii/

Travel writer Debbie Stone appears on Big Blend Radio every third Tuesday.

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If you’ve ever thought of just leaving your current life behind and spending a year accomplishing something you’ve always yearned to do, you need to read “FERAL: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks” by Emily Pennington. 

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, travel writer and outdoor adventurer Debbie Stone discusses the new memoir FERAL. Read her review here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/a-yearlong-adventure-through-our-countrys-national-parks/

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It's all about Foodie Destinations on Big Blend Radio's 3rd Friday "Travel Writers Panel Discussion" Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). From Hungary to Coastal Maine, get a "taste of place" with this heartry discussion about eating local foods when traveling across the country or abroad.

WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE https://youtu.be/PofQ4oFuVBw

Featured Guests:

JEANINE CONSOLI is a travel writer, photographer, and foodie from Sarasota, Florida. A retired teacher, she used summers to explore destinations and journal about it all. She loves uncovering the history, culture, and flavor of each place, finding incredible places off the beaten path at home and abroad. Follow her adventures at https://jconstravels.com/

DIANE DOBRY, an educator, freelance writer and former wine importer, focused on travel writing and memoir, is a member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). Memoirs and a book on Hungarian wine are in the works. See her story about her Viking River Cruise experience from Hungary, as discussed in the podcast: https://gettinghungary.com/rolling-on-the-river/

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

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On this episode of Big Blend Radio's Vacation Station "Hey Wanna Go" Travel Show, travel advisor Cheryl Ogle shares the various reasons why River Cruising is an ideal option for adult travelers who want a more intimate and luxurious experience. 

WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/msv-7m_sk4Q

Originally started with barges to transport goods through Europe’s rivers, River Cruises have grown in popularity over the past 50 years and only have between 150-300 passengers on board. Embarkation and disembarkation is much simpler than cruising on massive ocean cruises with thousands of passengers. You receive more personalized service, and with smaller ships, you are able to visit lesser known ports. Read her blog about river cruising here: https://heywannago.wordpress.com/2023/03/22/river-cruising/

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/

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This episode of Big Blend Radio’s 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features Brenna Moore who shares what to experience in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hear about Hot Air Ballooning and Cruising Route 66 to Exploring the Great Outdoors, Browsing Museums, Exploring Historic Old Town, and Enjoying the Colorful Local Public Art, Parks, Farms & Gardens, as well as Internationally Acclaimed Festivals, Diverse Cultural Cuisine, and Warm Hospitality. Plan your visit at https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/  

WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/8EUkHAPl55I 

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

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This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Friday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA features travel writer and photographer Scott Kendall, editor of PlayStayEat.com, who talks about his spring visit to Big Bend National Park.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/59qqer5l1TU

Big Bend National Park is a scenic area in west Texas where the Rio Grande River makes a large bend on the border between Texas and Mexico. Over 800,000 acres of mountains, valleys, and a wide variety of plants and wildlife are abundant in this gorgeous national park in the Chihuahuan Desert. Read Scott's overview: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/a-visit-to-big-bend-national-park/

Special thanks to the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) - https://www.ifwtwa.org/

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From Santa Fe to Chimayo, this episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Thursday "New Mexico Bed & Breakfast Association" Show focuses on two Northern New Mexico B&B destinations that each offer their own authentic southwest experiences. 

Featured Guests:

- Kim Sanchez - Casa Escondida Bed & Breakfast in Chimayo. See: https://casaescondida.com/  

- Ryan Miller - The Bobcat Inn Bed & Breakfast in Santa Fe. See: https://www.bobcatinn.com/

Stay New Mexico True and Visit: https://www.nmbba.org/

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This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Tuesday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA features Dawnielle Tehama, the Executive Director of Willamette Valley Visitors Association, who discusses what there is to experience in beautiful Willamette Valley, Oregon.

WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/EAip0RfQzxo

Willamette Valley follows the Willamette River north to south for over 150 miles from the Mt. Hood Territory east of Portland to just south of Eugene. It is a quilt of cities and towns that offer unique experiences for everyone, from rural enclaves that pop up between expanses of farms and fields, to serene college towns with historic inns and classic main streets, to cities alive with culture and heritage, including the state capital of Salem. It also has the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Oregon . More: https://willamettevalley.org/

Special thank you to the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) - https://www.ifwtwa.org/

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