WORLD FOOTPRINTS

What does great fudge, the world’s longest porch, U.S. presidents and Hollywood have in common?   Mackinac Island.

World Footprints will take you on a journey to a little known crown jewel that sits in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas –Mackinac Island (pronounced “Mack –in-aw”).   The island was named by Native Americans who said that the island resembled a turtle.   They gave it the name  "Mitchimakinak" meaning "big turtle".   The British later shortened the name to Mackinac.

Today’s show explores the island’s rich history and how that is being preserved as a National Historic Landmark.   Mackinac Island was key in two battles during the War of 1812 but in the late 19th century, it became a popular summer colony.  The island still maintains its old world charm and is known for its variety of architectural styles, including the famous Victorian-style Grand Hotel; fudge; and its ban on almost all motor vehicles.   (Golf carts are allowed but only on the golf course.)

Hollywood discovered the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and it was the setting of two feature films: This Time for Keeps (1946) and Somewhere in Time (1979).  Mackinac Island has been written about and visited by many influential writers including  Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau.

As we'lll hear,  U.S. Presidents and politicians have enjoyed respites on Mackinac Island.  The Grand Hotel has honored these visits by designing some staterooms with the assistance of a few former First Ladies.&nb

World Footprints travels through Eastern Montana and explores the history and diversity of Big Sky Country's eastern border.  Today we'll fulfill a "need for speed" when we go drag car racing at Phillips County Motor Sports Dragstrip in Malta with racing champions Shaun and Dillion Carnahan.   We'll travel along the vast landscape of the Hammond Ranch where some of the most significant dinosaur discoveries have been made.  From Malta we'll head south to Billings and go behind the scenes at the Dino Lab where prehistoric creatures are restored fossil-by-fossil.  Finally, we'll visit the elegant Moss Mansion former home to Billings founder Preston Boyd Moss.  We'll learn how Moss' vision for Billings and his world travels influenced the city's growth and his home's design.

The Grenadines are a haven for scuba divers, some of the world’s most spectacular aquatic scenery and much more.  Our first stop takes us to Bequia (pronounced Beck-way), the largest of the Grenadines.  Fresh from a dive at Devils Table with her dive buddy Cathy Sachs of Dive Bequia, Tonya and Cathy will recount their dive and why Bequia offers an unusual diving experience.  Cathy will also share how this island has changed her life. Then we’ll visit Bequia’s Park Bay, home to the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, where a native retired skin-diving fisherman affectionately known as “Brother King”, has spent  more than a decade of his life to helping to conserve the endangered hawksbill turtle.  Brother King and his helpers monitor the beaches and nests here to protect mother turtles from poachers.  They also care for the baby hatchlings in the sanctuary during the turtles’ vulnerable years of life. Many of the hatchlings are released into a protective area just south of Bequia called Tobago Cays—our next stop.  Lesroy Noel is the Park Ranger for the Tobago Cays Marine Park which lies in the southern Grenadines.  The area comprises of five isles bordered by a giant horseshoe reef and teems with wildlife and wild sea turtles.  Finally, we’ll travel just a short distance by boat to the private Palm Island where we’ll catch up with the island’s resident artist and (retired) medical professional Dr. Patrick Chevallier.  Patrick is one of the world’s premiere undersea artists and his character is as charming and colorful as his artwork.

As we celebrate this year's G.I. Film Festival we thought we'd share some highlights from previous years.  As with every day,  World Footprints  is proud to pay tribute to our nation’s heroes--our men and women in uniform, and the Hollywood patriots who support them. From the red carpet of the 2011 G.I. Film Festival in Washington DC, we will share our conversations with three award-winning actors: Gary Sinise, William Devane and Lou Diamond Phillips.  We also met award-winning filmmaker Rodney Ray and budding filmmaker Chris Loverro. The GI Film Festival is the first film festival in the nation to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the service member through the medium of film.    Then we’ll chat with actor Sean Kanan who is best known for his role as Deacon Sharpe on The Young and the Restless. Sean joins us to talk about his journey from the mid-west to Hollywood and his travels with the USO.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is much more than a gray, smokey steel town.  It is a vibrant and colorful city filled with rich history, culture and culinary goodies.   The three rivers that meet at a point creates a flowing calming energy and provided the inspiration for Dutch artist Florentjn Hofman to select the city as her North American debut of his giant rubber duck.  Today, we will give you a glimpse into this remarkable city as we explore Pittsburgh's rich history through attractions like the Senator John Heinz History Center, we'll walk through the streets of The Hill District and we'll relive Pittsburgh's industrial past as we tour the Carrie Blast Furnaces.

Upcoming: April 28, 2015

 

 

Study abroad and global citizenship were front and center at a recent White House Travel Summit.  The White House invited the most influential travel journalists and bloggers to join Administration officials, policymakers and thought-leaders here in Washington, D.C. to discuss how the U.S can build stronger relationships to the rest of the world with the help of young Americans, especially through study abroad programs.  World Footprints was there and today we will bring you some of the highlights from the speakers and panelists who spoke.

The White House Travel Bloggers Summit on study abroad and global citizenship sought to build on President Barack Obama's vision of studying, learning and working together as a way to bring prosperity to the United States and the world.  On today's show you'll hear from policy makers and thought-leaders like (in order of appearance): Benjamin Rhodes (Dep., National Security Advisor), Evan Ryan (Assistant Secretary of State), Bernadette Meehan (National Security Council), Patrick Dowd (Millenials Trains Project), Paula Froelich (Yahoo Travel), Johathan Greenblatt (Special Asst. to Pres. Obama), Daniela Kaisth (Inst. of International Education), Penny Pritzker (Secretary of Commerce), Tina Tchen (Michelle Obama's Chief of Staff), Robert Reid (National Geographic), Robin Goldberg (Minerva Project), James Howard (iHeart Radio) and Don Wildman (Travel Channel).

On the occasion of International Press Freedom Day, World Footprints was invited by the United Nations Foundation to attend a powerful event sought to change the narrative and examine women's voices in fragile states and why those voices matter. The UN Foundation co-hosted a distinguished panel which was led by Ambassador Melanne Verveer of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.  She was joined by Krista Hendry from The Fund for Peace, Amy Slaughter and Yar Ayuel with RefugePoint and award-winning filmmaker Elaisha Stokes.  The panel discussed the challenges that women face in fragile states and areas where women are taking the lead in reconcilation.  They also examined what happens to girls and women as the most vulnerable and neglected victims in conflict afflicted states, and why telling these stories is important.

Join World Footprints as we explore American History through the voices and houses of the country's Founding Fathers with award-winning author Myron Magnet.  In his book, The Founders at Home: The Building of America, 1735 - 1817, Magnet says that among all of our founders accomplishments the American Revolution has been the country's only enduring success. We are also going to review American History from another angle--America's Whiskey Trail.   Saturday Evening Post contributor Todd Pitock will take us to the birth places of America's native spirit. Finally, we will revisit our coverage of the Sochi Paralympic Games with a post script segment.  You will meet another favorite of the Games when we introduce two-time Silver Medalist Mark Bathum and his guide Cade Yamamoto.  Mark and Cade won their medals in the Men's Super G and Super Combined Alpine events for the visually impaired.

WINNER of the GOLDEN MIC from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.   On today’s World Footprints we’re traveling through the southern Grenadines and will share the beauty and magic of this special part of the world. Our show originates from the beautiful Palm Island at the Palm Island Resort.  Palm Island is a private tropical paradise comprising only 135 acres in size.  You’ll meet Chris Ghita, a transplant from Grenada, who has found his place as General Manager of this remarkable resort.  He’ll entice you to escape the hassles of the world with a visit to this tiny paradise. Then, we’ll introduce you to Palm Island’s most colorful character and resident artist and doctor, Patrick Chavellier.  This wonderful man and his extraordinary studio is worth the visit alone.  Patrick is one of the world’s finest undersea artists and we’ll learn about his art and his life in paradise. Finally, we’ll travel by powerboat to the Tobago Cays Marine Park—a protected wildlife preserve of five isles bordered by a giant horseshoe reef.  This aquamarine blue and green waterscape serves as home to wild sea turtles and is a underwater haven for scuba divers and snorklers alike.  Here’s we’ll talk to Park Ranger Lesroy Noel who will describe the natural beauty surrounding us.

World Footprints will take you on an exploration of the wonderful city of Norfolk, VA. On today's show we will travel through rich historical neighborhoods like Ghent, meet fascinating residents like the Doumars Family—creators of the ice cream cone, and visit cultural attractions like the Chrysler Museum and Attucks Theatre. From the Waterfront to the Freemason District, the Botanical Gardens, Nauticus and beyond, Norfolk offers a treasure trove of art, culture, history and culinary delights.