• Destination: Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina
    Nov 21 2024
    Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina Georgia’s neighboring state and Old Ninety-Six District is close by, filled with opportunities to hike, fish, learn more about history, experience old traditions and two of my favorite things to do; shop and eat. A couple of years ago I was invited to visit Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina located in the Upper Western section of the state. First I was excited to find how close it is and how easy it is to discover so many things to do over a weekend. Next, I loved how relaxed the area is for time to shop, enjoy the local cuisine and explore historic sites. The friendly and warm people were welcoming made it feel like home. Driving around the area made this road trip one I have been recommending for years. The Old 96 District is home to amazing outdoor adventures - from hiking, biking, walking trails and my favorite is getting out on the several lakes you’ll find in the area. Walking along the shore or deciding any one of the lakes is perfect for paddle boarding. I loved a stroll along the lake side. There are several counties which make up the old 96 district. Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick and Laurens. Each county is filled with history, perfect for those who love exploring the areas where our U.S. history took place. It's a history lover's destination. I love the feel of Stepping back in time - the historic homes and buildings, town squares and the ease of walking the cities blocks to check out shopping, restaurants, distilleries and attractions. If you love the feel of visiting small towns… you know the stepping in to a norman Rockwell painting…. Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina is your spot. Take a listen to my chat with various chefs in the area who share the culinary experience you can have while visiting. It's a delicious destination. Dr. Mays Preservation Center and Home Delicious food at Indigenous Underground Kickers Farm to Fork Restaurant Great shopping for crafts, beverages, art and more food Relaxation History around the district Outdoor adventures BnB stay at Shannon Manor
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    41 mins
  • Allianz Travel Insurance Bad Weather Travel Tips
    Oct 21 2024
    Allianz Travel Insurance Bad Weather Travel Tips Travel is all about the fun and excitement of all your plans coming together for a wonderful getaway. What happens when travel is impacted by bad weather? One thing is we are very disappointed and can even be devastated. Our plans are delayed or, in some cases, completely changed or canceled. Allianz Travel Insurance - bad weather travel tips can help you ensure your travel investment, worry less, and focus on getting back on track. Planning travel during the seasons where the weather is lousy means paying close attention to all aspects of our travel itinerary. I talked with my travel buddy, Allianz Travel Insurance, about the steps we can take when booking travel, while en route, and when we are at our destinations having fun. I asked my friends at Allianz Travel Insurance U.S. to come on the radio and share tips for being prepared. Dan Durazo, director of external affairs at Allianz Partners talked about several scenarios. His tips are helpful. There are many situations which are caused by bad weather and storms impacting travel in many ways, including: Flight cancellations and delays Storms can cancel or delay flights near the airport you're leaving or heading to. Hotel closures Hotels may close in preparation for severe weather and not just once the storm starts. They may also be damaged and unavailable for vacationers before starting or completing their stay. They can remain closed for days after the weather has passed. This can directly affect plans where you feel you've dodged the storm, but nope, the destination may have damages that last long into the next weeks or months. Transportation delays There are more ways to travel than airplanes. Trains, planes, and automobiles are getting us to our vacation spot. What about once we're there - public transportation and other commuter travel may be delayed before a storm or may be damaged or closed during the storm. Allianz Travel Insurance - bad weather travel tips can help us with what to do next when things change before or during our travel. Evacuations The weather can take the fun out of our vacations. Sometimes, we must get out of the way even before the weather comes our way. This is an important part of vacationing during rough weather seasons. During hurricane season, evacuations from areas with forecasted stormy weather are essential. You certainly can't play around with this. Bad weather reports to evacuate means it's time to go now—no questions about it. If a hurricane's path is in a major travel destination, travelers may be ordered to evacuate, with no option to stay. Photo credit: Rawpixel Cruise lines Heading out on a cruise during hurricane season means being flexible. I know you've wanted to go to dream ports, but here comes the storm. Cruise lines may alter their itineraries or delay departures from certain ports. Make the most of it. What's fun about cruising is the cruise line's ability to change the itinerary yet keep everything focused on exploring great destinations. Tours and attractions Plans can change, and disappointment is a real thing. Tours, attractions, events, festivals - all the things you plan to do can be affected by the weather. It is no fun to arrive at your event and see a sign saying - canceled. Yikes, that's the worst. It happens, and you need to know the next steps. Hold on to those tickets and receipts and get ready to make new plans. Tourist attractions may close in preparation for severe weather and may be damaged and remain closed. We can't tell Mother Nature what to do. There are no magic wands to wave, but there are ways to keep the stress down, feel comfortable being flexible, and know what to do to protect your travel investment and recover from unexpected delays, cancellations, and trip interruptions. Travel insurance can protect you and Allianz Travel Insurance bad weather tips can help.
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    41 mins
  • Destination: Fall Trips For 2024
    Oct 5 2024
    Fall Trips For 2024 I'm looking for Fall trips for 2024 Fall is a favorite time of the year for me. I still love the pumpkin patches, the corn mazes and all the smells of Fall with yummy treats being prepared. Candied apples, boiled peanuts, peanut brittle and pumpkin spice. Take a listen to the show and the website are below. Fall is in the air and here are website for places to consider now or later into the season. Let's go... Fall Trips for 2024. Dahlonega: The popular Gold Rush Days Festival. https://goldrushdaysfestival.com/gold-rush-days/ Beech Mountain, NC Year 'round fun and colorful leaves during the fall. Hiking should be top of your list. www.beechmtn.com Helen, GA Oktoberfest at the Helen Festhalle helenchamber.com LaGrange, GA & Pine Mountain, GA Make this fall a wild experience with a visit to Wild Animal Safari. animalsafari.com . Sweetland Craft Beer Sweetland Craft Beer & Music Festival – North Carolina Oyster Festival Brunswick Island, NC The highlight of the NC Oyster Festival is, of course, the oysters! - ncoysterfestival.com GO Outside Festival in Roanoke, VA Check out the website for more info visitroanokeva.com Dollywood's Harvest Festival How about a little Dollywood. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. Stay at one of Dollywood’s two resorts for even more fall fun, including crafts, music and fireside treats. Who’s ready? Check out the website - Dollywood.com Alabama Beaches The Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival brings together nearly 200 of the unsung heroes of the music business from all over the world for a 10-day festival. The event takes place at venues along the Alabama-Florida state line. Brasstown Bald and Blairsville, GA The highest peak in Georgia, Brasstown Bald not far from Downtown Blairsville. There you'll find a 360-degree view of four states (Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina) is unbeatable. Blairsville offers outdoor adventure seekers pristine hiking trails including the legendary Appalachian Trail which passes through the area. A few of the trails including Helton Creek Falls Trail and the Trahlyta Lake Trail in Vogel State Park will lead you to stunning waterfalls. Nothing beats breathing in crisp mountain air while soaking up nature’s beauty. Downtown Blairsville is home to the area’s cutest shops and restaurants with the tastiest menus. In the center of the square, you will find the iconic Union County Courthouse, which doubles as a museum of Union County and Native American history. For those looking to experience the flavors of Blairsville - several wineries including Odom Springs Winery and Living Water Winery & Vineyard are offering visitors beautiful scenery and tasting opportunities. A visit to Blairsville wouldn’t be complete without a little moonshine and spirits at Grandaddy Mimms Distilling Co. or a beer tasting at the new Blairsville Brewing Company. The annual Sorghum Festival is set to take place October 12 & 13 and 19 & 20 at Meeks Park. Blairsville's longest running festival celebrates the ancient art of cooking sweet syrup from sorghum cane. This fall festival is one of the most popular in Georgia and is a celebration of the locally grown sorghum plant. A variety of accommodations are available including cozy cottages, mountain cabins or an apartment downtown, all of which are perfect for weekend getaways or week-long adventure. www.visitblairsvillega.com Pensacola Families can enjoy hayrides and pumpkin patches at Holland Farms, just a short drive from downtown Pensacola, where you can pick sunflowers and pumpkins while enjoying homemade treats. Couples can explore local fall festivals like the Pensacola Seafood Festival in late September or the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival in November. Known as the "Festival City of the South," Pensacola has an event for everyone throughout the season.
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    41 mins
  • Destination: Natural Habitat Adventures Alaska Bear Camp
    Sep 26 2024
    Destination: Natural Habitat Adventures Alaska Bear Camp When the call of the wild beckons, the Natural Habitat Adventures Alaska Bear Camp offers a unique opportunity to observe Coastal Brown Bears in their natural habitat. You'll be privileged to witness these magnificent animals' daily lives in a sustainable base camp designed for bear-watching. This is a chance to immerse yourself in the pristine natural habitat of Alaska's coastal grizzly bears, with a strong focus on conservation and sustainability. The camp provides comfortable wilderness accommodations with minimal impact on the environment, and the scenic flight to the camp offers breathtaking views of glacier-covered volcanoes, sapphire waters, and snow-capped mountains. While some camping may sound outside their comfort zone, Natural Habitat Adventure Alaska Bear Camp is more like clamping than camping. Their private fly-in camp is located on the beach, where bears stroll by searching for a snack from the shore or roaming to their next spot to forge in the meadow. The roomy tents are more of a cabin setup than what we consider a tent. Each is furnished with two beds, a porta-potty, and a heater. The bathhouse has two private stalls with a shower and a state-of-the-art composting toilet. For a campsite, this truly brings creature comforts. The dinner area has a long table perfect for mealtime gatherings, guide presentations, snacks, and happy hour after excursions. There are also charging stations for cameras and phones in the dining tent. Excursions to view the bears are morning, mid-day, and evening. Luckily for us, daylight extends late into the evening when visiting Alaska. Perfect for catching bears late in the evening when they're grazing and roaming near the viewing stands. Look from the second or ground levels, where watching is perfect from either vantage. Natural Habitat Adventures Alaska Bear Camp is built on a historic homestead on the ancestral land of the Dena'ina people; the parcel was grandfathered in to remain private when Lake Clark National Park was established in 1980. The site allows for immersive Coastal brown bear encounters for Nat Hab guests alone. Take a listen to the show, where the crew shares all the details to help you plan a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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    41 mins
  • Destination: Tips for Savannah and Chicago, Eat, Drink and Soar
    Sep 7 2024
    Destination: Tips for Savannah and Chicago - Eat, Drink and Soar Ready to tips for Savannah and Chicago? I've got just the information for you to Eat Like a Local in Savannah and Fly Over Chicago to see the city like never before. On today's show my tips for Savannah and Chicago bring in the experts to tell us how to do it all in two of America's great cities. Author of the latest book on Savannah cuisines Elise Wilson comes onboard. She recently published Eat Like A Local Savannah sharing the little known places that tourists are not as familiar with, but locals know very well. Places for brunch, breakfast, dinner or drinks too. I asked her to share all the yummy details on our show today. She has a book-full of suggestions for great meals. Purchase a copy of Eat Like A Local Savannah and take it along on your next trip to Savannah. Later in the show I continue with tips for Savannah and Chicago. We head north to Chicago for a spectacular way to see the city - from a different view. Neighborhoods, theaters, landmarks and downtown streets come alive through videos and special effects. Soaring above the city while seated in the Fly Over Chicago theatre, you're taken on an adventure to explore the city in a different way. Special effects of the wind in your hair and the mist on your face, you're feeling exactly what you'd experience in an open-air airplane. It's a thrill without leaving your seat. Hear all about it from Derek, manager of Fly Over Chicago. You'll put Fly Over Chicago top of your list. Leave a comment sharing your favorite place to eat and drink in Savannah. We'd love to hear if you've been to Chicago. What would you love to see while - flying over Chicago.
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    40 mins
  • Destination: Self-Guided and Guided Bicycle Tours
    Aug 26 2024
    Destination: Self-Guided and Guided Bicycle Tours Taking self-guided or guided bicycle tours is an excellent way to see a destination at your own pace and from a different angle. Go at your own pace and take a few moments to enjoy the sights and sounds a little longer. On a self-guided tour, your routing and instructions for a well-planned trip are prepared for you, but you can make it your own. You can go as slow or fast as you would like. Self-guided and guided bicycle tours are very similar in planning attractions and sites. The only difference with a guided tour is having a guide come along to share details and help with routing - or to give the added confidence some may need to navigate cities and country roads. Cyclist couple riding together Either way, self-guided or guided bike tours will take you on an adventure filled with memories to share back home. I speak with Maria Elena Price about her company, ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, on this show. She and her sister co-own the business started by their parents. Their company offers both self-guided and guided tours around the globe. Family on a bike tour Next up on the show is the tradition of Geisha in Japan. What are the myths, the impressions, and the details around one of the most fascinating Japanese traditions? For many years, the tradition has been more of a mystery for outsiders to understand the intricate details of this part of Japanese culture. Oku Japan offers self-guided and guided tours where you can explore off-the-beaten paths outside big cities. Tour options allow you to learn about Geisha traditions, hear the history of how the tradition has changed through the years, and how the practice is perceived today. Dressing as Geisha is a very popular tourist activity Take a listen to my conversations with Maria Elena from ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours and Satomi with Oku Japan Off the Beaten Path Tours.
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    41 mins
  • Destination: Little Corn Island Nicaragua- Yemaya Reefs Resort
    Aug 11 2024
    Little Corn Island Nicaragua Yemaya Reefs Resort Little Corn Island, Nicaragua, has me asking, "Are you ready for a relaxing getaway with cool breezes, blue waters, and a beach to yourself?" I recently enjoyed four days on the beautiful, pristine, undeveloped island. The cool ocean breeze, turquoise waters, and warm, friendly people made me feel welcome in this hidden gem. The highlight of my time in Little Corn Island, Nicaragua was the indulgence of Yemaya Reefs Resort. This luxury haven, with its array of amenities and comforts, is designed to make you forget the outside world and focus solely on your time at the seaside resort, ensuring you feel pampered and relaxed. Little Corn Island is Big Corn Island's little sister, off Nicaragua's coast. Both are part of the archipelago of the Nicaraguan coast in Central America. The Corn Islands are owned and managed by the Nicaraguan government and bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country has seen its share of influence from various people and cultures calling it home. What I love most about Little Corn Island is not only the sun and fun but also the quiet relaxation compared to other destinations in the Caribbean. It is a great place to relax and unwind and a laid-back alternative to other "first-consideration Caribbean spots" like the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Cancun. Don't get me wrong; those are great, too. However, Little Corn Island, Nicaragua, has the relaxation vibes down perfectly. Little Corn Island, Nicaragua, is just a few stops from home. Start your journey with a flight from home to Miami or Houston. The next stop is Managua, Nicaragua. A quick plane ride from Managua to Big Corn Island and a boat ride from Big Corn Island to Little Corn Island starts your time on one of the most relaxing getaways I've had in a long, long time. The undeveloped vibe of Little Corn Island is immediately apparent, promising a vacation free from crowds. No need to search for a spot on the beach or wait in long lines to enjoy activities and recreation. It's all about nature and more nature. The tall palms sway in the breeze, and the turquoise waters beckon, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. You may ask, what made my stay one where I would stay instead of coming home— it was staying at the luxurious yet comfortable and unassuming Yemaya Reefs resorts? During my stay, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Carlos Ambrosi, the General Manager of Yemaya Reefs luxury resort. He shares all the details and how you, too, can have a memorable experience while washing away all the stress of day-to-day life. Carlos shares how to get your "relax and no worries" vibe all day and into the night. Photos from my stay at Yemaya Reefs Resort.
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    41 mins
  • Adventure Canada Expedition Cruises Overview
    Aug 9 2024
    Adventure Canada Expedition Cruises Overview Are you ready for an adventure that's all about of your comfort zone and into nature. Adventure Canada Expedition Cruise gets you out and about experiencing nature, finding wildlife and learning more about history and archeological sites. There's no shuffleboard on the deck, but viewing spots for glaciers and icebergs, whales and walrus. The area is filled with wildlife and nature waiting for you to safely explore and create lifelong memories. Adventure Canada Expedition cruises have all of the experiences in an action packed itinerary. Around the northern Canadian region, Greenland, Iceland and South America. There's no leaving out Europe either. There are opportunities to set sail to across the Atlantic for an adventure too. Take a look at some of the photos below and make a note to listen to the full show coming soon, with all the details of my time sailing with Adventure Canada Expedition Cruises. This cruise, has me ready to book and go again real soon. You'll want to also.
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    12 mins