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This shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Jo Goes Everywhere" Podcast takes you on a road trip through South Carolina's Old 96 District. Travel writer Jo Clark picks up where last month's Ninety Six National Historic Site episode left off, with stops in Spartanburg, Pelzer, Greenwood, Ninety Six, Abbeville and Edgefield. Along the way: historic inns (including a night in a caboose at Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens), a winery visit that came full circle at City Scape Winery, a James Beard-honored meat-and-three at Wade's Restaurant, a Greenwood barbecue festival, candied pecans at the 96 Pecan Company, Abbeville's Veranda on Main and Belmont Inn, Indigenous Underground, and Edgefield's pottery, peaches and farm-to-table dining.  Jo also shares why these smaller towns reward a flexible traveler, and why South Carolina pecans and wine make great holiday gifts. LINKS & TRAVEL RESOURCES: - Jo's full guide, "The Ultimate Old 96 District Trip: B&Bs to Battlefields": https://recipestravelculture.com/old-96-district-spartanburg-upstate-trip/  - Last month's article, Ninety Six National Historic Site: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/ninety-six-national-historic-site  - Jo's earlier stop at Francis Beidler Forest: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/audubon-francis-beidler-forest-center-sanctuary  - Jo Goes Everywhere podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/jo-goes-everywhere  - Jo's digital magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/kkbr/  - Have Glass, Will Travel: https://haveglasswilltravel.com/

Snow is already falling in places in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the lights are going up in Visalia, and Exeter is getting ready for Santa. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "California’s Sequoia Country" Podcast with the Sequoia Tourism Council, producer Lisa D. Smith talks with Holly Streit of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Suzanne Bianco of Visit Visalia, and Shannon Schroth of Experience Exeter.  You’ll hear about: - Winter in the parks: layers, road conditions, tire chains and ranger-led snowshoe programs in Grant Grove and at the Giant Forest Museum - The Pear Lake Winter Hut with Sequoia Parks Conservancy, with reservations expected to open November 12 - Visalia’s 80th Candy Cane Lane Parade on November 30 and the holiday market at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, December 4-6 - Exeter’s Christmas Thursdays (December 3, 10 and 17), Santa at the farmers market November 18, and chamber gift certificates - The North Pole Market at the International Agri-Center in Tulare on December 12 - Sequoia Parks Conservancy’s 25% off shop sale through December 31, the Christmas Bird Count on December 19, and the Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree on December 13 - Cozy holiday weekends: cocoa, cookies, soup, gingerbread houses and a good book LINKS & TRAVEL RESOURCES: - Explore the region: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com  - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: https://www.nps.gov/seki  - Visit Visalia: https://www.visitvisalia.com  - Visalia Holiday Guide: https://www.visitvisalia.com/articles/visalia-holiday-guide  - Visalia Winter Weekend Getaway: https://www.visitvisalia.com/articles/visalia-winter-weekend-getaway  - Experience Exeter, Exeter Chamber of Commerce: https://exeterchamber.com  - Sequoia Parks Conservancy (shop sale 25% off through Dec 31): https://www.sequoiaparksconservancy.org

Step inside one of the South's grand historic hotels with this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel with Terri" Podcast. On location in downtown Mobile, Alabama, travel journalist Terri Guthrie sits down in the lobby of the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa with General Manager Margo Gilbert, who has led the hotel since 2004. Margo shares the hotel's remarkable story: built in 1852, lost to fire in 1905, rebuilt in 1908, shuttered in 1974, and brought back to life as a Historic Hotels of America member and AAA Four Diamond property. You'll hear about the two-story lobby and its hand-painted trompe l'oeil portraits, the whispering arch where there are "no secrets in the lobby," and the Crystal Ballroom, where Mobile locals still stop by to remember their proms. Terri also explores the amenities: 238 rooms, restaurants and bars, a 10,000-square-foot European spa, a pool deck with pickleball and tennis, and a location right on the Mardi Gras parade route. Along the way, Margo shares the movie stars who have stayed here, and Terri explains why this one is now a favorite. This episode is part of Terri's Mardi Gras Train series along Amtrak's route from New Orleans to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and Mobile. Coming up next: what to see and do in Mobile. LINKS  & RESOURCES: - Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mobbr/  - Start the series with Knox Ross of the Southern Rail Commission: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/mardi-gras-train-gulf-coast-amtrak  - Last time, Bay St. Louis by Train: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/bay-st-louis-mississippi-mardi-gras-train  - Plan your ride on the Mardi Gras Train: https://www.amtrak.com/mardigras  TRAVEL WITH TERRI - Travel with Terri on Big Blend Radio: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/travel-with-terri  - Travel with Terri: https://www.travelwithterri.com  - The Luxe Explorer Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.travelwithterri.com/magazine

Pittsburgh has long carried a reputation as a gritty steel-mill town with not much to see or do. Travel writer Debbie Stone grew up in Chicago hearing exactly that, but she kept hearing whispers that the city had changed, so she went to see for herself. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures" Podcast, Debbie shares the museums, art and views that changed her mind. Debbie takes us through the Heinz History Center, where six floors cover everything from Pittsburgh's inventions to the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood puppets, the story behind Heinz's 57 varieties and an eleven-foot ketchup bottle. Then it's the seven-story Andy Warhol Museum and his famous silver wig, the Mattress Factory's site-specific installations, and the colorful public art of Randyland. Debbie also explains why Pittsburgh is the city of bridges, shares tips for getting around, and visits the Fort Pitt Museum and Point State Park. She rides the historic Duquesne Incline up Mount Washington, cruises the three rivers with Gateway Clipper, and stays at the Drury Plaza Hotel, a historic Federal Reserve Bank building. RESOURCE LINKS: - Read Debbie's article and see her photos: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/pittsburgh-buzz-worthy-museums-attractions  - Plan your Pittsburgh visit: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com  - More from Debbie Stone: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/debbie-stone-travel-writer  - Global Adventures Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/global-adventures-debbie-stone  - Global Adventures Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/global-adventures-travel-magazine  New episodes of Big Blend Radio's Global Adventures Podcast with Debbie Stone air every 4th Tuesday at 7pm ET.

October means one thing on English Connection: it’s time for ghost stories. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "English Connection" Podcast, Glynn Burrows takes us on a tour of England’s spookiest corners, and England has no shortage of them. Glynn takes us down into the dungeons of Norwich Castle, where prisoners were once held for years. He tells the story of a public hanging in 1849 that drew crowds from all over. He also explains how plaster casts were made of executed murderers’ heads so phrenologists could “read” their bumps, and why those casts are still on display. From there it’s Norfolk’s legendary Black Shuck, the big black dog of East Anglian folklore. We wander through churchyards, battlefields and family vaults. We also get to the story Glynn loves to tell: Anne Boleyn arriving at Blickling Hall in a coach driven by a headless coachman and pulled by headless horses. Along the way: Guernsey, the underground hospital below Dover Castle, and the question of why some old places feel so strange. It’s warm, a little eerie, and full of history. LINKS & RESOURCES: - Glynn's article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/haunted-england-spooky-tours  - English Connection Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/english-connection  - English Connection Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/english-connection-magazine   - Keep up with Glynn and learn more about his custom tour services: https://www.englishconnection.uk/  - Follow the English Connection on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594366433338

The Jefferson Highway begins in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and runs all the way to New Orleans. In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Jefferson Highway" Podcast, producer Lisa D. Smith and Jefferson Highway Association (JHA) president Roger Bell travel north with Lou Erickson of the Morris & District Centennial Museum and JHA Board Member Derek Thille of Winnipeg.  You’ll hear how a 1919 garage photo sparked a whole town’s Jefferson Highway pride, from a parade float to the first official Jefferson Highway Association sign in Manitoba in a hundred years. Derek shares his Emerson-to-Morris road trip, and we cover old cars in snow, the Morris Stampede, Winnipeg’s must-sees, and where to eat. RESOURCE LINKS: - Morris & District Centennial Museum: https://www.morrisdistrictmuseum.ca/  - Morden’s of Winnipeg chocolate: https://www.mordenschocolate.com/  - Jefferson Highway Association: https://jeffersonhighway.org  - Get the guide, listen to more podcast episodes, and subscribe to the Jefferson Highway Dispatch: https://jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com

On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures" Podcast, travel writer and author Linda Ballou takes us to Moab, Utah, the red-rock gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. She shares how a chance meeting in an airport led to her first kayak trip down Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River, and how much Moab has changed in the twenty years since her first visit. Along the way, Linda explores Highway 128 along the Colorado River and the film museum at Red Cliffs Lodge. They talk about Thelma & Louise, John Ford, and the outlaws and moonshiners who once hid in Labyrinth Canyon. Then it’s on to the wonders of Arches, from Park Avenue to the Courthouse and the Three Gossips. Hear about Edward Abbey's book "Desert Solitaire," his fight to stop the damming of Glen Canyon, and the toll of the uranium mining days. Then, a reflection on what a river can teach us about going with the flow. Linda offers options for every visitor, from half-day river trips to Jeep and photography tours, and a gentle reminder to tread lightly on the fragile desert. MORE ON MOAB: - Episode page with Linda’s Moab guide & article excerpt: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/moab-utah-rivers-red-rock-abbey-country  - Linda’s full Moab guide on NABBW: https://nabbw.com/expert-columns/searching-for-new-adventures-in-southeast-utah-linda-ballou-recommends-moab-as-your-perfect-springboard/  - Moab Visitor Center: https://www.moabtourismcenter.com/  Linda Ballou: https://www.LindaBallouAuthor.com  FOLLOW LINDA: - Lost Angel Adventures: https://www.LostAngelAdventures.com  - Linda Ballou Author Site: https://www.lindaballouauthor.com/  - Podcast: https://lost-angel-travel-adventures.podbean.com  - Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/podcast-retrospective/

In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Journey Jukebox" Podcast, travel writer Lisa Evans takes us to Clarksville, Tennessee. It isn’t the Clarksville of the Mississippi Blues Trail. It’s a river city less than an hour from Nashville that deserves a day, or several, all to itself.  Lisa shares the history, the attractions and the public art that made this one of her favorite recent trips. You’ll meet Olympic legends Wilma Rudolph and Pat Head Summitt, and hear how Wilma insisted her hometown welcome be open to everyone. Lisa tours the 1898 Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, explores the Historic Collinsville Pioneer Settlement (and makes her own butter), and heads underground at Dunbar Cave State Park, a rough, unlit cave with Native American art deep inside. She also shares the colorful murals, including Last Train to Clarksville (pictured) and Clarksville Starry Night, and the brand-new Wings of Liberty Museum at Fort Campbell. Next month, Lisa returns with Clarksville’s food, wine and spirits. Don’t forget the Journey Jukebox Spotify playlist, where Jimi Hendrix, who was stationed at Fort Campbell, shares the mix with Roy Acuff. Learn more, see photos & get travel planning resource links:  https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/clarksville-tennessee-history-caves-public-art  LISTEN & CONNECT - Journey Jukebox Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/journey-jukebox-with-lisa  - Journey Jukebox Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7humUf03LIW04t8LiJSSN9?si=3683d9bcf60649d3  - Lisa Evans Travel Features: https://writerlisa.com/  - Lisa's "All About Travel" Substack: https://substack.com/@allabouttravelwithlisa

On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel with Terri" Podcast, travel journalist Terri Guthrie continues her Mardi Gras Train series with a stop in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Terri calls it a casual coastal escape that feels worlds away from New Orleans, even though it’s less than an hour by rail. She walks us through Old Town’s art, boutiques and golf carts, her stay at the Pearl Hotel, and dinner downstairs at the Thorny Oyster, where she met owner and executive chef Jeffrey Hansell. There’s amberjack, a roasted beet salad with lemon ricotta, and a Bushwhacker at the Blind Tiger across the street. Then we head next door to Waveland and its Ground Zero Hurricane Museum, which honors Hurricane Katrina’s impact and the resilience of the Gulf Coast. She also talks beaches, live oaks, resurrection ferns, and the live-for-today spirit of Mississippi and Louisiana. Next episode: Mobile, Alabama! LINKS & RESOURCES - Get more information including travel planning links and the rest of the Mardi Gras Train series, see: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/bay-st-louis-mississippi-mardi-gras-train  - Listen to more Travel with Terri Podcast episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/travel-with-terri  - Visit Terri’s website: https://www.travelwithterri.com/  - Check out The Luxe Explorer Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.travelwithterri.com/magazine

Wine country, waterparks, supper clubs, and yoga with alpacas: Wisconsin Dells has something for every season, and it’s not just a summer destination. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), host/producer Lisa D. Smith talks with Ken Leiviska of the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau. He shares what to see, taste and do in the Dells all year long. Ken explains how the Ice Age shaped Wisconsin’s wine country and why the Dells’ wineries are worth a stop. You’ll also hear about: - Harvest season and fall color - Winter markets and the Tree of Light - Ice fishing - Indoor waterparks that stay open all year, in the “Waterpark Capital of the World” - Classic Wisconsin supper clubs, from relish trays to brandy old fashioneds - Alpaca yoga, cheese curds and farm visits - Where to stay, and what to know before you go Pack a sweater, a swimsuit, or both. Whatever the season, the Dells is ready for you. Piece together our Wisconsin Dells fall colors jigsaw puzzle of a Dells boat tour, and get the episode highlights: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/wisconsin-dells-in-every-season  Learn more and plan your trip: - Wisconsin Dells: https://www.wisdells.com  - Food, Wine & Travel Podcast with IFWTWA: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/food-wine-travel-ifwtwa  - Travel, Food & Wine Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine  - International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA): https://www.ifwtwa.org

Come hungry! Every third Sunday, Travel Avoyelles hosts Wilbert Carmouche and Mary Guillory join Lisa D. Smith for a visit to Avoyelles Parish in Central Louisiana. This time they brought a special guest: caterer John Ed Laborde of Panaroma Foods in Marksville, the creator of Crawfish Bread®. We talk crawfish étouffée, boudin and boucherie, cracklins, court-bouillon, sweet potato crunch, king cakes, cinnamon rolls, drive-through daiquiris and gas station plate lunches. Then each of them plans a full day of eating for first-time visitors, from breakfast to dinner. Pull up a chair for this shared episode! LINKS Plan your visit: https://TravelAvoyelles.com  Panaroma Foods, John Ed Laborde: https://panaromafoodsinc.com  Crawfish Bread: https://www.nolacrawfishbread.com  Big Blend Radio: https://bigblendmediahouse.com  New episodes of the Travel Avoyelles Podcast air every 3rd Sunday at 6pm CST on Big Blend Radio. Listen: https://travel-avoyelles.podbean.com/

Why would a cruise line skip the hot seafood chowder in the Caribbean, then serve it on deck in Glacier Bay?  On this shared episode of BIg Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), host Lisa D. Smith sets sail with Emma Ciciriello, Senior Manager of Food & Beverage Product Development for Holland America Line and Seabourn, for a behind-the-scenes look at destination dining at sea. Emma explains how menus, cocktails, table settings and even a Panama hat help guests taste the place they are visiting, from Alaskan halibut and glacial ice cocktails to Caribbean rum and a global fresh fish program. We also visit Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private Bahamian island, where a new beach club is bringing an all-inclusive day on the sand. Plus: Magnolia Bakery banana pudding, baked Alaska nostalgia, Marmite versus haggis, Emma’s perfect day of eating at sea, and tips for breaking into cruise food and beverage. MORE INFO: - Holland America Line: https://www.hollandamerica.com  - IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org  - More Food, Wine & Travel podcast episodes:  https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa  - Travel, Food & Wine Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine  Photos courtesy of Holland America.

Why do we keep coming back to New York City? Travel writers Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough have a lot of answers, and they’re not what the typical headlines say. Joelle has just wrapped a week in the city. She was born here and spoke at a United Nations side event during the General Assembly. Ryan joined her for part of the trip, riding Amtrak in from Harrisburg. He once almost had a panic attack in a New York taxi. Now he says every visit is better than the last. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wanderers Compass" Podcast, they share what the city feels like today, plus the practical tips that make a first visit easier. In this episode: - Why Ryan went from city-nervous to city fan - Safety, street smarts and walking at all hours - What New York really costs, and the free things to do Grand Central, the High Line, Hudson Yards and The Edge - How CityPASS helped Joelle see the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid, Ellis Island and more - Amtrak, flying into Newark, skipping the car and mastering the subway - Seeing Hamilton on Broadway, plus the real history at Fraunces Tavern - Smart tips for solo theater tickets and for your first trip - The best time of year to visit - Eataly, bodegas, bagels, pizza, gelato and Asian cuisine KEEP UP WITH WANDERERS COMPASS 🔗 Blog: www.wandererscompass.com/ 🔗 Podcast: www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/wanderers…ass-podcast 🔗 Digital Podcast Magazine: www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/wanderers…ss-magazine New episodes of the Wanderers Compass Podcast air every second Monday on Big Blend Radio.

Celebrate America 250 in upstate South Carolina! On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Jo Goes Everywhere" Podcast, travel writer Jo Clark takes us to Ninety Six National Historic Site, a backcountry crossroads where 12 roads met and later the site of the longest land siege of the American Revolution, from May 22 to June 18, 1781. This park also turned 50 this year. Jo walks us through the Star Fort and Kosciuszko’s brick-lined mine tunnel. She also tells the tale of the engineer who got shot in the butt, poses for a selfie with the big replica gun, and explains why the kids’ tunnel is such a hit. She shares what it’s like to hear reenactments and cannon fire (earplugs recommended!) and why Lake Greenwood State Park is worth adding to your trip. Then it’s time to eat and stay. Jo takes us to Break on the Lake and Indigenous Underground, where Chef Erica “Trudy” McCier serves soul rolls and Black Eye Pea Gumbo. She also stops at Main Street Coffee Co., The Rough House and 96 Pecan Company (don’t miss the Lemon Crunch!), and spends the night at The Veranda on Main. At the end, Jo toasts with her Spooktacular Halloween Cocktail. RESOURCE LINKS: - Read Jo’s full article, with all the details, tips and links to every stop: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/ninety-six-national-historic-site  - Get Jo’s Spooktacular Halloween Cocktail recipe: https://recipestravelculture.com/spooktacular-halloween-cocktail/  Follow More of Jo: -  https://www.haveglasswilltravel.com/  - https://recipestravelculture.com/  - Jo Goes Everywhere! Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/jo-goes-everywhere-podcast  - Jo Goes Everywhere! Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/jo-goes-everywhere-magazine

Travel writer Erin Coyle takes us to Oman, where a cup of coffee is an invitation and hospitality is a way of life. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), host Lisa D. Smith talks with IFWTWA member Erin Coyle, a freelance travel writer and ESP teacher who moved to Oman in 2018 to teach, started writing about travel during the pandemic, and now lives in Muscat. Erin shares what it’s really like to travel in Oman: the warm welcome, the customs worth knowing, the food, and the landscapes that pleasantly surprise first-time visitors. In this episode: - Why Oman feels calm and welcoming to travelers, and where it sits on the map - Erin’s path from teaching English in Sur to writing about travel - What an Omani wedding looks like, from the late-night start to the bride’s grand entrance - How to dress respectfully in a Muslim country, from wadis to mosques - Oman’s food: shuwa (goat cooked in the ground), mishkek kebabs, kabuli rice, and Paplou fish soup - Why coffee is the heart of Omani hospitality, plus dates, halwa, and the secret of shaking your cup - Modern Muscat versus traditional villages, falaj water channels thousands of years old, and a skyline with no skyscrapers - Wine and alcohol for travelers, wellness and breathwork, and nature from mountains to coast - Erin’s Hot Pot and the one-pot meals every culture shares It's the perfect episode to celebrate Global Diversity Awareness Month!  READ ERIN'S OMAN ARTICLE: - https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/oman-hospitality-things-to-do  CONNECT WITH ERIN: - https://erinshotpot.com  - https://www.instagram.com/erinshotpot/  - https://www.facebook.com/erintravelwriter  IFWTWA: - International Food Wine Travel Writers Association: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - More Food, Wine & Travel podcast episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa  - Travel, Food & Wine Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine