Where Else To Go

Welcome to the Where Else to Go podcast where we talk about where to go - and where else to go - whether that's across town or around the world. This week's episode features Erin Bender talking about her hometown of Perth,  the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. While Erin and her family spend most of their lives on the road, they've been traveling non-stop for over four years, she was quite willing to dish about home. She says: Perth is a place no one visits in Australia on the West Coast. And the place people don’t even realize that they are missing. White beaches, some of the most beautiful wildlife in the world and home to some of the best wine in Australia. Take a listen and learn why Erin thinks Perth is so special. Erin Bender has been traveling the world with her family since May 2012. It's an open-ended, unplanned, round-the-world trip discovering amazing places for families. They have stayed in hostels and 5-star luxury resorts, traveled on scooters and cruise

Welcome to Episode #23 of the Where Else to Go podcast. This week we're talking with Katie Hammel about visiting Iceland in the off season. If you've perused any travel media lately, you know that Iceland is hot, hot, hot. But Katie gives us some suggestions from traveling to Iceland when it's down right cold. Here's what she says: Iceland's tourism is exploding, but most people still visit in the summer high season. Go in March or April or September or October and you'll see fewer people. Go from November to February and it's even better. You'll have to take some precautions, bring the right gear, and limit where you go (as some places around the country are just inaccessible in the winter) but you can still do plenty of amazing things in the winter, and you'll encounter fewer crowds and pay lower prices. You can still go horseback riding, glacier climbing, caving, snorkeling, whale watching, ride in a helicopter, or take a brewery tour, all on trips from the city. Plus you might get to see the Northern Lig

Hello! Thanks for joining us for the special Halloween episode of the Where Else to Go podcast. Joining me today to talk about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando is Rick Howard. Rick began working in the travel industry for over 20 years now. Bitten by the travel bug at an early age, it seemed like a logical career path when he founded his first travel agency in 1996. In his role at Kingdom Magic Vacations he travels a lot, and in his role at Travel with Rick, he travels as well, but he also takes people with him virtually through the blog and social platforms. Rick has lived on and around the Florida Coast for over 30 years and makes frequent visits to the Disney Parks.   You can follow Rick on his social platforms:  Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.   Disclosure: Rick and I are both members of Universal Orlando's Blog Squad, a group of travel experts who have been hired as ambassadors for the resort. While we do receive financial remuneration for our time, we both have a firm policy of o

Hello, and thanks for joining us for Episode #22 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Today we're talking with Julie Fox about the Minho Region of Portugal. I first visited Portugal in 2011 for a very short period of time and was fortunate to go back again in 2015 for a much longer period. I came very close to the Minho Region, and if I'd only had this information then, I may have extended  my time in the country to go a little farther inland. Minho is bordered by the River Douro to the south and the River Minho to the north, the latter also dividing it from Spain. It has a depth of Celtic influences and also shares a deep culture with Spain. It's known as one of Portugal's greenest and most traditional provinces, and after talking with Julie, it's hard to understand why so many travelers pass it by. Julie says: The Minho region in the north which includes the historical cities and towns of Braga, Guimarães, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo and Caminha, are rich in history, architecture, gastronomy and culture,

Hello! Thanks for joining us for Episode #21 of the Where Else to Go Podcast. Today we'll be talking with Samantha about Namwon, South Korea. Samantha is a travel blogger and is currently teaching ESL in Namwon. She fell in love with the area and wants us to as well. Namwon is about a two hour KTX train ride from Seoul, or a three to four-hour bus ride, depending on traffic. It's an hour from Jeonju, which is rising on the Korean travel lists for its traditional housing (Hanoks). Samantha says that Namwon is a lovely walkable city, but that too many people don't know it exists. For anyone interested in traditional Korean culture, Namwon is the setting for one of Korea's most famous love stories, Chunhyangjeon. (Think of it as Korea's Romeo and Juliet minus the tragic ending.) There's a beautiful park you can wander around called Gwanghallu that has the story laid out, and you can also go to an amusement park based around Chunhyang. If you're interested in nature, Namwon is also one of the cities based around

Welcome to episode #20 of the Where Else to Go Podcast. We're glad to have you with us for today's show which features Gemma Armit talking about where else to go - the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Gemma is a teacher of politics and current affairs in Scotland and is also a travel blogger at Two Scots Abroad. Gemma and her husband are just back from a 17-month career break during which they traveled in the Americas and Europe. Although they've returned home, they're not giving up traveling, they'll just be doing it a little differently. Today Gemma talks about their adventures on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. They had been traveling for a couple of months in Peru and Bolivia and kept getting recommendations about going to Colombia. After time spent in the bigger cities, Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena, they ventured out to the coast. Once there, they found their hearts stolen by both the beaches and the towns of Santa Marta, Costeño, Tayrona National Park and also Minca, a tiny town tucked away in the Sierr

Welcome to the Where Else to Go podcast. I'm so glad to have you join us for Episode #19 featuring Kimberly Erin Davies talking about where else to go – San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Kimmie grew up being taught that travel is education in a less formal environment, and has since been doing her best to practice this belief. She now works as a travel blogger, traveling the Americas, writing and inspiring others to push the boundaries of travel. She is an adventurer and loves to climb mountains, take multi-day treks, surf, scuba dive, and paraglide.  Kimmie was passing through Chile for a short visit on her way to Easter Island, but fell in love with it and ended up moving to the north part of the country and a town called San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro is a sleepy little town with a relaxed kind of hippie vibe. It is an open, free, be yourself type of destination, with wonderful restaurants, and some of the best scenery you could dream of. You will never run out of things to do in surreal San Pedro de Atacama

Hello, and welcome to episode #18 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Whether you're looking to travel around the block or around the world, we're here to give you some inspiration to begin researching where to go. . . and where else to go. My guest today is Marysia Maciocha, an ex-lawyer from Poland, who describes herself as a crazy Polish girl traveling around the globe. She travels most of the time, with intermittent breaks for family events, and remains enthusiastic about the constant change of landscape, religion, mentalities, languages, and kitchens. Marysia and I talk about travel to Benin, a country in west Africa. Most tourism centers around Cotonou, the governmental seat, and even though French is the official language, Marysia says it is possible to get around relying only on English. Of course, she speaks six languages so it's easy for her to say that, but if you're willing to make a bit of effort with the language, you'll find Benin is an underrated destination full of interesting culture and histor

Rwanda is a small landlocked country just south of the equator in central and east Africa. The country is mountains in the west and savannah in the east, and although primarily an agricultural economy, tourism is becoming an important part of the economy. While many people only know about Rwanda for its horrible history of genocide, travel blogger Bret Love fell in love with it. He says: Rwanda. It's relatively off the beaten path for most American travelers, and there's a lot of amazing ecotourism attractions beyond following Dian Fossey's footsteps and trekking with gorillas in Volcanos National Park. A lot of people associate the country with the Civil War and genocide that ended in 1994. But President Paul Kagame has completely transformed the country over the past 22 years, with an impressive infrastructure, impeccably managed tourism industry, and some of the most beautiful landscapes we've ever seen. Bret Love is a journalist with 23 years of experience, whose freelance clients have ranged from the A

Welcome to the Where Else to Go podcast. Episode #16 features Elena Paschinger talking about where else to go - southern Brazil. Elena is a tourism management graduate from Austria turned travel writer, teacher, business consultant and public speaker. She became totally impassioned with meaningful, culturally authentic, and engaging travel experiences after spending one and a half years living and working in New Zealand. Tracking the exponential growth of creative travel around the world, she has actively participated in developing and promoting creative destinations through her international consulting business. Her most recent achievement includes moderating an international panel discussion on creative travel and community development for the UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organization at the ITB International Travel Trade Show in Berlin.  When most people think about visiting Brazil, they think about Rio or Sao Paulo, but Elena advises us to head south to the cities of Porto Alegre and Florianopolis. 

Welcome back to the Where Else to Go podcast. We took a brief two week hiatus, allowing some time to update our site and take care of other technology related matters. We're back this week with a practical look at a country that has always fascinated me - Israel. My guest is Susan Schwartz, Managing Director at ConvExx, Susan travels to Israel frequently both with family and to visit family, and shares some recommended sites, dispels the myths of danger, and gets us excited about seeing this country so rich in history. Thanks for listening! Remember, you can also find the podcast on iTunes, and while you’re there, please take a minute and leave us a rating and review. See you next week.

Welcome to episode #4 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Today's guest is Billie Frank who, among the other many hats she wears, owns own a trip-planning and tour business. Where else does Billie recommmend? Santa Fe, the oldest capital city in the United States. Billie blends in the history, culture, and art of the city along with a healthy dose of food. She also answers the questions - red or green? If you enjoy traveling to experience art, music, Native American and Spanish Colonial culture, sustainable food, and outdoor adventure may find that Santa Fe is a great choice for your next vacation. Take a listen. Billie Frank is a freelance travel and food writer based in Santa Fe New Mexico. Her blog, Santa Fe Travelers, is a treasure trove of information on the oldest capital city in the USA as well as her travels beyond. She’s also the Santa Fe Local Expert for 10.best.com. Billie and her husband Steve Collins own The Santa Fe Traveler, a trip-planning and tour business. You can find Billie on Facebook,

Welcome to episode #5 of the Where Else to Go podcast. We appreciate our growing community of listeners and fans and thank you for the support you've shown. Today's guest is Viv Chapleo who leveraged more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and business to create WAVEJourney, an e-zine for women travelers. Where else does Viv recommend? Bend, Oregon. Along with her partner Jill Hoelting, Viv has made Bend her home for the past 11 years. She came for a vacation, but the Cascade Mountain views, plus all the recreational activities (road and mountain biking; skiing and winter sports; Deschutes River runs through town; 100+ lakes nearby; hiking galore) , craft breweries, golf courses, outdoor summer festivals/concerts/events, quaint downtown, Old Mill District, etc., convinced them to move their and make it home. Bend is a great four seasons destinations. If you like Palm Springs, you'll like Bend in the summer. If you like Aspen to ski, you'll like Bend in the winter. If you like Missoula, Montana, you'

  Welcome to episode #6 of the Where Else to Go podcast. I'm still not sure I have the hang of podcasting yet, but I am having a lot of fun talking about some great travel destinations with some great travelers. If you're enjoying the podcast, please take a moment and give us a rating and/or review on iTunes.  That simple little thing helps a lot in getting the podcast noticed by others. Thanks! Now, on to today's show on Marco Island, Florida. My guest for this episode is Kay Dougherty. Kay left corporate life in Boston for beach life in Florida and time to travel the world. She talks today about her current home base in Marco Island, Florida, telling us why it's a great where else to go spot for our next beach vacation. Kay says there are all kinds of things to do on Marco Island - many involving water activities. You can charter boats for pleasure or deep sea-fishing trips. Take day trips to see dolphins, go shelling or to see the sunset or just to explore the 10,000 Islands. There's a ferry to Key W

Thanks so much for joining me for Episode #8 of the Where Else to Go Podcast. We're on an island theme right now, having already covered Marco Island, Florida and Lihue, Hawaii. This week we're off to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with Cheryl and Lisa of What Boundaries Travel Media. The Galapagos Islands recently made the top of Cheryl and Lisa's favorite travel destination after a recent trip to the islands. Getting so close to the flora and fauna of the islands made them feel like they were taking a step back in time. The animals have no fear of humans so they really had a chance to see them in their real habitat.  And they add, "One of the highlights was when we snorkeled with the sea lions - they would always come play with us!" You might think that getting to the Galapagos Islands is too great of a challenge to get to and to see the islands because of the restrictions. However, it's an amazing experience to see the animals up close since they have no fear of humans.   You will see some amazing l

Welcome to episode #14 of the Where Else to Go podcast. We've just hit the three month mark for the podcast, and I thank all of you - friends, guests, and listeners - who've helped me nurture this podcast from idea to reality. My guest today is Ramona Flume. Ramona and I traveled together to Japan a couple months ago, and I've been looking forward to having her on the show.  We're going to talk about the very Japanese tradition and experience of the onsen (bath). There are thousands of onsens around Japan and they are play an important part in Japanese tourism. The word onsen originally referred to hot springs and, by law, must include water that contains one of the designated chemical elements and have a temperature of at least 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of its mineral content, the water is often believed to have healing powers. I can't imagine a visit to Japan that doesn't include a visit (or several visits) to an onsen, and I hope this episode, and Ramona's tips, help get you ready for this where

When you think about traveling to Peru, you most likely think about Machu Pichu in the Andes. But today's guest, Chris Backe, wants you to think about visiting the ruins and historical sites in Northern Peru for your next "where else to go" vacation. Chris is the blogger behind One Weird Globe, which explores the world's offbeat and bizarre destinations, and is the publisher of Choose a Way books, the tap-your-own-adventure guidebooks to real-life destinations. He's been seen in Atlas Obscura, Mental Floss, the Daily Mail, and dozens of other publications. Chris and his wife, a fellow traveler from Canada, have spent time living in Peru, and he shares what we've been missing in northern Peru. Chris says that northern Peru features an array of authentic, ancient, and well-preserved ruins from both pre-Inca and Inca civilizations. Machu Picchu, for all the attention it receives, ends up putting many worthy places in a big shadow. Offerings like the Huaca de la Luna (the temple of the moon) and Chan Chan (a UNES

Located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, Oman is a travel destination that is surrounded by mystery and myths. Tourism is on the rise in Oman, and it is predicted to soon be one of the largest industries in the Sultanate. Part of the rise in tourism can be attributed to cruise lines making Oman a port of call, but the country's tourism slogan - "Beauty has an address" - is helping to position it as a safe, affordable, and beautiful travel destinaton. On Episode #11 of the Where Else to Go podcast, I'm joined by Nicole Brewer, a Detroit native, who has been living and working in Nizwa, Oman, for the past three years. She says she's found the locals to be extremely nice and accommodating, and wishes more people would experience the beauty that Oman has to offer. A couple of the resorts that Nicole loves are the Shangri-La in Muscat  and a 5-star resort in the mountains, Alila Jabal Akhdar. And she impresses upon us both the beauty and the cultural aspect of t

With its convenient location in southeastern Tennessee -it's an easy getaway from Atlanta, Knoxville, Nashville, Hunstsville, and Birmingham - it surprised me that most people don't  think of Chattanooga. It seems like an overlooked city, a definite where else to go destination, and it could easily be added on to a visit to this part of the country. Joining me on Episode #12 to talk about Chattanooga is Cory Lee. Cory Lee was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, but that certainly has not diminished his desire to travel - wheelchair and all. He has been everywhere from Australia to Iceland, just to name a few, and he blogs about his accessible (and sometimes not so accessible) travel adventures on CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com. Cory hopes to inspire others to break out of their comfort zones and start rolling around the world. Getting around a city can be a bit frustrating for Cory at times, as he looks for accessible public transporation and taxis. He visits Chatannooga frequently as not only

Thanks for joining us for Episode #10 of the Where Else to Go podcast. Although it wasn’t planned, we seem to be on an island theme, covering islands destinations from around the world. Our guest today is Gary Arndt and we’re talking about where else to go, Micronesia. Micronesia, in general, refers to the thousands of small islands located in the Pacific and comprised of several countries. These countries include:  Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and the United States with three territories (Guarm, Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island). Gary talks about his visits to this part of the world, gives some recommendations for divers and non-divers, and explains why – apart from location – this is one of the easiest parts of the world to vist. Highlights include: Jellyfish Lake on Palau Ruins of Nah Modal Pohnpei Lagoon Diving in Truk Island hopper flights and more In March 2007 Gary sold his house and he’s been traveling around the world ever since. So far he’s visited