Vacation Station

A Visit to Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country

Have you experienced the Hill Country of Texas? From wine tasting and live music, and history, this episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast is all about historic Fredericksburg, Texas. 
Fredericksburg is a small town with a big personality, where you can really sense the blend of cultures that shaped its character. From its roots as a German settlement in 1846, the town has managed to hold onto that Old World charm while embracing a bit of Texas spirit. And, with over 100 vineyards and tasting rooms in the region, this town has truly earned its place on the wine map. Then there's Luckenbach which became famous in the 1970s as a country music hotspot. Learn more at https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/ CHECK OUT SHARON'S ARTICLE about her adventures in Fredericksburg here: https://shebuystravel.com/things-to-do-in-fredericksburg-texas/ 
Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World with Sharon" Podcast features award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz. New episodes air every first Wednesday at 12pm CST at https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com/  
Sharon Kurtz is an accomplished travel writer and award-winning photographer based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to exploring the world and sharing her adventures through compelling storytelling. Her travels have taken her to more than 50 countries on six continents—her carry-on is always packed, ready for the next adventure. Enjoy Sharon’s writing at https://sharonkkurtz.com/. 

Visiting and Supporting Asheville This Holiday Season

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Tuesday "Adventures in Asheville" Show focuses on visiting Asheville and supporting this popular mountain destination post Hurricane Helene.
Featured Guests- KAREN WILSON, who along with her husband Steve, owns and runs The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. More: https://www.lion-rose.com/    ** See their GoFundMe page:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-asheville-bed-breakfast-hurricane-recovery 
- JAY SCHULTZ - Retired Army Officer and owner of Spartan Photography known for his drone and aerial work (as seen in the podcast photo). More: https://spartanphotography.zenfolio.com/ ** Also follow his social media accounts for his giveaway:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spartan.Photo - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spartanphotoavl/ 
- NICOLE WILL - Co-Founder of Asheville Wellness Tours that offers customizable wellness and yoga retreats and experiences in the mountains of Western North Carolina. More at https://ashevillewellnesstours.com/ *** See their GOFUNDMe Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-asheville-wellness-tours-recovery 
LINKS OF SUPPORT (Thanks Nicole):* Elderflower Care: https://www.elderflowercommunity.org/ * Conserving Carolina: https://conservingcarolina.org/  * Asheville GreenWorks: https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/ * Mountain True: https://mountaintrue.org/ * WNC Strong: Rebuilding Together Grant Fund (For profit businesses with fewer than 100 employees - not industry specific!): https://www.mountainbizworks.org/helene/wnc-strong-rebuilding-together-grants-2/  * WE ARE Grant (Women Owned Businesses): https://weareasheville.org/pages/founding-member* Explore Asheville Voluntourism: https://www.exploreasheville.com/article/voluntourism-ways-give-back-when-visiting-asheville  
Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Show airs every 1st Tuesday. Follow the show on PodBean: https://adventures-asheville.podbean.com/ 

In the Shadow of Mountains Tour with Oku Japan

From Kyoto to Osaka, his episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" Podcast is all about her experiences on the “In the Shadow of Mountains” tour with Oku Japan. On this small group tour, Debbie traveled to towns, villages, cities, and islands of western Japan, on both the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea regions. This small-group, guided, 12-day trip began in Kyoto and ended in Osaka. Read about her adventures and watch the video slide show here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/go-off-the-beaten-path-with-oku-japan/ Follow the podcast here: https://global-adventures-debbie-stone.podbean.com/ 

Budget Hacks for Travelers

It's all about How to Save Money While Traveling on this episode of Big Blend Radio's Vacation Station Travel Show with travel advisor Cheryl Ogle. From luggage and phones, to food and transfers Cheryl has some fantastic budget hacks to help you get rid of unnecessary expenses. Check out her blog post about it all, here: https://heywannago.wordpress.com/2024/08/14/saving-money-while-traveling/  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/ 

Day Trip Adventures Around Santa Fe, New Mexico

From visiting Georgia O’Keeffe’s Home and Studio in Abiquiú to exploring Bandlier National Monument, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou" podcast focuses on day trips and attractions you can experience when visiting Santa Fe in Northern New Mexico, known as The City Different.
Read her article on day trips here:  https://nabbw.com/expert-columns/travel/awesome-day-trips-in-northern-new-mexico-linda-ballou/ 
Read her article about Georgia O'Keefe here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/georgia-okeefe-to-run-wild-and-free/ 
Listen to Linda's previous podcast about her visit to Santa Fe, here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/exploring-sensational-santa-fe-new-mexico/  Follow Linda Ballou's adventures at https://lostangeladventures.com and learn more about her books at http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/ 
Listen to Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures" Show every 3rd Wednesday at High Noon PST,  here on YouTube:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm3Bmktgu8osUzx2VOF35dgO&feature=shared 

Celebrate Christmas In Natchitoches, Louisiana

From the 98th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival to the Christmas Tour of Homes, this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Go to Natchitoches” Podcast focuses on what to experience this holiday season in Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana. Featured guest is Paige Alost, the Executive Director of the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest settlement in Louisiana. Celebrating a vibrant blend of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Creole cultures, this charming city is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area and Louisiana’s No Man’s Land.  Plan Your Visit to Natchitoches and check out the event calendar at https://natchitoches.com/ and learn more about the Christmas Festival of Lights at https://www.natchitocheschristmas.com/ 
Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show and check out the past episodes here: https://natchitoches-louisiana.podbean.com/ 

A Visit to Lucille Ball's Hometown

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features travel writer Tamara MC who shares her adventures exploring comedic icon Lucille Ball's hometown in Chautauqua County, New York. 
Offering a unique blend of nostalgia, entertainment history, and small-town charm this adventure included a visit to the Lucy Desi Museum in Jamestown, along with the National Comedy Center, the Lucille Ball Memorial Park, Lucy's childhood home at 59 Lucy Lane, and Lake View Cemetery, Lucy's final resting place. More at: https://lucydesi.com/ 
Dr. Tamara MC is a seasoned travel journalist and cultural linguist from the United States with a track record of publications in high-profile lifestyle and travel outlets. With a keen focus on ecotourism, sustainability, wildlife, hiking, t cycling, gastronomy, and cultural tourism, Tamara brings a unique depth to her storytelling. Tamara has an impressive command of over eight languages and has ventured to nearly 80 countries, primarily solo. More at  https://tamaramc.com/ 
Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ 
Follow this Podcast Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1chVylr9kzBMftUgBoLS-m 
This episode is also featured on our other Big Blend Radio channels: "Vacation Station," "Toast to The Arts," and "Women Making History." Check out our Big Blend Radio Network of podcasts here:  https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Travel Writer Success Insider with Rose Palmer

Celebrating the first episode of Big Blend Radio's "Quiltripping Travel with Rose" Podcast, Rose Palmer talks about her life as an award-winning travel writer and photographer after a diverse 25-year career as a PhD chemist. As she explores the world, she likes to focus her traveling lens on history, art, architecture, nature, soft adventures, and cruising in all its forms.
Read her Success Insider Q&A and see some of her photography, here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/travel-writer-success-insider-with-rose-palmer/ 
Follow Rose's adventures on her site: https://quiltripping.com/ 
Follow Big Blend Radio's "Quiltripping Travel with Rose" Podcast here: https://quiltripping-travel.podbean.com/ 
This episode is also featured on our other Big Blend Radio channels: "Big Daily Blend," "Vacation Station," "Success Express," and "Women Making History."  Check out our Big Blend Radio Network of podcasts here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork