Vacation Station

Jessica Carter - California State Parks Week 2024

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast features Jessica Carter, Director of Parks and Public Engagement at Save the Redwoods League, who discusses the 3rd Annual California State Parks Week happening June 12-16, 2024. 
Through over 200 special in-person community events and virtual programming, this week-long event celebrates California’s 280 state parks and the people who visit and help protect these iconic places. California State Parks Week is presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California, and California State Parks Foundation. 
Visit:* https://castateparksweek.org/  * https://www.parks.ca.gov/ * https://www.savetheredwoods.org/ * https://parkscalifornia.org/ * https://www.calparks.org/ 
Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/ 
This  episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel," "Vacation Station," and "Big Daily Blend" podcast channels. Follow Big Blend Radio's Network of Podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Jefferson Highway News - It's Happening in Oklahoma!

Celebrate Small Business Month (May) and National Travel & Tourism Week (May 19-25, 2024) with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show that focuses on the Jefferson Highway Association's efforts in Oklahoma which includes new road signage, the first state chapter, and the upcoming 2025 Conference in McAlester (June 4-7, 2025). 
FEATURED GUESTS:- ROGER BELL, President of the Jefferson Highway Association. Info: https://jeffersonhighway.org/  - DELAINA STEVENS - President of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Jefferson Highway.- BILLY SUMNER - McAlester Tourism Manager & Vice President of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Jefferson Highway. More: http://www.travelmcalester.com/    
The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST. Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/ 

Small Business & The Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Industries

In honor of Small Business Month (May) and National Travel & Tourism Week (May 19-25, 2024), this Big Blend Radio panel discussion focuses on the connections between small businesses and the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries.
FEATURED GUESTS:- DONNETTE SILVA CARTER - CEO of Tulare Chamber of Commerce & Board Member of the Sequoia Tourism Council in Central California. More: http://www.tularechamber.org and https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ - WARD HEINRICHS - California Employment Attorney based in San Diego. More: https://bestemploymentattorneysandiego.com/ - GLYNN BURROWS - Owner of Norfolk Tours and Board member of Buy Local Norfolk in East Anglia, England. More: https://norfolk-tours.co.uk/ and https://www.buylocalnorfolk.org.uk/ 
This episode of Big Blend Radio is featured on our Big Daily Blend, Success Express, Vacation Station, and California Employment Law podcast channels. Keep up with Big Blend Radio at http://www.bigblendradio.com/ 

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches

With the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Celebrations coming up (June 20-22, 2024), this episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show is all about the sports history, culture, and impressive athletes of Natchitoches and the state of Louisiana. Featured guests are K. Nicole Connell, Communication Manager of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Doug Ireland - Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is an impressive $23-million museum complex in the historic downtown district of Natchitoches. It's collection of portraits and memorabilia celebrate the achievements of more than 300 legendary Louisiana athletes, coaches and other sports figures. Other sports-themed exhibits and interactive media trace the history and importance of sports to life in Louisiana.  The complex is also home to the Northwest Louisiana History Museum. Info: https://lasportshall.com/  
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. More about Natchitoches and its current events at https://natchitoches.com/  
Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here:  https://natchitoches-louisiana.podbean.com/ 

Elsa Dixon - Cruising the Bay of Bengal

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features travel writer and author Elsa Dixon who talks about her experiences Cruising the Bay of Bengal where she visited five countries through nine ports of call including: Thailand (Bangkok, Koh Samui), Singapore (Singapore), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, George Town), Sri Lanka (Colombo), India (Goa, Mumbai, Jaipur).  
READ ELSA'S BLOGS ABOUT HER BAY OF BENGAL EXPERIENCES:* Bangkok, Thailand: https://travelswithelsa.com/blogs/news/bustling-bangkok-thailand * Singapore: https://travelswithelsa.com/blogs/news/singapore-a-melting-pot-of-different-cultures * Malaysia: https://travelswithelsa.com/blogs/news/malaysia-history-and-culture * Sri Lanka: https://travelswithelsa.com/blogs/news/sri-lanka-the-land-of-serendipity * Gateway to India: https://travelswithelsa.com/blogs/news/a-gateway-to-india * Delhi, India: https://travelswithelsa.com/blogs/news/delhi-india-the-golden-triangle-part-three 
Get Elsa's Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Elsa-van-der-Byl/author/B096G63ZYZ 
Follow Elsa's adventures: https://travelswithelsa.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 

Cheryl Ogle - Why Walking Tours Rock!

Celebrate National Walking Month and Small Business Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's Vacation Station "Hey Wanna Go" Travel Show with travel advisor Cheryl Ogle. From getting a local's lay of the land and an insider's lowdown on the best shops, restaurants, events, and places to visit, to being kind on the wallet and a healthy activity inbetween culinary indulgences, hear about the myraid of ways walking tours can amp up your vacation experience. 
Check out Cheryl's blog on Walking Tours, which includes some great (and free) recommendations: https://heywannago.wordpress.com/2024/04/30/walking-tours-to-celebrate-national-walking-month/ 
On Big Blend Radio every third Wednesday, 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/ 

Lost Angel Travel Adventures in South America

From the Andes to Patagonia, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou" covers her 17-day sojourn into South America with Overseas Adventure Travel. You can read her stories on her South American experiences on NABBW.org here:* Chile: https://tinyurl.com/5n8caxzj* Patagonia: https://tinyurl.com/33ffa7be
When Linda visited Chile and Patagonia, conservation efforts spearheaded by Kristine Tompkins were underway. When her husband, Doug Tompkins, died in a kayaking accident in 2015, she picked up the pieces of their shared dream to purchase millions of acres in Patagonia and Chile with the plan to give the land to the government to create a national park system that would rival the one we enjoy here in the U.S. In this Ted Talk she provides all the details with images of the transformation she is leading in Patagonia and Chile. https://youtu.be/UWothcLpazU?si=pwm6HXxkzWnjcnzM
In 2023 National Geographic produced the film "Wild Life" spotlighting Tompkins efforts. Trailer: https://films.nationalgeographic.com/wild-life
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

Experience Medford in the Heart of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley

Celebrate Oregon Wine Month (May) with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show" with the International Food Wine & Travel Show. 
Featured guest is Carole Skeeters-Stevens of Travel Medford in Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley who talks about what you can experience in the region from Wine Tasting, Dining, Agricultural Destinations, and Seasonal Festivals to Crater Lake National Park, Outdoor Recreation, and Sports. More: https://www.travelmedford.org/ 
Learn more about the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association at https://www.ifwtwa.org/