Vacation Station

43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival in Louisiana’s Oldest City

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday "Go to Natchitoches" show focuses on the 43rd Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. With the theme "Celebrating Louisiana's Cultural Gumbo," the Festival will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in the air-conditioned Prather Coliseum on the NSU campus. Featured guests are Arlene Gould, Executive Director of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau, and organizer Dr. Shane Rasmussen, NSU Professor of English and Director, Louisiana Folklife Center. Festival attendees will enjoy 3 stages of music with Cajun, zydeco, blues, Celtic, and country music, free Cajun and zydeco dance lessons, and many traditional food vendors. There will also be a gumbo cook-off, blacksmithing, KidFest, over 70 crafts persons, a harmonica workshop taught by Ed Huey, and the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship from 1-4 PM. Music headliners feature Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush, the Jambalaya Cajun Band and the Cajun Stompers, Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, Hugh Harris and the Drifting Cowboys, The Russell Welch Hot Quartet with special guest Aurora Nealand, traditional Native American songs and dances with the Rising Sun Youth Choctaw-Apache of Ebarb Dance Group, and blues by Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. More: https://www.nsula.edu/the-43nd-annual-natchitoches-nsu-folk-festival-2/Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest city 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 at https://natchitoches.com/Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: https://shows.acast.com/go-natchitoches-louisiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Piper - 2023 IFWTWA Travel Writers Conference Aboard Discovery Princess

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Monday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) features Amy Piper who gives an overview of the 2023 Annual IFWTWA Conference. This annual writers development conference will be held October 1-7, 2023, aboard Princess Cruise Lines' The Discovery. It is open to all food wine and travel writers.WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/nAmmmSUBtQ8 The ship departs October 1, 2023 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and arrives in Los Angeles, CA, on October 7 for a total of six cruise nights. The conference will be held on the newest ship in the Princess fleet, the stunning Discovery Princess. Reservations must be made on or before August 31, 2023. For full itinerary details including the networking opportunities, expert speakers and professional development sessions, FAM trips, and cruise rates for members and non-members, visit: https://www.ifwtwa.org/2023-ifwtwa-conference/ An IFWTWA Director, Conference Chair, and Publications Editor, Amy Piper is a Lansing, Michigan-based freelance travel writer, blogger, and photographer. She is also the author of "100 Things to Do in Lansing Before You Die." Follow her adventures at https://followthepiper.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christine Whitney - Visit Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Tuesday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show features Christine Whitney of Visit Kitsap who shares what there is to experience on the Kitsap Peninsula, which is just across from Seattle, and known as the Natural Side of Puget Sound. The Kitsap Peninsula is surrounded by 371 miles of shoreline and is officially part of the National Water Trails system, Washington State’s only such designation. Here one can experience an abundance of natural beauty with plenty of opportunities to enjoy safe and healthy outdoor recreational activities all year round. More: https://www.visitkitsap.com/ Special thank you to the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) - https://www.ifwtwa.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Palm Springs, California

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Saturday “Sunshine Stays” Show Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Palm Springs, California.WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/bTfnevq9hRg FEATURED GUESTS:- KENT TAYLOR, GM of Descanso Resort, a newly refurbished, completely reimagined men’s resort in Palm Springs. Visit: https://descansoresort.com/ - BILL SANDERSON, co-owner of Townie Bagels and VP of Desert Gay Tourism Guild. Visit: https://www.towniebagels.com/ and https://www.palmspringsgayinfo.com/ - GREGORY DOUGLASS, singer/songwriter, and writer for Boutiquely Palm Springs Newsletter, and https://www.thepalmspringsguys.com. Also visit: https://gregorydouglass.com/ This show airs every second Saturday in collaboration with the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels (PSPH), a consortium of independently-owned boutique hotels in the desert resort community of Palm Springs, in Southern California. Follow the podcast: https://shows.acast.com/big-blend-radio-palm-springs-sunshine-stays Plan your visit and sign up for the monthly Boutiquely Palm Springs newsletter at: https://www.palmspringspreferredsmallhotels.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paula Schuck - The Renaissance of Lake Placid, New York

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Friday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA features travel writer Paula Schuck who talks about her family's winter snow adventures in Lake Placid, New York.WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/20ZUoOOOtOALocated high up in the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is home of two Winter Olympics. With a well-known Olympic history, Lake Placid is now embracing a future vision lifting the Olympic Region once again to an enviable position on the world stage. What better place to embrace winter and challenge yourself to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, bobsled, or simply enjoy the outdoors? Read Paula's story here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/lake-placids-renaissance/Follow Paula's blog at https://www.thriftymommastips.com/Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) at https://www.ifwtwa.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unplug and Recharge at These Two New Mexico Bed & Breakfasts

From the Southwest to the Northeast corners of New Mexico, this episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Thursday "New Mexico Bed & Breakfast Association" Show focuses on two remote B&Bs that offer the opportunity to escape and unplug from the busy hustle-bustle of life, and embrace the tranquility of nature to restore, recharge, and rejuvenate.Featured Bed & Breakfasts:- Becky O’Connor - Casitas de Gila Guesthouses in Gila, near Silver City. See: https://www.casitasdegila.com/ - Dave Emery and innkeeper Heidi Lewis of Casa del Gavilan Historic Inn in Cimarron. See: https://casadelgavilan.com/Stay New Mexico True and Visit: https://www.nmbba.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beer and Outdoor Adventures in Asheville, North Carolina

From floating bar and brewery crawls, to hiking and canoeing, this episode of Big Blend Radio's Adventures in Asheville" show focuses on what to experience this Summer in Asheville, North Carolina. Featured guest is Cody Kelly, owner of Cedar Rock Adventures, a guided tour company that is committed to sharing the nature, majesty and adventure tucked away in the mountains of Asheville, NC. Whether you’re seeking a hiking adventure or a brewery hopping river tour with friends, their experienced guides are ready to share the beauty, nature and people that make this area so special. More: https://cedarrockadventures.com/ Guest cohosts are Steve & Karen Wilson "Mr & Mrs Wild of Asheville," the owners and innkeepers of The Lion & The Rose Bed and Breakfast, a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. This 1898 residence is located in a quiet residential neighborhood within walking distance to downtown Asheville and its many attractions. The Blue Ridge Parkway, PIsgah National Forest, and Biltmore Estate are just minutes away. More: https://www.lion-rose.com/ Steve and Karen appear on Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Show every 1st Tuesday. Follow the show: https://shows.acast.com/big-blend-radio-adventures-in-asheville Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manuel and Olga Jimenez - Woodlake Botanical Garden in Central California

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel Tulare County" Show features Manuel and Olga Jimenez who share what visitors can experience at Woodlake Botanical Garden, located in California's Sequoia Country.Maintained by Manuel & Olga Jimenez and Woodlake Pride youth volunteers, Woodlake Botanical Garden showcases San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural bounty with fruit trees, row crops, and vegetable patches, along with ornamental shrubs, roses, and flower beds. It is wheelchair accessible, and right next to Bravo Lake. It's a beautiful garden to spend time in, as well as a great place to learn about central California plants. Follow the Garden on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodlakeBotanicalGardens This episode is part of Big Blend Radio's 1st Thursday "Travel Tulare County" series with the Sequoia Tourism Council. More: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.