Speaking Of Travel ®

Did you know the Asheville Art Museum is the third oldest art museum in North Carolina? It was established by local artists and incorporated in 1948, and has seen several homes over the years. And now, with its current state-of-the-art facility, the museum will celebrate its 70th anniversary with the opening of the new Asheville Art Museum at 2 South Pack Square. Join Kristi McMillan and Lindsey Grossman of the Asheville Art Museum to hear about events and programs for this exciting new chapter.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Betsy Phillips has a voice as serene and calming as the flatlands of her native Midwest. Her new EP, “Like We’re Talking,” with Dan Knobler, features material touching on everything from personal relationships to her childhood home. Find out how she came to pursue her love of music, her love of travel and how she made the decision to move to Nashville. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project continues with Dayna Reggero and special guests to talk about the wild places we love to explore. For almost 40 years, Patagonia has supported grassroots activists working to find solutions to the environmental crisis. But in this time of unprecedented threats, it’s often hard to know the best way to get involved. That’s why through Patagonia Action Works, they are connecting individuals with their grantees, to take action on the most pressing issues facing the world today. Three of these grantees are California Trout, Save the Boundary Waters and Accelerating Appalachia. Find out how you can make a difference by becoming a sustainable traveler and taking action, one person at a time! Guest Alex Falconer is from Save the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. This organization is creating a national movement to protect the clean water, clean air and forest landscape of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its watershed from toxic pollution. Guest Megan Nguyen

One of downtown Asheville’s most iconic landmarks is the red 1963 British Lodekka Coffee Bus at 41 Biltmore Ave. Greg Bounds first brought the bus to Asheville with an incredible amount of hard work and determination and opened its doors as a coffee bus in 1999. In 2009, Karen and Jeff Lazzaro purchased the incredibly cool, eclectic bus and have owned and operated it ever since as Double D’s Coffee & Desserts. Find out how this vintage red bus has warmed its way into the hearts of so many!  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

One year after returning from her soul-expanding adventure, Tess Vigeland is settling into a stateside life. But Tess believes nothing is permanent and change is always afoot even if you don’t know or feel it. Now living back in her hometown of Portland, OR, Tess explains how she really is getting pretty good at just going with the flow and how her life keeps showing up wherever she goes. Tess is feeling happy to have some roots growing underneath, but knowing her, that is all subject to change! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Melody King, founder of Urban Escape Vehicles, loves the freedoms offered by van life. Her van rental service in Asheville, NC, provides the opportunity to rent a van before investing in a rig and heading out onto the road. Discover why Melody's passion for outdoor recreation and desire to share these things with others motivated her to begin a camper van rental business. With van life so popular, people are able to share their experiences with others, build on ideas and inspire each other. But is it for you? Listen to learn more about this movement that is sweeping across the country.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Larry Jorgensen interviewed Coca-Cola families and conducted research in communities where Coca-Cola history is told through photos of historic buildings, museums, outdoor murals and memorabilia collections. Did you know Coca-Cola once sold the rights to bottle Coca-Cola throughout the United States for $1? Or that Coca-Cola was first bottled in Vicksburg, Mississippi, not Atlanta? These are just two of the interesting stories revealed in Larry's book, “The Coca-Cola Trail”, People and Places in the History of Coca-Cola.”Larry tells the real stories of those pioneer bottlers, the challenges they faced, and how they were instrumental in creating the world’s most recognized brand.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The time after returning from a trip creates space to think about how we’ve changed and gives us the wisdom and skills we have gained from traveling. Three friends share fun stories and travel tips. Perhaps they’ll inspire you to travel, whether it’s to the town over from yours or to an exotic place on your bucket list.   Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project continues with Dayna Reggero and guest Joshua Martin, the Director of the Environmental Paper Network, to discuss the launch of the new #UnwrapTheTruth campaign. The Environmental Paper Network is made up of 160 organizations who are working together to address the rising wasteful use of paper and make shifts to responsible paper production. #UnwrapTheTruth is all about shining a light on individuals as leaders in a solutions-focused movement to protect our climate, forests, and communities.  The Environmental Paper Network is a model for collaboration and looked to by advocates around the world.Their network of non-profit organizations is effectively empowering and motivating consumers, corporations and governments to protect forests, climate, air, water and communities through more sustainable production and consumption of pulp and paper. And you can help! Tune in to find out what each and every one of us can do to create transformational change and help sa

Melissa Reardon, editor-in-chief of WNC Magazine, presents leaf-peeping experiences that are big on color and light on crowds and why the North Carolina mountains are the perfect place to discover fall. Find out what weather conditions make for great fall color and discover resources to keep tabs on the status of the leaf change. Peak color doesn’t just happen in a single weekend here in the mountains. It actually begins at the highest elevations and trickles down to the valleys below. So you can really catch peak color for a full 4 to 6 weeks if you know when to look. Tune in to learn more!   Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is the perfect place to spend quality time unplugging and immersing yourself in nature. And this fall is a lovely time to get outdoors and explore all the Park has to offer.Emily Walker, Senior Naturalist at Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park, explains why this season is so spectacular and shares all the unique opportunities to celebrate the season, like the popular Flock to the Rock event. Discover why fall bird migration is so intriguing and what birds are traveling through. And if you love leaf peeping, this is the place to be! Wildflowers, leaves and birds, oh my! For more info and a list of all the activities you can enjoy, visit www.chimneyrockpark.com Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

New Belgium’s Community Ambassador Mike Craft and Sustainable Coordinator Sarah Fraser explain how kindling social, environmental and cultural change as a business role model works for the community. New Belgium Brewing is of course the makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, but did you know it is recognized as one of Outside Magazine's Best Places to Work and one of Wall Street Journal's Best Small Businesses? They have an entire team of coworkers dedicated to understanding and improving New Belgium’s impact on ecosystems. Learn more about this 100% employee-owned company and their commitment to the planet and to their community. Dedicated to proving that business can be a force for good, come visit New Belgium Brewing in Asheville. Free tours and great beers!  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Evie Ladin is a dancer, musician, vocalist, songwriter and square dance caller, balancing performing and traveling with hands-on teaching. She’s created a sustainable career doing all the creative things that she loves. Evie talks about her upbringing with music and dance as a part of social communication and how she balances her career and family, all saturated with music. She brings Appalachian traditions to collaborations with musicians and dancers of other styles, including West African, Afro-Cuban, African-American, Indonesian and more, bending and blending forms to create exciting new works. Evie also works extensively with her husband Keith Terry, renowned Body Musician, and his multi-cultural rhythm-based music and dance projects produced by the non-profit arts organization Crosspulse, Inc. Her music is a product of a lifetime immersed in the study of culture, as well as a depth of experiences, of total joys and deep disappointments, illuminating the paradoxes living life in this world.Thanks for list

Speaking of Travel continues the Climate Listening Project Series with Dayna Reggero and some special guests. Sisters Amanda and Allison Rodriguez talk about inspiring stories of human connection to wild places and new ways of knowing and understanding the world and the interconnectivity of existence.  Amanda Rodriguez is a writer, poet, and climate activist who works protecting Southern forests with Dogwood Alliance. She recently produced a film series called, “Stories Happen in Forests” that features inspiring stories of human connection to wild places. Allison Maria Rodriguez is an interdisciplinary artist who creates immersive experiential spaces that challenge conventional ways of knowing and understanding the world. Her work focuses extensively on climate change, species extinction and the interconnectivity of existence. Her award-winning work includes the video installation “Wish You Were Here: Greetings from the Galápagos” and a residency at the Churchill Northern Studies. Thanks for listening to Spea

Chow Chow is a multi-day immersive experience held in Asheville, NC, from September 13-15, 2019, to celebrate the region’s vibrant culinary scene from farmers to brewers, chefs, crafts people and artists. Featuring nationally recognized chefs to multi-generational farmers to millers, bakers, potters, weavers, and brewers, Chow Chow is shining a light on the spirit of this region. Join guests Kevin Barnes, founder of Ultimate Ice Cream, Connie Matisse, co-founder of East Fork, Jael Rattigan, co-founder of French Broad Chocolate and Chef Katie Button of Katie Button Restaurants, and discover what makes this event different, including highlights of key events, Chow Chow's charity focus and the awesome activities guests and local makers will be doing over the weekend. Come celebrate with Chow Chow! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Miranda Peterson is the founder and owner of Namaste in Nature, a yoga, hiking and meditation respite in Western North Carolina that helps relive stress and anxieties while celebrating and appreciating nature. She founded Namaste in Nature in 2017 to provide a fun, safe, unique and sustainable experience for both mind and body. Miranda has practiced yoga since 2008 and completed her RYT® 200 Yoga Teacher Training in traditional Hatha style yoga at Ayur-Yoga Eco Ashram in Southern India. She has led or participated in international classes and training across North America, South America, and Asia and believes yoga is for every body and should be accessible to everyone. Namaste in Nature offers multiple options for each person in the practices she guides so they are inclusive of everyone from beginners to experts.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Have you been thinking about learning another language? Cindy McMahon serves on the Buncombe County School Board and has over 25 years of management experience in nonprofits and small businesses. This summer, Cindy’s taking a sabbatical from her work to relax and have some adventures, including participating in a language immersion school in Cuenca, Ecuador. Cindy explains why she chose to dive head first into the deep end of language immersion in Cuenca, what it was like during her two-week stay, and how the community welcomed her with open arms. If you've ever considered taking the leap and participating in an immersion school, Cindy shares tips on how to research and what to look for in planning such an adventure. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Kelley Louise, founder of Impact Travel Alliance, the world's largest community for impact-focused travelers and travel professionals, provides insights and solutions for creating sustainable and positive travel experiences and how travelers are making a difference throughout the world. The organization aims to educate travelers on how to travel mindfully so our experiences protect the environment and empowers locals. Kelley discusses the importance of building resiliency in travel and shares stories from her recent visit to Puerto Rico and her time with ExplorEquity, a socially conscious travel company exploring food systems and sovereignty in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Whether you’re a local or visiting Western North Carolina for the first time, Leap Frog Tours offers fun opportunities to explore the area, from beer to art and everything in-between. They offer tours with set itineraries, custom excursions, and transportation services all over the area.Ann Smith, owner and founder of Leap Frog Tours, explains why they love showcasing Western North Carolina. Discover how you can sip your way through the extensive craft beer scene, see elk in their natural habitat, learn about the benefits of hemp and CBD, explore the history of the French Broad River and so much more.Visit leapfrogtours.com and book your tour today! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Meagan is heading home to Denver after visiting WNC for the first time. As part of her best friend’s bachelorette party, she spent the weekend exploring every nook and cranny of Asheville. Given her busy itinerary, Meagan knew it was important to pack light. “Of course, check the weather," she said. "I had a max of two outfits per day. I rolled them up as tightly as I could to fit as many as I can in my bag.” Meagan loved the amenities at AVL. “It’s been great,” she said. “One of my favorite things [is that] they have a lot of different charging stations.”Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.