33: Leavenworth, Washington, Christmas Town Year-Round
Locals Know Best
Today, on the , I’ll be speaking with Tom Potter about all of his favorite outdoor adventures in a town you may know as one of the most picturesque Alpine-style villages in the United States, Leavenworth, Washington! I’m very excited for this episode because Leavenworth has always been in the back of my mind as an excellent fit for this podcast, and even more so for one of our holiday episodes. Leavenworth is not only incredibly jam-packed with outdoor activities, it boasts tons of holiday cheer to boot! We will, of course, talk a bit about the holiday season and how it affects and...
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32: Portland, Maine, The Way Life Should Be
Locals Know Best
Today, on , I’ll be speaking with Kristan Vermeulen about how to make the most of a day outdoors in Portland, Maine. Join Kristan and me as we visit Portland, Maine, during both the off and on-season, eating tons of tasty treats along the way! Activities we discuss in this episode include hitting the water in multiple vessel options, skiing, dog sledding, oyster shucking, hiking, and more! About Kristan Vermeulen Kristan is originally from Maryland and was a Director of Public Relations for the Department of Defense for six years while living there. However, a full-time job...
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31: Hiking Above the Clouds in Mount Rainier National Park
Locals Know Best
Today, on , I’ll be speaking with Michelle Stelly about how to make the most of a weekend at Mount Rainier National Park! , Michelle and I will first discuss Washington’s three beautiful national parks. Then, we’ll backpack, hike, and snowshoe throughout all four seasons in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as touch on a few of the surrounding areas. We’ll be sure to see tons of epic waterfalls, lakes, and fire lookouts along the way, and of course, also have plenty of opportunities to view the incredible Mount Rainier! About Michelle Stelly Michelle runs The Wandering Queen,...
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30: Alexandria, Virginia, a Nice Mixture of Old and New
Locals Know Best
Today, I'll be speaking with Cecilia and Scott Fix about how to spend a fantastic day outdoors in Alexandria, Virginia. Join Cecilia, Scott, and me as we start off our day, waking up in a spooky spot. Then we continue adventuring outdoors via boating the Potomac and geocaching. All while also appreciating old architecture, waterfront parks, art installations, Cherry Blossoms, and all of the best eating and drinking Alexandria has to offer along the way. About Cecilia and Scott Fix Scott and Cecilia are a travel blogging married couple who travel both locally and internationally. They...
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29: Kenai, Alaska, You've Entered the Real Alaska
Locals Know Best
Today, on , I’ll be speaking with Jon Taylor about how to make the most of an outdoorsy trip throughout the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. is sure to put you under the spell of the north. Join Jon and me as we enjoy the Kenai peninsula as an adventure-loving local would! Our discussion is chock full of outdoor experiences, including sea kayaking, flying ourselves to epic fishing locations, hiking, and fat tire biking the beach! Also, as you would expect, there’s tons of mountain, glacier, bear, and Alaskan National Park chat along the way! About Jon Taylor Jon is a pilot, traveler,...
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28: That Cabin Cozy Feel in Flagstaff, Arizona
Locals Know Best
Today, I'll be speaking with Sam To about how to make the most of an outdoorsy trip to Flagstaff, Arizona. Join Sam and me on a “choose your own level of adventure” summer day! Options range from hiking, biking, and swimming, to car touring and leisurely taking in Flagstaff’s beauty from up in the treetops. About Sam To Sam works on the COVID-19 response team for the state of Arizona in a position that is 100% remote from home, which she has found to be pretty fantastic! She lives with her husband, Will, her daughter, Lucy, and dog Pop. Lucy is 1-year-old and has already joined...
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27. The Natural Wonders of Western Los Angeles, California
Locals Know Best
Today, I’ll be speaking with Laura Grier about all of her favorite outdoor adventures throughout Western Los Angeles. We’ll primarily focus on the span along the coast between Marina del Rey and Malibu, including stops in Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, and Topanga. And then, before wrapping it all up, we’ll also be taking a quick second-day trip over to Catalina Island! Join Laura and me as we paddle, bike, jeep, hike, wine taste, and even take an extra day island adventuring all in West LA! About Laura Grier Laura has lived in Venice Beach and Los Angeles for 20 years. Living...
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26. North Umpqua, Oregon, The Gateway to Crater Lake
Locals Know Best
Today, I’ll be speaking with Sam Starns about all of her favorite outdoor adventures around the North Umpqua area, with notable stops in Roseburg, Oregon, and Crater Lake National Park. Join Sam and me as we wake up and watch the sunrise in Crater Lake National Park. Then, we proceed with a packed day, full of paddling, hiking, exploring countless waterfalls, soaking in hot springs, fishing, and even mushroom foraging. Lastly, we wind down with a glass of wine in the “new Napa Valley” – Roseburg, Oregon. About Sam Starns Sam is an adventure elopement photographer who takes...
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25. Livingston, Montana, Where Cowboys and Artists Meet
Locals Know Best
Today, I’ll be speaking with Mel Harrison about all of her favorite outdoor adventures around Livingston, Montana. Join Mel and me as we spend a winter day cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, hiking, skiing, and ice skating all around Livingston, Montana. Then, in the end, we’ll also dive into a few summer-weather outdoorsy activities, including fishing, floating, and hiking, that can be enjoyed in the Livingston area! About Mel Harrison Mel is an expert on Montana and Yellowstone outdoor recreation and has spent years exploring both for work and pleasure. She and her...
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24. Northfield, Minnesota, A Quaint Little River Town
Locals Know Best
Today, I’ll be speaking with Kristen Glazer about how to make the most of a day outdoors in Northfield, Minnesota. Join Kristen and me as we spend a late summer / early fall day hiking, boating, and kayaking. Then, in the end, we’ll cover a few winter-weather outdoorsy activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, that can be enjoyed in the Northfield area as well! About Kristen Glazer Kristen is a Minnesota-based travel writer. She is also the founder of Expedition Kristen, a website that is chock full of thoughtful itineraries to help readers plan their next day...
info_outlineToday, I’ll be speaking with Tony Harrison about a bunch of different outdoor activities in Southern Idaho, but with an emphasis on all of the skiing and snowboarding possibilities.
Join Tony and me as we spend a day skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in Southern Idaho and then wrap up the day back in Twin Falls, Idaho!
Why visit Southern Idaho?
Tony: “Well, for starters, you should definitely pick Idaho over more popular areas to ski like Colorado and California, because we’ve got very short lift lines, very inexpensive lift tickets, and oftentimes people consider Idaho to be the soul of skiing.
It’s skiing like it used to be, I mean, it’s unpretentious and it’s just really great snow, tons of terrain and it’s under the radar.
Anybody can go ski Vail. How many people come out and ski Soldier Mountain, Pomerelle? You’ll definitely have as much fun, if not more fun than some of those big hills. You’ll definitely spend a lot less time waiting in lift lines, a lot more time on skis. And the people are so unassuming and nice, it is really a breath of fresh air when you come here.”
About Tony Harrison
Learn more about Idaho at: Ski Idaho, Visit South Idaho & Visit Idaho
Tony was born and raised in the spud state.
He’s a lifelong skier and the publicist for Ski Idaho.
He has personally skied at 12 of Idaho’s 18 ski resorts in the past three years.
His love for the great outdoors has left him with a wealth of insider knowledge about all of the area's outdoor recreation options.
When Tony's not skiing, he maintains a solo PR practice, working with various clients in the tourism, tech, and agriculture industries.
What We Cover in This Episode
- Tactics to help get nervous skiers back out on the slopes.
- The importance of a ski resort’s grooming operations.
- What makes Southern Idaho so awesome.
- The best time to visit Southern Idaho.
- What about Southern Idaho’s climate makes warm-weather activities possible year-round.
- Where to stay in Southern Idaho.
- The best spots to get breakfast near Twin Falls, Idaho.
- The three best ski resorts to hit up from Twin Falls, Idaho.
- A resort where you can snowcat ski in two-thousand acres of backcountry skiing.
- A resort that is great for those who enjoy glade and tree skiing.
- A resort with a fantastic cliffs section.
- Where you can go snow tubing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.
- The best craft breweries and dining options in Twin Falls, Idaho.
- The best things to do in Southern Idaho that aren’t skiing and snowboarding.
- The top attractions in Southern Idaho for rock climbers, mountain bikers, kayakers, paddleboarders, base jumpers, and hot springs seekers!
- A dairy farm you can visit with some of the best cheese in the country.
- Why you should pick Idaho over some of the more popular areas to ski in Colorado and California.
Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
Where to Stay in Southern Idaho:
- Airbnb Rentals (If you're new to Airbnb, you'll get $65 off your first booking with this link!)
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Fairfield Inn & Suites
- The Almo Inn
Idaho Ski Report Blog Mentioned by Tony:
Where to Ski in Southern Idaho:
Things to do in Southern Idaho:
- Shoshone Falls
- City of Rocks
- Perrine Memorial Bridge
- Centennial Waterfront Park
- Ritter Island State Park
- Box Canyon Spring Nature Preserve
Hot Springs in Southern Idaho:
Southern Idaho Restaurants & Southern Idaho Craft Breweries Mentioned in this Episode:
- Hilton Garden Inn (Ground Floor Grill that Serves Breakfast to Order)
- Yellow Brick Cafe
- The Country Crumb
- Koto Brewing
- Milner's Gate
- Elevation 486
- Bearded Axe
Thanks for Listening!
We love our listeners! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below and let me know about your favorite part!
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