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 Ashly Ryan about her perfect day beyond the strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. And then, at the end of our chat, we talk about a few alternative day trips in the area as well!
Join Ashly and me as we make the most of a day outdoors around Las Vegas, Nevada.
About Ashly Ryan
Ashly is half of Happy Nomad Couple, a duo who loves the travel together on a budget.
In 2017, they quit their jobs to backpack around the world. In one year, they visited 22 countries on five continents.
As of now, they've traveled to over 30 countries together, and by the end of this year, they'll have seen all seven wonders of the world!
They keep track of their spending to create budgets to share with other young couples planning trips.
Ashley's past travels have also inspired her to create a reversible travel clothing line called Splice Clothing.
Read more about Ashly's traveling experience at Happy Nomad Couple or her reversible travel clothing line at Splice Clothing.
What We Cover in This Episode
- The best and worst time of year to visit Las Vegas, NV.
- A local's favorite hotel to play and stay.
- The best spots to get coffee and breakfast in Las Vegas, NV.
- All of the best sights to see at Valley of Fire State Park.
- How to get to free hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon that you don't need a reservation to hike.
- A neighborhood with the best food in the city.
- A delicious, not to be missed, three-course dessert experience.
- Tons of other things you can do in the area if you've already been to Red Rock and Valley of Fire.
- How to hike to Hot Springs in the area.
- Where you can hike nearby to see epic sunsets and waterfalls.
- The best local spot for boating.
- The best Instagram spots in Las Vegas, NV.
- One overrated attraction in Las Vegas, NV, and where you should go instead to get an even better experience.
- A few must-visit attractions on the strip.
- The best of the best of the strip and Fremont, according to a local.
Quotes
Ashly: "If I were to guess, I would say probably 20% of people actually end up leaving the strip to see what else is out there.
I think it's becoming more popular, especially now with having to social distance and things like that. But a lot of people just really stick to the strip.
I mean, it's really easy to just stay there because it's kind of its own little world, you know, there's so much to see on the strip. So you definitely could get stuck there, but I think it's kind of a shame because we have so many beautiful outdoor environments around Las Vegas."
Ashly: "You'll be pleasantly surprised at how different the landscape is from probably most other places you've seen and how gorgeous it is. So it doesn't have to be your whole itinerary if you're coming to Vegas for a few days.
I think one of the things that annoys me the most is when people say, Oh, you can do Vegas in two or three days. That's true if you're just gonna stick to the strip and see shows and restaurants and go to the lobbies. But I would say. You don't want to miss adding an extra day to your stay in Vegas to go outside. Definitely go somewhere outside. There's tons of different things for all different interests.
If you've already been to Red Rock, there are other places you can go that will be completely different, and you don't want to miss it because I think you'll have a great time. And if you could either just go see it to take pictures and go for a really nice drive or you can go and do a crazy hike."
Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
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Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
Where the locals stay in Las Vegas, NV
Outdoor Activities Mentioned in this Episode's "perfect day":
- Valley of Fire State Park
- Atlatl Rock
- Fire Wave
- Rainbow Vista
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Extra "Beyond the Strip" Outdoor Activities Mentioned in the Episode
- Hoover Dam
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Arizona Hot Spring Trail
- Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail
- Historic Railroad Hiking Trail
- Death Valley National Park
- Zion National Park
- Rhyolite
- Mount Charleston
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Willow Beach
Las Vegas, NV Restaurants Mentioned in this Episode:
Las Vegas, NV Instagram Photo Spots Mentioned in this Episode:
- Valley of Fire State Park
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Ashley notes that it would be ideal to have a car, RV, or campervan for this trip.
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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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