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 NYC native Becca Siegel about how to make the most of a day outdoors in Brooklyn, New York!
Join Becca and me as we bike, walk, hike, eat and drink our way, unexpectedly, through one of the largest metropolitan areas on the planet!
About Becca Siegel
Becca is a traveler, adventurer, content creator, and travel/lifestyle writer who aims to inspire professionals to be adventurous and confident through remote work, travel, and entrepreneurship.
She has spent several stints living abroad, starting with her semester in Hong Kong as a college junior, which introduced her to the idea of traveling and exploring the world.
She lived in Shanghai, China, for two years as an ex-pat and traveler, and more recently traveled to 5 continents with her husband Dan to work remotely from all different types of environments while running their business.
Her background in foreign languages (Spanish & Chinese), teaching, living abroad, and travel helped her create the lifestyle brand @halfhalftravel with her husband, Dan.
Her creations have been featured in Cosmopolitan, INSIDER, Lonely Planet, Oprah magazine, and CondeNast Traveller.
She loves to inspire travelers to visit NYC and especially Brooklyn!
Learn more about Becca at Half Half Travel.
What We Cover in this Episode
- Whether or not getting outside in Brooklyn, NY, is affordable and accessible.
- What should bring an outdoorsy and adventurous person to Brooklyn, NY.
- The best way to spend time outside and feel like a tourist in your own city.
- The best and worst time of year to visit Brooklyn, NY.
- The best Brooklyn neighborhoods to rent an Airbnb.
- The best area in Brooklyn, NY, to start your day off with morning coffee and views.
- An affordable way to bike around Brooklyn and a path through a park that must be taken.
- A historic neighborhood with beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets that's worth exploring.
- The best spots in Fort Greene for lunch and afternoon coffee.
- Five Brooklyn parks worth visiting.
- How to find and hike in New York City's only forest and get lost in the biggest city in the United States.
- A trendy Brooklyn, NY neighborhood best for dinner and drinks.
- The three best Instagram spots in Brooklyn, NY.
- Why you don't have to spend a lot of money to eat well in Brooklyn, NY.
- If you're into the great outdoors, why Brooklyn is worth exploring over the other boroughs.
Quotables
I actually, I was never a runner before, but in 2020, starting in July, I ran 200 miles. Which is a personal achievement, but it’s also a way that I got out, and I got to learn more about the streets of where I live within a two to three to four-mile radius of where I live … and I got to just really enjoy my city and my borough and the neighboring neighborhoods through running and biking last year. So this has been an amazing way to spend time outside and also kind of like to feel like a tourist in your own city to always be seeing something new.
Becca
And then, where I’m going to take you is a secret, and this is that Prospect Park has New York city’s largest forest. So, it’s actually New York’s only forest. It’s a proper forest. And in the center of the park, it’s called a forest because it qualifies in some way. There are waterfalls. There are tall trees. And actually, if you look up, you cannot see any other buildings. So this is my secret that I’m bestowing upon you … we’re going hiking in Brooklyn.
Becca
Honestly, I like going to Prospect Park and trying to get lost, because it’s a big place. And I think the joy of doing something like that in the biggest city in the United States is saying like, I have the opportunity to get lost in greenery right now. Just put your phone in your pocket, try to get lost.
Becca
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to enjoy yourself with food and drink in New York.
Becca
Food in Brooklyn comes at many different types of budgets. If you’re on a waitlist for a restaurant, or if you’re dying to eat at a top 10 type of place, and it’s going to break your daily budget, don’t do it, because you can get a slice of pizza for a dollar and it’s going to be great. And you can get tacos in some neighborhood that might not be the “it” neighborhood, but it’s an authentic neighborhood, and you won’t spend more than $10 just in cash. So for anyone who is daunted by the idea of being in New York and having to spend a lot of money, there are so many ways to eat really well and have a great time and have an authentic experience without even taking more than a 10 out of your wallet.
Becca
If you don’t come to Brooklyn, you won’t know what you’re missin’.
Becca
Links to Places Mentioned in this Episode
Where the locals stay in Brooklyn:
- Airbnb’s in any of the following neighborhoods:
Outdoor Destinations Mentioned in this Episode’s “Perfect Day”:
- Citi Bikes
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Old Pier 1
- Cadman Plaza Park
- Fort Greene Park
- Prospect Park Hiking Trails
- Long Meadow Ballfields
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Grand Army Plaza
Half Half Travel Articles mentioned in the Episode:
- Brooklyn Heights Guide from halfhalftravel.com (including local secrets!)
- Feeling adventurous? You can actually avoid tourists in the Brooklyn neighborhood mentioned here.
Brooklyn Neighborhoods Visited in this Episode:
Brooklyn Restaurants & Bar Mentioned in this Episode:
Brooklyn Instagram Photo Spots Mentioned in this Episode:
Thanks for Listening!
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