Parks & Travel

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "A Toast to The Arts & Parks" Podcast features National Parks Arts Foundation artists-in-residence Carissa "Lucky" Garcia and Chelsea Bighorn.
Carissa “Lucky” Garcia is an Indigenous/Chicana writer, poet, performing artist, community organizer, anti-oppression educator and Indigenous Justice advocate. Her NPAF residency was in Chaco Culture National Historical Park in Northern New Mexico. Hear her initial interview about her writing and poetry, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/poet-carrisa-garcia-goes-to-chaco/
A mixed media artist, Chelsea Bighorn’s work is the result of her combining traditional Native American design with elements from her Irish American heritage. Her NPAF residency was in Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Hear her initial interview about her art, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/artist-chelsea-bighorn-in-saguaro-national-park/
Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation’s unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Celebrate American Adventures Month in Tulare County, California! From park adventures and downtown public art and walking tours to concerts, fairs and festivals, museums, and where to shop, eat and play, it's all about end-of summer family fun on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Sequoia Country" Podcast. 
Located in Central California, Tulare County is home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest, and charming art and agricultural communities including Visalia, Tulare, Exeter, Dinuba, Porterville, Three Rivers, Lindsay, and Woodlake.  
Featured guests from the Sequoia Tourism Council include Sintia Kawasaki-Yee - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Suzanne Bianco - Visit Visalia,  and Cassidy Collins - Tulare Chamber of Commerce.
 Plan your visit with these websites mentioned in the podcast:- Sequoia Tourism Council: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm - Visit Visalia - https://www.visitvisalia.com/ - Tulare Chamber of Commerce: http://www.tularechamber.org/ - Big Blend Radio interview with painist Hunter Noack: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/classical-pianist-hunter-noack-in-haleakala-national-park/ 

Celebrate World Ranger Day with this “From the Vault” Big Blend Radio interview with Jim and Gayle Sleznick. We recorded this conversation onsite in late spring 2015, on a visit to San Benito County, Central California, the eastern gateway destination to Pinnacles National Park. It only took a few minutes to find out that they have one incredible life story to tell about living and working in various National Park units. Gayle’s park story begins in Death Valley, where her father worked, and where her mother had to travel out to Riverside, California to give birth to her. Jim’s park story started when he was a teenager, on family vacations in parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone. His park career began with a summer job in Crater Lake, where he met Gayle. They married when he began his full-time park ranger job in Lake Mead. Together for over 55 years, they lived and worked in several parks including the Gila Cliff National Monument, Virgin Islands National Park, Yosemite National Park, Lava Lake Volcano National Park, and beyond. Jim eventually retired from Pinnacles National Park, and they moved about 45 minutes northwest of the park, to the historic village of San Juan Bautista, which is on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. They helped to create the local Anza Trail, a beautiful hiking trail that overlooks the valley. We recently learned that Jim passed away at the age of 91, on April 21, 2024. May he rest in peace. Our hearts go out to Gayle and his family. He is missed.

This shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features travel writer and photographer Julie Dee Suman who discusses the Osprey Conservation efforts and recreational, bird watching, and educational opportunities at Patuxent River Park in Maryland. Read her article about the park, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/discover-patuxent-river-parks-osprey-population/ 
Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/ 
 

Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" Podcast covering her recent visit to remote Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. Isle Royale is one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the country, averaging twenty to thirty thousand visitors annually.
Established as the nation’s 25th national park in 1940, Isle Royale sits in the northwestern portion of Lake Superior and preserves more than 130,000 acres of land designated as wilderness. The park consists of one large island surrounded by over 450 smaller islands and encompasses 850 square miles. This includes submerged land, which extends four-plus miles out into the largest freshwater lake in the world. Check out Debbie's article and video feature, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/experience-the-allure-of-the-wild-at-michigans-isle-royale-national-park/Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" podcast airs every 4th Tuesday. Follow the podcast here: https://global-adventures-debbie-stone.podbean.com/  

This episode of Big Blend Radio's VACATION STATION Travel Show features Chuck Wustman & Mikelyn Martin-Wustman, owners and innkeepers of The Bird & Butterfly Inn. Hear their backstory on how they became innkeepers and all about this beautiful property that's located in Jasper, East Texas. Situated on eight wooded acres on the Angelina River and near the Angelina National Forest, The Bird & Butterfly Inn is a lovely river retreat and getaway destination where you can unwind in the serenity of nature. The Inn is a stunning wedding venue, a fun and relaxing stay for a family reunion, a great space for a corporate training event, or a romantic and unhurried weekend escape. Visit: https://thebirdandbutterflyinn.com/ 

Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer, Parks & Rec Month, Picnic Month, Family Reunion Month, and more on this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Go to Natchitoches” Podcast. 
From Zydeco and Meat Pie Festivals to cruising Cane River Lake and exploring Cane River Creole National Historical Park, K. Nicole Connell of the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau talks about the various multigenerational experiences this beautiful and historic destination offers. 
Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest settlement 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.  Plan Your Visit to Natchitoches and check out the event calendar at https://natchitoches.com/ 
Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show and check out the past episodes here: https://natchitoches-louisiana.podbean.com/ 

Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month and National Forest Week with this episode of Big Blend Radio that was recorded onsite with Steve & Karen Wilson, owners and innkeepers of the The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast in the heart of the Montford Historic District in Asheville, North Carolina.
Hear about author Wilma Dykeman and Jean Webb who worked to protect and preserve the French Broad and Swannenoa Rivers and the Asheville parks connected with the rivers on a 17-mile green path. Learn how Edith Vanderbilt honored her late husband's wishes of selling an 86,000-acre tract of the Biltmore Estate to create Pisgah National Forest, one of the first national forests east of the Mississippi River. And, find out about the Daughters of the American Revolution who planted 50,000 Spruce Trees to create the Jubilee Memorial Forest within the Pisgah National Forest on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
RESOURCE LINKS:* The Lion & The Rose B&B: https://www.lion-rose.com/ * Wilma Dykman Legacy: https://www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org/ * Wilma Dykman Greenway: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/news/park-views-wilma-dykeman-greenway/ * Jean Webb Park: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/news/park-views-ashevilles-riverfront-parks/ * Asheville Greenworks: https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/ * Biltmore - America's Foresty Legacy: https://www.biltmore.com/blog/biltmore-the-birthplace-of-american-forestry/ * Jubilee Memorial Forest: https://www.ourstate.com/north-carolinas-forgotten-forest/ 
This episode is featured on the following Big Blend Radio channels: Adventures in Asheville; Parks & Travel; Nature Connection; Women Making History; Big Daily Blend. Check out all of Big Blend Radio's Channels here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork