Parks & Travel

Adventures in America's National Parks

Celebrate the Anniversary of America's National Park Service (August 25, 1916) and American Adventures Month with this podcast panel discussion on Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Show. 
FEATURED GUESTS:- JO CLARK, travel writer and photographer, covers Blue Ridge Parkway. Follow Jo's travels: https://www.haveglasswilltravel.com/ * See her online Blue Ridge Parkway travel guide: https://recipestravelculture.com/blue-ridge-parkway-usa-favorite-drive/ 
- ROSE PALMER, travel writer and photographer, talks about her houseboat adventure in remote Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. Follow Rose's travels: https://quiltripping.com/ * Plan your visit to Voyageurs: https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm 
- JOHNNY SCHAEFER, award-winning winger-songwriter, talks about his honeymoon trip to Mount Rainier and Crater Lake National Parks. Keep up with Johnny at https://hearjohnny.com/ * More about Mount Rainier: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/mt-rainier-a-mountain-paradise/ * Plan your visit to Crater Lake: https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm 
- KATHLEEN WALLS, travel writer and author, talks about recent visit to Congaree National Park in South Carolina. Check out her story:  https://americanroads.net/congaree-national-park-72624.htm 
- ELAINE MASTERS, travel writer and author, discusses her visit to American Samoa National Park. See her photo gallery on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3I7xIHB3X6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== ** More of Elaine's National Park Stories:https://www.tripwellgal.com/driving-four-western-us-national-parks/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/dancing-trees-of-redwood-national-park/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/visiting-us-national-parks-yosemite-valley-in-the-morning/ https://www.tripwellgal.com/dangerous-beauty-yellowstone-park-safety-tips/ 

New Mexico National Parks - Caves, Cliff Dwellings and Ceremonial Sites

In celebration of American Adventures Month and the anniversary of the National Park Service (August 25, 1916), this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Show focuses on three NPS park units in New Mexico. 
FEATURED GUESTS:- TANYA ORTEGA, a photographer and the founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation, covers Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Learn more: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ - VICTORIA CHICK, a contemporary figurative artist based in Silver City NM covers the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Learn more: https://victoriachick.com/ - DEBBIE STONE, a world traveler and travel writer based in Santa Fe NM talks about Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Learn more: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/debbie-stone-travel-writer/ 
PARK ARTICLES & RESOURCES:- CHACO CULTURE NHP:  https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/chaco-culture-national-historical-park/ - GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NM: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/gila-cliff-dwellings-national-monument/ - CARLSBAD CAVERNS NP: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/explore-carlsbad-caverns-national-park/ 

Linda Ballou - Confessions of a River Rat

From the Colorado River, American River and Green River, to the Salmon River, Tatshenshini, and Pacuare River, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou" podcast covers six of Linda's favorite river experiences. You can read her article about her "river rat" adventures, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/confessions-of-a-river-rat/  
Expanded essays on Linda's trips on the Green River, Salmon River, and the Tatshenshini, (also known as Raven’s River) are included in "Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler’s Tales." Sections of the story Tough Cookies in Costa Rica details her time on the Pacuare River. "Destination Deep Time" about rafting the Grand Canyon and a story about Georgie White the Wild Cat of the Canyon, winner of the Solas Award for Best Destination at Travel Tales publications, are included in "Lost Angel Unleashed: Stories from the Heart." 
Follow Linda Ballou's adventures at https://lostangeladventures.com/ and learn more about her books at http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/ 
Listen to Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures" Show every 3rd Wednesday at High Noon PST,  here on YouTube:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm3Bmktgu8osUzx2VOF35dgO&feature=shared 

The Then and Now of Art and Artists in Parks

In celebration of American Artists Appreciation Month and the upcoming National Park Service anniversary (Aug. 25, 1860), this episode of Big Blend Radio's WORLD OF ART Podcast with artist Victoria Chick features photographer Tanya Ortega. Hear their discussion covering the Then & Now of Art and Artists in Parks and Public Lands. 
Talking about the history of art and artists in parks, VICTORIA CHICK is a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. Victoria spearheaded the Southwest Regional Museum of Art and Art Center  .* Read her articles about artists in parks:  https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/art-history-in-national-parks-and-public-lands * Visit Victoria's website:  https://victoriachick.com/ * Learn more about the Southwest Regional Museum of Art and Art Center: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/ 
Talking about "the now" of art and artists in parks, TANYA ORTEGA is a photographer and the founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation. NPAF is the only nationwide non-profit providing Artist-in-Residence Programs (AiR), Workshops, Exhibits and Museum Loans uniquely in cooperation with National Parks, National Monuments, State Parks, World Heritage Sites and other park locations. * Learn more about NPAF: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ * Check out Big Blend Radio's Interviews with NPAF artists-in-residence: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/national-park-arts-foundation/  
WATCH FOR BIG BLEND'S special digital retrospective publication featuring Victoria's articles and NPAF's artist interviews. It releases on Aug. 25, 2024 in honor of the National Park Service anniversary (Aug. 25, 1860). Subscribe to our Big Blend e-Newsletter to get your copy: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/join-our-newsletter/ 
Big Blend Radio's "World of Art" Show with Victoria Chick airs every 3rd Saturday. Follow the podcast:  https://worldofart-victoriachick.podbean.com/ 
Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks Show with NPAF airs every 1st Friday. Follow the podcast: https://arts-parks.podbean.com/ 

Kathleen Walls - Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie in Kansas

A small portion of America's historic tallgrass prairie is preserved in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma. Only about 4% of tallgrass prairie still exists and it is one of the most diverse biological environments on earth. 
In celebration of American Adventures Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Show features travel writer Kathleen Walls who shares her Tallgrass Prairie experiences touring the Flint Hills Discovery Center and Konza Prairie Biological Station in Kansas. Read her story, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/flint-hills-tallgrass-an-amazing-ecosystem/ 
Kathleen Walls is publisher/writer for American Roads and Global Highways at https://www.americanroads.net/.  She is also an author. See her books at https://katywalls.com/ 
This podcast is also shared on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend" and "Nature Connection" shows. Keep up with Big Blend Radio's Network of Podcasts, here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Aaron Jumper - Visit Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania

From sampling local brews and ice cream to hiking and bicycling, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show" with the International Food Wine & Travel Association features Aaron Jumper of Visit Cumberland Valley who shares what you can experience year-round in this beautiful region of southcentral Pennsylvania. 
You're guaranteed a memorable getaway in Cumberland Valley where you can dine, play, and explore as you seamlessly travel rural back roads between charming downtowns and serene landscapes. Experience outdoor adventure, discover the region's rich history, find seasonal festivals, savor an abundance of locally-made food, sip delightful craft beverages, and shop for the perfect souvenir at inviting boutiques. Plan your visit here: https://www.visitcumberlandvalley.com/ 
Learn more about the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association at https://www.ifwtwa.org/  
Photos courtesy of Visit Cumberland Valley 

Wildlife Safari in Etosha National Park, Namibia

We're going on a wildlife safari through Etosha National Park in Namibia on this episode of Big Blend Radio's JO GOES EVERYWHERE! Podcast with travel writer and photographer Jo Clark. 
Etosha is the largest salt pan in Africa, and is Namibia’s largest wildlife sanctuary that's home to a wide variety of birdlife as well as lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, two different zebras, hyenas, springboks, elands, Black and White rhinos, and the elusive leopard. Read Jo's article about her experience here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/etosha-national-park-safari/ 
Jo Clark is a travel writer and photographer based on South Carolina’s Grand Strand. She has a thirst for knowledge, history, great food, and wine! Her Big Blend Radio podcast "Jo Goes Everywhere!" airs every 2nd Sunday at 7pm EST. Follow the show on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yfkjm8sd 

Mountaineer Fay Fuller Climbs Mount Rainier

This episode of Big Blend Radio shares the story of Fay Fuller, the first woman to climb Mount Rainier in Washington. She first reached the summit on August 10, 1890, and climbed the mountain again in 1897. Read by Big Blend Radio host Lisa D. Smith, from this story: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/climbing-above-paradise/ 
This episode is featured on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend," "Women Making History," "Way Back When," and "Parks & Travel" Podcasts. Check out the Big Blend Radio Network of Shows, here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork