Travel Connections

In this episode of Travel Connections, Suzanne welcomes Kimi Mendenhall and Erin Talafus, two adventurous nurses and world travelers, who joined the Spring 2026 Travel Connections Tour in Tuscany. From the moment they arrived at iCastagni in the charming hilltop village of Montefollonico, they knew this would be more than just a vacation—it would be an immersive experience filled with authentic connections, unforgettable food and wine, and the magic of slow travel. Kimi and Erin share their favorite moments from the tour, including exclusive insider access, the magic of traveling with three generations, fascinating lessons about winemaking and food pairings from tour co-host Tim Rawlinson, and the breathtaking views that seemed straight out of a movie. They also reflect on exploring the stunning city of Siena, learning about the famous Palio horse race, meeting local nonnas, and taking part in a cooking class that was equal parts delicious and memorable. You'll also discover what a lemonaia is and hear about the bite of food that left an entire table speechless. If you've ever dreamed of wandering through storybook villages, savoring incredible Tuscan cuisine, and experiencing Italy at a slower pace, this episode offers a firsthand glimpse into what makes Tuscany—and the Travel Connections Tour—so special. 2027 Tour Dates and Pricing Here! Important Links Adventures of Empty Nesters TravelConnectionsTours.com Instagram: Suzanne Stavert Adventures of Empty Nesters Facebook: Adventures of Empty Nesters

Welcome to another new season of Travel Connections. We are now beginning Season Four, and I'm excited to bring you more travel conversations about intriguing destinations, incredible adventures, and captivating insights with inspiring guests. We will continue to dive beneath the surface of travel, and I can't wait to share it with you! London and Paris at the Holidays? Sign me up. I planned the perfect eight-night (4+4) trip about a year in advance, and luckily for both of us, it turned out superbly! Who better to talk about this fantastic couple's trip than with the person I traveled with, my husband, Craig Stavert? Craig has been a guest on the podcast once before, early last season, when we talked about our glorious tour with Collette to Southern Africa. Now we are dishing up holiday adventures in London and Paris! Why are we talking about Christmas travel in February? There are several important reasons. Listen for tips! Highlights of this episode: Tips for planning holiday travel with miles & points - Get started! Flying on Christmas Day - Yes or No? (Spoiler alert: YES!) Our perfect 4 + 4 itinerary London: Extraordinary Lights, National Portrait Gallery, Fortnum & Mason, Hatchard's (1797), Christmas with the Queen - Suzanne's travel book The travel experience from London to Paris on the Eurostar high-speed train Why embracing and engaging other travelers is a MUST. Paris Highlights - New Year's Day - Views from the Eiffel Tower, Museè D'Orsay, E. Dehillerin, Le Gallerie Dior, Notre Dame For links to all of the places we visited - Click here!

Welcome to a wonderful new episode of Travel Connections. My special guest is a personal travel connection for me. On a sunny summer afternoon, my family and I attended the most spectacular Gathering on a ranch called Rancho San Julian, just north of Santa Barabara. We enjoyed a delicious dinner as we sat at long ranch tables under the shady canopy of 150-year-old vines. It was just dreamy! Elizabeth Poett is a seventh-generation cattle rancher, author of the bestselling cookbook The Ranch Table, and star-host of the cooking and lifestyle show Ranch to Table, one of the founding shows of the Magnolia Network. Elizabeth was born and raised on Rancho San Julian, her family's historic 14,000-acre cattle ranch on California's Central Coast. In 2007, Elizabeth started Rancho San Julian Beef, a business selling her family's ranch-raised, grass-fed beef directly to chefs and consumers. Her meats quickly became popular with California cooks and local chefs and have been served at restaurants across California. Elizabeth is also the author of the blog The Ranch Table and hosts a number of Ranch Table events, cooking workshops, educational events, and intimate farm-to-table meals throughout the year. In this episode, you will hear all of the details of The Ranch Table from the lovely Elizabeth Poett. Highlights in this Episode! What is the origin of The Ranch Table? How does Elizabeth inspire people to have fun in the kitchen? Why cooking doesn't have to be perfect How her cookbook was a year-long journey created right on the ranch What happens at a Gathering at Rancho San Julian? Hint: It's fantastic and delicious! How farmer's markets influenced Elizabeth's passion for cooking How our connection through food brings people together The 2025 dates for Gatherings at Rancho San Julian with Elizabeth Poett Related Episode A California Road Trip Through the Central Coast - A companion episode to the interview with Elizabeth Poett. In this episode, I share the road trip itinerary that was created around our dinner at The Ranch Table. Important Links: The Ranch Table Travel Connections Podcast Adventures of Empty Nesters Instagram: Elizabeth Poett Suzanne Stavert Adventures of Empty Nesters Facebook: Adventures of Empty Nesters Suzanne's Amazon Shop

A Road Trip to Banff! Welcome to another of my Best of Series of episodes. This is where I talk about the highlights of a fantastic travel itinerary. In this episode, I describe our tremendously successful road trip from Whitefish, Montana, to Calgary, Canada, which includes the most picturesque destinations of Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake. It was really well planned, not too hard to execute and I did learn some tips along the way that I do think will help you a great deal. You can take what I've done and mold it to what you like to do, and hopefully, this gives you a framework for how to build your road trip through such a remarkably beautiful landscape. Highlights in this episode: What makes a trip successful? How to use this episode as an inspiration for your next road trip to Banff and beyond Don't miss Glacier National Park in Montana! The beauty of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake How tourist crowds can affect your trip Why stepping out of your comfort zone can enhance your travel experience What is the Calgary Stampede, and why should you go? Glacier National Park Lake McDonald Lodge Russel's Fireside Dining Banff, Canada - Favorite Dining/Bar Experiences Lupo The Bison Banff Springs Fairmont Hotel - Rundle Bar Calgary, Canada Calgary Stampede Hyatt Regency Calgary Is a road trip to Banff and Lake Louise in your future?

Welcome to a special episode of Travel Connections. The original subject of this episode was initially scheduled to focus on our fantastic trip to Puglia, Italy. However, something incredible and unexpected happened to me, and I thought it would be fun to share a little behind the scenes! I decided it was a good time to change direction and report this exciting news! Hello - Good Morning America Called! Good Morning America reached out to me and asked if I would do an interview focusing on Empty Nesters. What? Let me think about this! I started my website, Adventures of Empty Nesters, ten years ago. So, obviously, empty nesters are a favorite subject of mine! From start to finish, the entire experience with GMA was uplifting and validating. I thought it would be fun to share how it all happened. The producer also asked for family and travel photos and videos to include in the piece. In this short but fun episode, I share how this all came about and how it all connected to my life as an Empty Nester. What a thrill! Highlights in this episode How did the GMA episode come about? Why are empty nesters so important? Tips to Succeed in the Empty Nest The Best of Adventures of Empty Nesters Future possibilities with Good Morning America You can find the GMA episode in several locations: AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com - (Just scroll down a little) YouTube Suzanne's YouTube Channel Good Morning America

Have you been on a cruise to Alaska? Welcome to a very special episode of Travel Connections. Why is it so special? Well, it's because I am interviewing my daughter, Alex Karlen. Alex and I took our very first ocean cruise on the Celebrity Edge. And I thought, who better to tell the story and add her colorful insights than my exceptional and clever daughter? We have not traveled together in quite a while, and I was thrilled she could clear her calendar to come with me! Her fantastic husband, Brent, took care of their four-year-old twins while she and I embarked on our unique Alaskan Adventure. In her work world, Alex is a Director and Branch Manager for the Pacific Northwest in the creative space. She is a fantastic baker, an excellent home cook, and a voracious reader when she has any spare time. You will hear us talk about Ann and Steve Teget. Ann and Steve organized this special group of guests for a Friends of Postcard Jar Cruise. They are experts on cruising and have written a lot about it on their website, Postcard Jar. They are my go-to people for cruising. I was curious if I would be a good fit for an enormous, 3,000-person ocean liner, but this incredible ship was perfect for me to see if we liked it. We loved it! The ship design was over the top incredible, the service was top-notch, and Alaska—oh wow. Nature on such a grand scale is a sight to behold. And the cruise embarked from our hometown of Seattle! It was kind of a no-brainer! Highlights in this episode! What is it really like on a Celebrity Edge Cruise to Alaska? Alex and Suzanne pro-tips! All of the amenities on The Celebrity Edge What is a flair bartender? Why Alaska is a MUST-see! Details of the Spectacular Dawes Glacier! Let me know what you think about cruising! Have you been to Alaska? I'd love to hear about your experiences. Essential links in this episode: Postcard Jar - Fantastic news of cruises and travel by Ann & Steve Teget Travel Connections Podcast Adventures of Empty Nesters Instagram: Suzanne Stavert Adventures of Empty Nesters Facebook: Adventures of Empty Nesters Suzanne's Amazon Shop

Embracing Life - You never know what is around the corner. Today's guest is a very special someone and my personal Travel Connection. She is the queen of embracing life even when it is really hard. I met her not too long ago, in September 2023, while I was a host with Tuscan Women Cook in Tuscany. You may remember from a prior episode my interview with Coleen Kirnan, the owner of Tuscan Women Cook. JeriLynne Clifford and her husband Scot were part of a group participating in a week-long immersive experience in Tuscany. We learned cooking techniques from the local Italian nonnas or grandmas, sampled delicious local ingredients, and visited other neighboring towns. Meeting this special couple was a treat, but what you don't know is that we learned prior to their arrival that JeriLynne and Scot's house burned down while they were traveling in Italy. Lightning struck the house, and they lost absolutely everything. Embracing life with gratitude even through the tears Understandably, our first encounter was during probably one of the more difficult times of her life. Impossible to imagine, right? However, she was gracious and inspiring and I couldn't believe how engaging they both were. The entire week was a tremendous success and the two of them fit in with the group seamlessly. JeriLynne talks about how Italy was instrumental in the start of the healing process for them. JeriLynne is known as The Hill County Bon Vivant and has been a tastemaker for as long as she can remember. She was 16 when she catered her first wedding and continued to cater full and part-time throughout her life. She first realized her love for adventure in food, entertaining, and traveling when she started planning family vacations and events. In this episode, she shares her personal (and inspiring) saga and then gives us the delicious details of her new weekly subscription, Mastering the Ease of Home Cooking. Every week, she shares a new menu, recipes, and a grocery and prep list to help you be successful in the kitchen. Highlights in this episode How to move forward when tragedy happens Living with gratitude What is a bon vivant? How Italy helped start the healing process What the arches in her new home will mean to her What is the secret to success in the kitchen The importance of learning to pivot What is Mastering the Ease of Home Cooking? For all of the details of JeriLynne's new business Mastering the Ease of Home Cooking - Click HERE! Important Links: The Hill Country Bon Vivant Mastering the East of Home Cooking Other episodes featuring Italy: Travel to Tuscany Stories From the Heart - Angela Correll The Italian Cooking School of Your Dreams - Coleen Kirnan Travel to Italy Today - Alice Salvagnin

This is a fun, informative episode. It came about because two weeks ago, I did a road trip episode called Our Epic Road Trip in Arizona. In it, I talked a lot about what we did specifically and gave you the details of where we stayed and what activities we enjoyed. Sharing this itinerary was so successful and well-received that I thought I'd do one more. Spending time in such a fabulous city like Seattle is always a fun experience. Several years ago, I shared a blog post on my blog, Adventures of Empty Nesters, titled A Girls' Trip Itinerary in Seattle. It has become one of my most popular posts, sparking the desire to create another satisfying itinerary. Interestingly, this time, the adventure was shared by three men and me. This recent visit is still fresh in my mind, and I'm thrilled to share it with you. The best part? The entire day's itinerary is within a short walking distance, offering unique experiences at every turn, making it an easy and fun day of exploration. The Seattle Center highlights: Itinerary: Space Needle Lunch at The Bar Chihuly Garden and Glass Visit Chihuly Gardens and Glass Museum of Pop Culture - Also known as MoPop Day extension: Olympic Sculpture Park Tilikum Place The episode offers some great history about the Seattle Center and some excellent logistical tips, like starting your day early and parking in the lot adjacent to the Space Needle. Seattle offers so much! Here is the link to The Girls Trip Itinerary. All of these suggestions can be combined with other activities. Check out my other episodes featuring other destinations like Whidbey and Camano Islands, and the Skagit Valley, which are only a short drive from downtown Seattle. Travel Connections Podcast Adventures of Empty Nesters Instagram: Suzanne Stavert Adventures of Empty Nesters Other episodes mentioned: A Girls Trip to Seattle Our Epic Road Trip in Arizona Whidbey Island: Orchard Kitchen with Chef Vincent Nattress Camano Island: Discover Regenerative Travel Skagit Valley: Featuring Chef Christy Fox