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In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Mason Douglas, the author of the #1 bestselling Nashville travel guide "Now You Know Nashville." Mason is also a well known Country music artist who has performed at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium and shared stages with Vince Gill, Trace Adkins, Terri Clark, Randy Houser, Lee Bryce, and many others. Today, we'll be talking about everything "Music City" has to offer, including must-see attractions for Country music fans, beautiful gardens, historic museums, great places for children, unique dining spots, and insider tips and tricks that are sure to make this vacation your best yet! tallest indoor sculpture in all of america   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Learn where to find a 42-foot-tall statue that happens to the tallest indoor sculpture in America! Learn about the biggest non-casino hotel in America! Find out all about the cities best museums. Discover all that the city has to offer for children. Find out which attractions that Mason considers to be overrated. Learn all about the cities best kept secrets. Learn about the best way to see celebrity homes. Learn what common misconceptions there are about Nashville. Get the ins and out when it comes to the cities greatest dining spots. Find out whether or not the city is worthy of spending a week in. Learn about the public transportation system and the best ways to get around. Get in the know about some of the greatest day trips. Plus, so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Ryman Auditorium The Parthenon Opryland Resort The Country Music Hall of Fame The Hermitage The Bluebird Cafe The Grand Ole Opry Ernest Tubb Record Shop Nashville Shores Musicians Hall of Fame Wildhorse Saloon Gray Line Tours ABC's Nashville Pancake Pantry Prince's Hot Chicken The Pharmacy The Patterson House Loveless Cafe The Aquarium Restaurant Rainforest Cafe Nashville Zoo at Grassmere Opry Mills CoolSprings Galleria Renaissance Hotel The Hermitage Hotel Hutton Hotel Hotel Indigo   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Mason Know! Mason was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Mason, for your advice! If you have a few seconds, let me and Mason know on Twitter by clicking on the link below: Click here to let me and Mason know! Leave Me a Voicemail! Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast episodes that are c

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Leonard Kinsey, the author of The Dark Side Of Disney. Today we are going to go into all of the tips, tricks, scams, and stories that Disney doesn't want you to know about! From thrilling accounts of exploring off-limits areas to well thought out budget travel tips, we uncover a completely different side of "The Happiest Place On Earth."   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  We uncover all sorts of ways that adults can have a great time at Disney. Find out what Leonard considers to be the all-time dirtiest secret about Walt Disney World! Learn all about how you can visit the Disney hotel pools for free. Some are like mini-water parks! (Just don't tell them I sent 'ya!) Learn what to expect from timeshare presentations and how you should go about seeing them. Learn how to save money on park tickets. Learn great ways to save on dining. Discover the only restaurant in the Magic Kingdom where you can get alcohol! Learn why Leonard highly recommends staying on-site at a Disney resort. Learn how to save big when it comes to parking! Get in the know about the latest upgrades (no more paper FastPass). Hear Leonard's thoughts on pin trading scams and find out how they can be avoided. We also discuss dangerous wildlife to look out for. Learn about legit ways to get a behind the scenes experience without getting kicked out of the parks! Learn about "hidden Mickey's." Learn why Spash Mountain has been given the notorious nickname "Flash Mountain." Plus, so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: The Dark Side of Disney USCT 004: An Insider's Guide To Orlando With Theme Park Insider Robert Niles Yacht and Beach Club Resort Undercover Tourist Disney Dining Plan (not recommended) Biergarten Restaurant at Epcot Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe at Magic Kingdom Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom San Angel Inn at Epcot California Grill at The Contemporary Boma - Flavors of Africa at Animal Kingdom Lodge Sci-Fi Dine-In at Hollywood Studios Cinderella's Royal Table at The Magic Kingdom Fort Wilderness Resort The Polynesian Resort Disney Vacation Club The BoardWalk Art of Animation Resort Port Orleans Resort Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Leonard Know! Leonard was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Leonard, for your advice

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Hawaii resident Bruce Fisher, the owner of Hawaii Aloha Travel, which you may have seen featured on The Travel Channel. Today we're going to cover everything under the sun when it comes to the six islands of Hawaii, helping you to decide which one is best for you. Whether you're a first-time visitor trying to discover all the must-sees in Honolulu, or a local looking for the hottest dining spots, this episode is sure to reveal it all!   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  What differentiates each of the 6 islands from one another and how to figure out which one is best for you. Find out which attractions Bruce considers to be overrated. Learn which US city that Bruce says Honolulu is most comporable to! Find out all about the rainiest place on earth! Find out how long it takes to really see the islands. Learn which island is the least expensive. Learn all about the islands best beaches. Learn about tipping and how it differs from the rest of America. Find out about how smoking laws differ from those in the rest of the country. See what Bruce considers to be Hawaii's best kept secret. Find out how many national parks there are and which are worth seeing. Discover common misconceptions about Hawaii that are quite a ways from the truth. Find out whether or not Bruce recommends cruising to Hawaii. Get an idea of how much one can expect to spend on their vacation here. Find out the best time of year to visit. Learn what the weather is like and how to prepare for it. Get Bruce's best packing tips. Learn what people often mispronounce and how to avoid these embarrassments! Plus, so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Hawaii-Aloha.com Four Seasons Resort Lana'i Pearl Harbor The Polynesian Culture Center Overrated: Dole Plantation (home to the world's largest maze) Hanauma Bay Bishop Museum Iolanai Palace Favorite Shave Ice spot: Aloha General Store Favorite Restaurants: Side Street Inn, Zippy's, Town Restaurant, Capische, Nick's Fish Market, Mama's Fish House, The Beach House, Merriman's, Puka Puka Kitchen, Rainbow Drive-In Lucky We Live Hawaii Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Haleakala National Park Park Shore Waikiki Halekulani Best Pool: Grand Wailea Disney's Aulani Resort Packing for a Hawaii Vacation  Our Guide To Honolulu   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Bruce Know! Bruce wa

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet fellow urban enthusiast Kelly Merritt, the acting Florida Editor for The Tasting Panel beverage magazine and the author of "The Everything Family Guide to Budget Travel.” Her work has been featured in Forbes Travel, Southern Living, AirTran Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. Today we'll be talking about a mixture of family and budget travel, along with must-see destinations from across America that the entire family is sure to enjoy!   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  First time parents can get advice for traveling with the youngsters. Hear about some common mistakes that parents often make and how they can be best avoided. Get some "staycation" ideas for living it up on the cheap. Find out which city that Kelly believes is the most kid friendly city in America. Get Kelly's top tips for visiting Charlotte and Asheville, NC Tips for visiting the Everglades! Find out which items are typically better off left at home! Get advice on first time family cruises. Hear why Kelly loves taking the kids to Seattle! Learn which city Kelly believes has the best salmon EVER! Hear about some of our nations coolest children's museums. Plus, check out my article on the 10 Best Children's Museums In America! Hear about the places that every child should visit before growing up! Get the ins and outs on taking a road trip with kids. Learn why baby proofing hotels is a must! Find out about some incredibly educational (yet still a wee bit fun) trips for families. Get the dirt on how can we learn to recognize travel scams. Find out about some of the best luxury experiences for families. Words of wisdom on sending your child off to college. Plus, so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: "The Everything Family Guide to Budget Travel" 16 LA Restaurant Recommendations From Top Hollywood Celebrities Inside Broadway Tours See my post on 5 Reasons Why I Wouldn’t Return To The Great Wolf Lodge New York: Theater tours conjure spirits of Broadway Check out my review of The Biltmore Estate In Asheville, NC The Frick Museum In Manhattan The Hotel Kimberly in NYC Airbnb 27 Coolest Museums In America Alta Ski Area In Utah Plus, alcohol wipes!   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Kelly Know! Kelly was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Kelly, for your advice!

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Gary Bembridge from Tips For Travellers, which has received over 26 million YouTube views and over 650,000 podcast downloads. He is the author of The Cruise Traveler’s Handbook, Cruising With Cunard, Cruising on Norwegian Epic, and Cruising on Holland America. Gary has been a speaker at TBEX North America and the New Media Expo in Las Vegas and he has worked with the Four Seasons, DK Eyewitness Guides, and Norwegian Cruise Line, among a number of others. He has also traveled every month of every year for 25 years and he has been on about 20 cruises and today he’s going to share everything there is to know about taking a cruise. Whether you're just planning that first cruise trip, or planning your thousandth, this episode is sure to have something to make your next cruise vacation your best yet!   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Learn why Gary believes that cruising is better than land based vacations! Learn about some of the best destinations to cruise from, from the US. get in the know about some good off-board activities or attractions that are well worth seeing or doing. Learn which cruise lines are best for which types of people! Discover the benefits of going on the Disney cruise line, compared to Royal Caribbean. See what advice Gary has for those cruising on the Norwegian Epic. Find out about a few of the most innovative cruise ships in existence today! Find out whether bigger cruise ships are really better! Learn which are best for children, seniors and teenagers, along with some special features that really help them cater to one of these target markets. See what advice Gary has for first time cruise goers and how to avoid common mistakes! Find out what sorts of situations make it worth it to pay a little bit more to get a room with a window. Learn how to get the best fare on your cruise rate. Learn what you should pack and why it's extremely important to do your homework for stuffing the suitcase. Find out how to deal with seasickness! Learn about how accommodating some lines are for solo travelers. This might really surprise you! Plus, so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Cunard Queen May 2 (from the US to Europe) Cunard (perfect for traditionalists; seniors), Celebrity or Holland America (less formal; Holland is recommended especially for seniors). Silversea or Seabourn (much smaller

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet 3 time Emmy award winner Mark DeCarlo, the Travel Channel host of "Taste of America" and the author of the Amazon bestseller "A Fork on the road: 400 Cities/One stomach." You may also know him from playing Hugh Neutron, Jimmy Neutron's father, in the hit Nickelodeon show, "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius" and for his Emmy award winning comedy segments on ABC's "Windy City LIVE." He also has made guest appearances on Seinfield, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Tracey Takes On and he was the host of STUDS, Fx's The X Show, Fox's Big Deal, Goodnight America and The Hallmark Channel's Sunday Dinner. He writes a popular travel blog for the Huffington Post, reaching over 1 million fans each week, and he is the host of the popular "A Fork In The Road Podcast," which features guests like Samantha Brown, Dick Van Dyke, Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone. Learn all about the best regional eateries from all across America in this jam-packed foodie-lovers fantasy show! Whet your appetite for the best restaurants from all across America.   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Get all the ins and outs on the best places to dine in NYC! Learn how to hunt down the best places in town and how to not let the inaccurate reviews on popular review sites get in your way of the cold hard truth. Learn about the best joints from across LA, including where to spend a couple thousand on one meal alone in swanky Hollywood, or simply try a much more relaxed vibe in nearby Santa Monica. Discover the best of Chicago, including the best deep-dish pizza around! Learn about Mark's must-try Miami eatery! Learn where to get the most authentic Key Lime pie in America and even learn where to get Key Lime everything. And we mean everything. See what Mark says is a wrong enough travel doing to deserve to have ones passports revoked! It's pretty bad! Find out the foodie city that Mark would go if he only had 72 hours left to live! Learn where to find the best ribs in Memphis, the coolest themed joints in Las vegas, and the yummiest places in San Francisco. Hear about the only chain restaurant that is worth going to while on vacation (hint: it's in the South)! Learn which celebrity owned restaurant that Mark HATES! Hear why he says to stay away from it at all costs. Learn where to get the best burger in America. Mark has a rule to never go back to the same place twice in one trip, but find out what

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Jacquie Wansley, The Group Marketing Manager at The World of Coke, which you may have seen featured on our list of the 27 Coolest Museums In America. We've also got Atlanta, GA resident, ...

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Dr. Ken Brown, the author of "Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America," a book that profiles 26 of the most beautiful and serene Japanese Gardens of the area, offering a thought provoking look at why Japanese gardens have been part of North American culture for almost 150 years. Ken is a graduate of Yale University, a Professor of Asian Art History, and the future president of The North American Japanese Garden Association. Today he'll be sharing everything from how these gardens differ from the original ones in Japan, to giving us tips on how to make the most out of our visits to these fabulous gardens.   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Get to know the various types of Japanese gardens and what makes one stand out from another. Learn about the rarest plants that we could expect to see in these gardens. Learn which of these gardens that Ken considers to be the very best. Find out which are the most unique. Learn about the oldest and newest and how they've evolved over the years. Find out what their on-site museums are like. Discover the educational aspect of visiting. Find out about the best time of day and year for visiting. Learn about the sorts of events that we can expect to find. Get Ken's advice for how to go about creating one of these gardens in your own backyard! And so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Japanese Tea Garden In San Francisco The Huntington Botanical Gardens In San Marino, CA Garvan Woodland Gardens In Hot Springs, AR Anderson Japanese GardensIn Rockford, IL Portland Japanese Garden Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden at The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Cheekwood Botanical Garden In Nashville, TN Seattle Japanese Garden Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University Long Beach Nitobe Memorial Garden at the UBC Botanical Garden In Vancouver, BC North American Japanese Garden Association Japanese Garden Journal Sukiya Living Magazine Also be sure to check out our post on the 15 Best Japanese Gardens In America!   Leave Me a Voicemail! Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast episodes that are completely made up of questions asked by you, so if you have any questions you’d like potentially answered on the show, simply record a voicemail here. Help Out the Show And lastly, if you haven’t done so already I would love if you took a minute

In this episode of The US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Dan, the manager of the world’s number one hostel booking website, HostelWorld.com. The site was launched in 1999 and has since become the leading provider of online reservations for the budget, independent and youth travel market. The site features campsites, self catering accommodation, B&B’s, and budget hotels and currently lists over 27,000 properties in more than 180 countries. They are in partnership with well known brands such as Lonely Planet and they have grown to accumulate over 30,000 Twitter followers and nearly 170,000 Facebook fans. We start by introducing what a hostel is (many Americans still don't know!), then we get into the advantages and disadvantages, and finish it off with some helpful general hostel tips.   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  How to find the perfect hostel. Social advantages for social butterflies! How people can prevent themselves from being mugged! Get an idea of how common hostels are in America. Learn about some of Dan's favorite hostels in America. See what advice Dan has for first time hostel goers. Get tips on hostel etiquette. See if they are recommended for families. See what all Dan recommends packing. Learn about the various types of hostels and get an idea of which is right for you. Find out about safety tips. Find out what's the best time of day to arrive. And so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: USA Hostels HI-New York City   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Hostel World Know! Dan was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Dan, for your advice! If you have a few seconds, let me and Dan know on Twitter by clicking on the link below: Click here to let me and Dan know! Leave Me a Voicemail! Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast episodes that are completely made up of questions asked by you, so if you have any questions you’d like potentially answered on the show, simply record a voicemail here. Help Out the Show And lastly, if you haven’t done so already I would love if you took a minute to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below! It would be extremely helpful for the show. Thank you in advance! Leave a review for the podcast!   Thank you for listening! I hope you enjoyed this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast. Check us out f

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Tim Leffel, the author of The World's Cheapest Destinations, Travel Writing 2.0, and Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune. He is also an editor of Perceptive Travel, Practical Travel Gear and the Cheapest Destinations Blog. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Forbes, the Boston Globe, Newsweek, National Geographic Traveler, MSN Money, Fodors.com, and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel. Today we'll be discussing some of America's cheapest vacation destinations and ways to save in each of them!   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Find out exactly how Tim defines budget travel and why it is of importance to you. Discover some of Tim's favorite budget travel sites! See how Tim saves money on hotel expenses. Hear Tim's top budget travel tips for families. Get the truth behind popular misconceptions about budget travel. Find out some of the best ways to save on dining. See what Tim believes to be the least amount of money needed to travel! Find out which trip is the cheapest that Tim's ever been on. Get some tips from a Tampa local about some of the best things to see and do in Tampa, FL! Get tips for American's taking their first trip outside of the Western hemisphere. Get tips for aspiring travel writers. And so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: HostelBookers.com Hostel World (Who will be featured in next weeks episode!) Hotwire.com Priceline Kayak Trivago  HomeAway.com VacationRentals.com Airbnb Luxury Hostels of Europe Thai Temple in Tampa TravelWriting2.com Also check out our first budget travel interview, which was with The New York Times' Frugal Traveler, Seth Kugel   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Tim Know! Tim was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Tim, for your advice! If you have a few seconds, let me and Tim know on Twitter by clicking on the link below: Click here to let me and Tim know! Leave Me a Voicemail! Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast episodes that are completely made up of questions asked by you, so if you have any questions you’d like potentially answered on the show, simply record a voicemail here. Help Out the Show And lastly, if you haven’t done so already I would love if you took a minute to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes b

In this episode of The US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet 25-year-old singer, songwriter, and reality star, Jonny Drubel, who has songs performed on MTV, VH1, and CBS, and is a superstar of E!’s new series, the #RichKids of Beverly Hills, which can be seen Sundays at 10pm on E! In our exclusive interview, we talk all things luxurious, including some of Jonny’s favorite luxury travel experiences from all across America, as well as an insiders look at what it’s like living in Beverly Hills.   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Learn what it was like transitioning from a small New England town to the hustle and bustle of LA. Learn about common misconceptions about Beverly Hills! Learn about some of Jonny's favorite area restaurants. Hear about the best nightly entertainment. Find out which SoCal beach Jonny recommends visiting. Hear about how LA differs from Miami. Find out which US cities this #RichKid could never live without! Hear about Jonny's favorite US resort! See which luxury travel experiences that Jonny believes everyone should have at least once in their lifetime! Hear about some of Jonny's favorite cruise and yachting experiences! Learn why Jonny never has (and probably never will) road trip across America! And so much more!   Be sure to follow Jonny on Twitter (@JonnyDrubel) and Instagram!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Favorite Beverly Hills restaurants include La Scala (try the chopped salad) and Il Pastaio. We also discuss Lisa Vanderpump's Sur Restaurant & Bar and Villa Blanca! The world's 1st Cheesecake Factory is just a block off of Rodeo Drive! I talk more about it in my post with 12 Fun Facts About Beverly Hills. We discuss the Chelsea Lately Live Taping, which I describe in more detail in my post with 6 Reasons Why You Should See A Live TV Show Taping While In LA! Favorite Cruise: Queen Mary 2 Favorite Resorts: Montage Beverly Hills and Hidden Pond Resort in Maine Boobs & Loubs (A blog by fellow castmate Morgan Stewart...Not only is the title genius, but like Jonny says, Morgan is hilarious! Be sure to check it out!) Learn about more of Jonny's favorite LA hotspots in "A Rick Kids Guide to LA"   Video: Here's A Sneek Peek Of The Show!   Video: Another Great Overview!   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Jonny Know! Jonny was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Jonny, for y

In this episode of The US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Jon Wassner, co-author of “America’s Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families,” which is a guidebook to the nation’s 60 best zoos, with a special forward from Newt Gingrich. Jon has not only traveled the nation visiting many different zoos, but he has also worked as a zookeeper himself at 3 different ones, including Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. With more than 150 million annual visitors, America’s zoos attract more people than all of the major pro sports teams combined and today we’re going to find out why that is. From zoo budget travel tips, to the best time of day to visit, to exhibits that we can look forward to seeing opening in the coming months, we’ve got all of that and so much more.   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Which zoo Jon considers to be the best in America. A few of the best zoo rides in existence today. Which of the five zoos in NYC is best. Some of the most innovative exhibits ever built. The educational aspect of visiting a zoo. Learn about innovative experiences, such as camel rides or feeding a giraffe. Some of the rarest found species in American zoos. Animals would no longer exist, if not for zoos. Zoos with the best special events. Larger cities that have a zoo that doesn’t quite live up to what you’d expect. Unique zoo restaurants. Tips for photographing the animals. Budget travel tips for visiting zoos. Learn about some of America's best free zoos.   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: San Diego Zoo (Only zoo in the USA with tasmanian devils) Bronx Zoo St. Louis Zoo Columbus Zoo Brevard Zoo Cameron Park Zoo Denver Zoo Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Woodland Park Zoo Sedgwick County Zoo North Carolina Zoo Indianapolis Zoo (Home to dolphins and walrus) Fort Wayne Zoo Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo Cincinnati Zoo (Only zoo in the world to have the Sumatran rhino) Dallas Zoo Disney's Animal Kingdom Birmingham Zoo Arizona-Sonara Desert Museum Minnesota Zoo Memphis Zoo Houston Zoo (Home to rare black mamba)   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Jon Know! Jon was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Jon, for your advice! If you have a few seconds, let me and Jon know on Twitter by clicking on the link below: Click here to let me and Jon know! Leave Me a Voicemail! Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast e

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Bryant Simon, the author of Boardwalk of Dreams: Atlantic City and the Fate of Urban America, which has has received rave reviews from The New York Times, The Philadelphia Enquire, and The Chicago Tribune. His research on Atlantic City has earned awards from the Organization of American Historians, the Urban History Association, and the New Jersey Historical Commission. We discuss America’s first boardwalk and how it’s evolved so much in just a few short decades. From the city's must-see attractions to favorite dining spots, this is the ultimate guide to Atlantic City.   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  Get an idea of what the beaches are like! Hear about which (if any) American city that Bryant believes Atlantic City is most comparable to. Hear about how it compare to Las Vegas. Understand the definite must-sees. Learn about the city's best free attractions. See which attractions that Bryant would consider to be overrated. Hear about Lucy The Elephant! Hear about some of Bryant's favorite area restaurants. Get to know what you can expect from the local nightlife and entertainment scene. Find out whether or not Bryant believes that the city is a good place for shoppers. Hear about the cities best regional foods. Get in the know about the city's best kept secrets. Learn about common mistakes or misconceptions that tourist often make. See if Bryant believes that shows like MTV’s Jersey Shore have tainted the areas image and led to a decline in visits from older crowds! Find out what's the best time of year to visit. Hear Bryant's budget travel advice. See which hotels Bryant would reccomend. Hear about some of the city's best day trips. Learn why Atlantic City does not have a movie theater and why it has security guards and medal detectors at the super market. Find out whether or not Bryant considers it to be a good place to live. Hear about the various ways that Atlantic City has evolved over the years. Hear about the sort of direction that Bryant sees urban America headed in. Learn what Americans can learn from Starbucks. And so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Borgata Harrah's Trump Taj Mahal Revel Lucy the Elephant Whitehouse Hoagies Chicken Bone Beach Atlantic City Historical Museum Tanger Outlets The Walk Atlantic City Boardwalk Asbury Park Ocean City Wildwoods Vietnamese

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Steve Pomper, the author of “Seattle Curiosities” and “It Happened In Seattle.” His articles have appeared in American Iron Magazine, Stone Magazine, The Guardian, American Daily, and The Washington Dispatch. Those interested in visiting the "Emerald City" will want to be sure to tune in to learn about all of the tips and tricks you’ll ever need to know about visiting Seattle. From the best attractions for families to great day trips from Seattle, this episode is jam-packed with all this and so much more!   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  The three must-see attractions that every visitor must-see! Learn more about the iconic Space Needle Why Pike Place market is so much more popular than practically every other market in America A local's insights for true "hidden gem" attractions that are often overlooked Some of the cities greatest restaurants Budget travel tips Popular misconceptions about Seattle (e.g. rain)! Some of the cities newest attractions How Chinatown compares to the one in San Francisco Learn what you should do if you happen to get pulled over by a cop while in Seattle!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Pike Place Market In/At Seattle Center: Seattle Monorail, Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass In Pioneer Square: Seattle Underground Tour Near Space Needle: Seattle Science Center, The IMAX, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Thunderbirds Museums: Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Wing Luke Museum, Bruce Lee Museum Zoos/Aquariums: Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo Seattle Children's Museum Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery: the only municipally maintained Civil War cemetery in the nation. Lake View Cemtery  EMP Museum Best Restaurants: The Metropolitan Grill and The Pike Brewing Company Seattle's Chinatown Seattle Curiosities Is There a Problem, Officer?: A Cop's Inside Scoop on Avoiding Traffic Tickets   Leave Me a Voicemail! Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast episodes that are completely made up of questions asked by you, so if you have any questions you’d like potentially answered on the show, simply record a voicemail here. Help Out the Show And lastly, if you haven’t done so already I would love if you took a minute to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below! It would be

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Robert Niles, who you may remember from our interview last year. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and the founder and editor of Theme Park Insider, a consumers’ guide to the world’s most popular theme and amusement parks. It’s been named the top theme park site on the internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and it has been featured in the New York Times, ABC’s Good Morning America, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Readers Digest. Robert is the author of Stories from a Theme Park Insider, a collection of stories that take you behind the scenes of the Magic Kingdom to give you an insiders look at how a theme park works, and today we will be discussing his latest book, Theme Park Insider: Orlando 2014, which is Robert's first guidebook, with more than 200 pages of tips, descriptions, and advice to help anyone considering an Orlando-area vacation. Those interested in visiting Central Florida will want to be sure to listen to learn about all of the latest attractions and insider tips and tricks for having the vacation of a lifetime.   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  An introductory to the Orlando theme park scene for first-time visitors. What Robert recommends seeing for those who only have two days in Orlando. Some of the theme park's best kept secrets. Orlando's must-see show guide. Some of the most unique theme park dining experiences on the planet! The area's best hotels. Recommendations for budget seekers, as well as the top spots for big spenders. Other area attractions for those who aren't theme park fans. Recently opened attractions and what park goers have to look forward to next. What to expect from Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter and it's newest addition! What it's like visiting Orlando during the holiday season. And so much more!   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: Walt Disney World Universal Orlando SeaWorld Orlando Legoland Florida Kennedy Space Center ThemeParkInsider.com Stories From A Theme Park Insider Theme Park Insider: Orlando 2014   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Robert Know! Robert was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Robert, for your advice! If you have a few seconds, let me and Robert know on Twitter by clicking on the link below: Click here to let me and Robert know! Leave Me a Voi

In this episode of the US City Traveler Podcast, you get to meet Shannon O'Donnell, a 2013 National Geographic Traveler of the Year. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, the Volunteer Travelers Handbook, and blogger on A Little Adrift. She has been seen in and on USA Today, Lonely Planet, Cosmopolitan, CNN, ABC and Fox News. She has visited nearly 50 countries and today she’ll be telling us about what it was like growing up in the “Sunshine City,” of St. Pete, Florida. From the best of St. Pete to Orlando, this episode is jam-packed with tips and pointers about the best beaches, museums, dining, and so much more!   More specifically, in this session you’ll find out about:  How St. Pete compares to other beach towns that Shannon has visited. Which attractions Shannon considers to be overrated. Her thoughts on the newly relocated Salvador Dali Museum, which moved in 2011 to more than double it's size. It houses the world's most valuable collection of works by Dali, which are valued at $125 million. Whether or not she is saddened to see the St. Pete Pier close. It was constructed in 1973 and closed on May 31, 2013. The best time of year to visit. Learn how St. Pete differs from nearby Tampa. Hear what it was like for Shannon to go to college in Orlando. Learn more about volunteer opportunities throughout America and how to go about getting one.   Resources and Links Mentioned in this Session Include: The Dali Museum Sunken Gardens The Holocaust Museum Mahaffey Theater The Palladium Jannus Live The St. Pete Pier Meze 119 Fort De Soto Clearwater Beach Johns Pass Redington Beach A Little Adrift Volunteer Travelers Handbook Grassroots Volunteering   Did You Love This Session? Please Let Me and Shannon Know! Shannon was incredibly gracious with sharing his knowledge with us! Thank you, Shannon, for your advice! If you have a few seconds, let me and Shannon know on Twitter by clicking on the link below: Click here to let me and Shannon know! Leave Me a Voicemail! Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast episodes that are completely made up of questions asked by you, so if you have any questions you’d like potentially answered on the show, simply record a voicemail here. Help Out the Show And lastly, if you haven’t done so already I would love if you took a minute to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below! It would be extremely he

The Amateur Traveler Podcast has been downloaded over six million times and featured in National Geographic, Men's Journal, and Best Life Magazine. Chris is a co-host of This Week In Travel and he has worked with Bill Gates and served as the Director of Engineering at TripAdvisor...

Emily Wolman is the Editor-at-Large for Lonely Planet. She has been featured on Fox News, CBS & The Weather Channel among other prominent news outlets. Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book publisher in the world with nearly 400 staff members, over 100 million published books...