Travel With Hawkeye

Episode 298 - David Yeskel, aka The Vegas Guru (@TheVegasGuru_ on Twitter / X) joins us to discuss what's new and hot in Las Vegas plus some incredible deals that you'll want to check out. 

This interview was feature in my  and Michelle Rodriguez' Behind the Mike podcast. We had a chance to talk with viral sensation Will Gavin, the NFL's broadcaster for all games played in Europe. His unique style adds a dimension to the game that takes the broadcast to a new level.  We find out more how he got his start, how big football is now in the UK and would he ever consider being the full time broadcaster for a team in the US.  

Episode 297 - How can a simple pass for the National Parks becomes so controversial. A lawsuit has been filed against the Interior Department concerning President Trump's face on the new Residents' Pass. Plus a second lawsuit is being considered about a policy to void the pass if someone puts a sticker over the President's face.  Kieran Suckling of the Center for Biological Diversity discusses the lawsuit and the controversies surround the pass.  Note: A request was made to the Department of the Interior for an interview but they did not reply to our request.  

Episode 296 - A recent internet meme has stated that it's cheaper to fly to Tokyo and go to Tokyo Disneyland than it is to fly to Orlando and visit Walt Disney World. Can that be actually true? Travel writer Andrew Long has been discussing this for years. The answer . . . is rather nuanced. Read Andrew Long's post here 

Episode 295 - Many skiers are packing up and headed out west to hit the champagne powder of Colorado and Utah. But how many have traveled east to check out the slopes of New England? We found tons of charming ski resorts that dot the east coast states that many people never consider visiting. Our goal; to get you, the outdoor enthusiast to consider a trip to Ski The East.  Bryan Rivard from Ski Vermont and Drew Zimber from the Granite Backcountry Alliance join the show to discuss what you've been missing. 

Episode 294 - Travel writer Erin Gifford is writing the perfect companion for those who want to celebrate the nation's 250 birthday. Where can you get Vanilla Ice Cream from Thomas Jefferson's original recipe? What American landmark has a cat that will greet you? What roadside attraction has over 200 billboards to entice tourist? Erin has all the answers and more in her new book, Explore America, 250 Places to Go in 2025

Episode 293 - David Yeskel (the @CruiseGuru on X) recounts his recent voyage to Scotland and Wales via the luxurious Regent line. 

Episode 292 - Americans love their national parks. But with budget cuts and overcrowding, a lot of visitors are opting to visit nearby state parks, which often feature the same natural wonders but with less crowds. New York Times travel writer Ruffin Prevost joins the podcast to discuss his recent disoveries. Read his work here:  5 State Parks That Feel Like National Parks 7 State Parks That You Really Love, You Told Us So

Episode 291 - Teena Apeles, author of the book 52 Things to Do in Los Angeles joins us to discusses some of the unusual and often overlooked gems of Los Angeles, such as the Italian inspired canals, the LA River Biker Trail and the forgotten caves of an old city park. This podcast is rated F for FUN! Read this book before your next trip to LA

Episode 290 - Have you ever traveled to a foreign country and felt like you were eating like a tourist and not a local. Confession, I have.  Noted travel host Rick Steves joins us to talk about his latest book, Italy for Food Lovers and gives you the know how to enjoy Italy's restaurant scene like a local.  

Episode 289 - New York Times writer Kendall Waldman recently visited the World's Largest Yard Sale, almost 700 miles long across multiple states. Discover why so many people travel every year to this spectacle. Read the story here

Episode 288 - David Yeskel (@CruiseGuru on X) recently wrote about a cruise he took in Japan where most of the passengers were Japanese citizens. The cultural differences made the trip an extraordinary  experience and a trip you ay want to consider  

Episode 287 - Travel writer Erin Gifford recently penned a piece for the Wall Street Journal titled "An 8-Hour Vacation? Meet the Travelers Who Love 'Extreme Day Trips.'  What is an extreme day trip and how far will some people go to see the world in one day increments? And find out how one traveler Kevin Droniak might be the most extreme day traveler of all.  

Episode 286 - BBQ in Texas has become big business. People travel from all corners of the state, the country and even the globe to experience the best barbecue Texas has to offer. A new documentary, Family Beef captures not only the the Texas Barbecue scene, it also explores the BBQ feuds that have divided entire families. Executive Producer Tom Miller and Writer / Director Eric Henrikson join us to discuss the Texas Barbecue scene and why so many people are flocking to Lockhart, Texas, the Capital of Texas BBQ. See the documentary Family Beef here 

Episode 285 - I love to see a city from an observation deck. Did you know that New York City has five!  I give you my favorites, including a few you would have never imagined and the best time of day to visit an observation deck

Episode 284 - One of my favorite things to do when visiting a city is to see it on foot. My favorite places to run; Rome around the Coliseum, Philadelphia, up to steps like Rocky and New York's Central Park. Bart Yasso, the Mayor Of Running joins us to talk about great cities and events to run and to discuss his new book 100 Runs of a Lifetime

Episode 283 - You've heard about the popularity of True Crime Podcasts. But did you know there was such a thing as True Crime Travel. Travel writer Dawn Barclay has started a 10 book series on True Crime Travel titled Vacations Can Be Murder. The first volume focuses on New England. She joins us to discuss this niche travel genre  

Episode 282 - The Department of Homeland Security has set May, 2025 as the first date that domestic airline passengers must have a REAL ID to board a flight. Do you have a REAL ID? How do you get one? What if you don't have one and can't get one before May 7th? We answer all your questions. 

Episode 281- Elliot Stein has traveled the world in search of the last people who carry on ancient traditions. Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive delves into the last Incan rope bridge builder, a mysterious metal mirror maker form India that will reveal your true self and Scandinavia's last night watchman to name a few. Stein discovers individuals who are keeping the these ancient traditions alive.

Episode 280 - Clint Henderson from The Points Guy joins us to discuss the recent changes to Southwest Airlines. Is the good news or terrible news? 

Episode 279 - Writer Cassidy Randall joins us to discuss her book, 30 Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women's Ascent of Denali, celebrating the almost forgot tale from 1970 of this historic first. 

Episode 278 Travel writer Lisa Abend explores various European cities by totally unplugging and setting back the clock to a time when we were less connected. Could you travel the way that she recommends?  Follow Lisa on Substack

Episode 277 - Headed to Europe in 2025. When will the visa rules take effect? What's the best way to connect flights when traveling overseas? Is there a better way to tour a new city. Are Destination Dupes really worth the time? We discuss all with travel writer David Yeskel (On X @CruiseGuru)

Episode 276 -  A recent article in the Washington Post drew my intention, "Timeshares can trap you. My family couldn’t escape until my dad died." Travel writer Joel Balsam discussed the steps he took to get out of his family's time share. He joins us this week as our guest.  Plus we discuss the problems with timeshares, and the high pressure sales tactics they use.  Links: Resonable Exit

Episode 275 - Travel Writer Diana Spechler and I had plans to discuss about three relatively unknown gems to visit in Mexico, (Ajjic on Lake Chapata, Merida and Zihautanejo) but as often is the case when Diana and I chat, we got sidetracked and also delved into traveling and relationships Diana Spechler is a novelist, essayist, and travel writer, whose work appears in the New York Times, the Guardian, Harper's, Bon Appetit, GQ, Esquire, Washington Post, and many other publications. She is the author of the travel-writing Substack Dispatches From The Road Follow Diana Spechler of Substack  

Episode 274 - Have you ever traveled overseas with kids? How about three very young kids? How about traveling continuously for years with three very young kids. That is what Jessica Gee and her husband did. The popular YouTube family, The Bucket List Family documents their travels. They also have a new book with National Geographic..  Join us for our conversation with the Bucket List Family mom, Jessica Gee

Episode 273 - For the first time in 40 years, I headed back to Washington DC. I had such an great time that I'm planning to go back soon. But I wanted to find out more about this city that every American should visit, so we invited DC Tour Guide Rob Pitingolo of TripHacksDC to join us for the show 

Episode 272 - Cara Giaimo joins us to talk about the latest offering from the travelers at Atlas Obscura - Wild Life

Episode 271 - You're wanting to travel to the French Alps for a skiing adventure of a lifetime. Take it to the next level by flying into London and taking the train to France. Jamie Aranoff from Ski Magazine tells you about this interesting travel hack that could also save you money 

Episode 270 - What's new and exciting in Las Vegas, David Yeskel (@theVegasGuru_ on X) joins us to talk about the exciting new shows and attractions. 

Episode 269 - If you are a baseball fan, you've probably thought about the ultimate road trip, to visit all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks. Timothy Malcolm has written Baseball Road Trips, which is the ultimate travel guide to the 27 cities you'll be visiting while on your journey. Let's talk some baseball

Episode 268 - Washington Post Travel writer Andrea Sachs recently penned an article titled Influencers Hyped The Amalfi Coast For Years. Now it's a Theme Park. We invited Andrea to discuss the issue of overtourism and to ask the question, 'have influencers ruined the Amalfi coast?" 

Episode 267 - Rebecca Carrell discuss a trip she is hosting (via a luxury yacht) that retraces the journey of the apostles in Turkey and Greece. Details on the trip here. 

Episode 266 - Paul Lukas of the Inconspicuous Consumption column (PaulLukas.Substack.com) recently wrote a piece titled "What Counts as Truly Having Been In a U.S. State?" This became a topic of conversation among family and friends who have the goal of visiting all 50 states.  We invited Paul to offer his obviously subjective rules to having visited a state. 

Episode 265 - Machu Picchu is on many people's bucket lists, but as Alvaro Silva tells us, some equally incredible Peruvian sites often go undiscovered by travelers. Today we explore the Hidden Treasures of Peru, including: Qhapaq Nan - The famed Incan Trail  The Sarcophagi of Carajia Cumbemayo and it's aqueducts The lost city of Caral and the famed Q'eswachaka Rope Bridge

Episode 264 - Scott and Tarantino have written an engaging new travel book, Looking for Legends, which discusses the early travel pioneers, often booking passage on cargo ships because there was not any travel infrastructure. They include the first person to climb the Matterhorn, the first person to cross Greenland and a writer whose early travelogues became school textbooks.

Episode 263 - National Geographic writer Andrew Nelson has written a compelling travel book that highlights incredible destinations that equal the splendor of better known sites but don't garner the same attention. Here Not There not only focuses on these "Destination Dupes", I suspect they will add to your bucket list. 

Episode 262 - My wife and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Zermatt, Switzerland. Why we love Switzerland so much 

Episode 261 - Travel writer Joe Yogerst joins us to discuss unique and delicious dishes he and his team discover while writing the book for NatGeo, 50 States, 1000 Eats

Episode 260 - Travel writer Lucas Peters joins us to discuss Spain's El Camino De Santiago 

Episode 259 - Dublin Tour Guide Garvan Rushe joins us to discuss Ireland's past and ihow to better discover a city like Dublin via a walking tour.  

Episode 258 - Travel writer Jimmy Thomson recently rode Mexico's controversial new train, The Tren Maya, which services the Yucatan Peninsula. Why is this train so controversial? Is it a game changer? And is now the time to ride it? All answered this week in Travel with Hawkeye

Episode 257 - Travel Writer Lucas Peters, who has written the new book Grand European Journeys, 40 Unforgettable Trips by Road, Rail, Sea and More, joins us for a no holds barred conversation about travel, adventure and romance.

Episode 256 - George Dawson was a docent at San Antonio's Mission Concepcion when he re-discovered the phenomena called Illuminations. The Franciscan Priests who built the mission in the 1750's were able to "Capture the Sun" to convey a Message from God to the indigenous people of the area.     The Illuminations were only recently re-discoved after being forgotten about for over 200 years.    The San Antonio Missions were recenly named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Episode 255 - NY Times Travel Editor Amy Virshup discuss their 52 Places to Travel in 2024, and what criteria there is for a destination to make the liat. Read the Article Here 

Episode 254 -  How has this small town in Arkansas become the Mountain Biking Capital of the World in less than 15 years?  Kalene Griffith from Visit  Bentonville joins us to discuss what has become the Disneyland of Mountain Biking

Episode 253 - We kick off Season 8 by heading to Switzerland with New York Times Travel writer Elaine Glusac to travel down the day long sledding trails in an uniquely European winter adventure. Check out her article Extreme Sledding in the Swiss Alps here. Then we travel to New Mexico to experience the champagne powder the Rockies are known for but at a much more affordable price. Christy Germscheid from Ski Mexico joins us to describe the variety of winter adventure available in one of the US' southernmost states. 

Episode 252 - David Yeskel told me that his trip to Japan affected him no other trip he's ever taken. Find out why with our very first episode on Japan. And discover the amazing cruise line that kicked off his travels.

Episode 251 - Tom Cotter of the series "The Barn Find Hunter" tells us about his new book, "America's Greatest Roadtrip - Key West to Deadhorse, Alaska, 9000 miles across backroads USA. What did he discover along the way? Whom did he meet? Why does he hate to plan and use GPS? And ultimately, what life lesson did he learn on the road? 

Episode 250 - What is a Destination Dupe? Set Jetting? A concert Tourist? They are all travel trends for the upcoming year. Melanie Fish from Expedia joins us to discuss new developments in travel for the upcoming year