Travel Connections Suzanne Stavert

Are you looking for a couple of ingredients for a successful summer trip? Welcome to this minisode or mini-episode. Do you have 8 minutes? In this quick episode, we catch you up and provide a few bite-size bits of travel news!
I share some fun information, and you can check out the highlights below:
Episode Highlights: I'm catching you up on my fantastic cruise to Alaska with my daughter Alex. I'll give you some highlights and let you know that I am creating a special episode devoted to the cruise, which will be published on July 26th. Our podcast team is taking a mid-season hiatus because everyone is traveling simultaneously! We will reconnect later this summer. I share my summer travel plans with you! I offer three summer travel tips for a happy vacation. Make your plans early, as it is crowded everywhere! Look for personal travel connections Be patient - Seriously, this is a must! Learn to pivot This quick and "newsy" episode is a speedy highlight travel reel. We will take our travel break and see you on July 26th with a brand-new regular format episode.
Safe travels, friends!
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

So you want to save money on travel? Yes! Me Too! Hello, and welcome to another fantastic episode of Travel Connections. My special guest today is Cindy Greenstein, also known as The Points Mom; she will share with you several brilliant opportunities you may not have known existed. After this interview, you will be excited to dive into your current credit card capabilities and create rewards and travel possibilities. I am so inspired.
Let me tell you a little about Cindy. During her more than 20 years of marriage, Cindy Greenstein, also known as (The Points Mom) has used credit card points to travel the world while rarely paying for airline flights and hotel rooms. Some of her five-figure family travel savings include trips to Aspen ($26,000), Greece ($23,000), and London ($15,000). Cindy, an attorney and former certified public accountant, founded The Points Mom to share her credit card rewards program expertise with family, friends, and small business owners who don’t have the time to learn how to maximize their points.
Highlights in this episode Why did Cindy Greenstein create The Points Mom? The benefits of accumulating points and miles The benefits of a flexible reward card What is a multiplier, and why is it important The advantage of traveling during the nonpeak seasons How you can save BIG money through these programs - SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL! This episode is enlightening and will absolutely help you begin your credit card rewards journey. I learned so much and have already implemented her suggestions! This episode is so packed full of great information that you may want to listen twice!
Important Links!
The Points Mom
Instagram: ThePointsMom_
Facebook: The Points Mom
Travel Connections Podcast
Adventures of Empty Nesters
Instagram:
Suzanne Stavert
Adventures of Empty Nesters

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

Welcome to today’s episode devoted to our epic road trip in Arizona. Don't miss the links at the bottom! If you would like to go straight to the highlights and links to restaurants and activities just scroll on down!
This episode was not originally on the editorial calendar. But to be perfectly honest, I planned such a fantastic itinerary for this Spring Training, great food, beautiful landscapes, Grand Canyon Adventure, that I had to share it with you. Imagine us just sitting together over a cup of coffee or a craft cocktail and you saying, "So, how was your trip to Arizona?"
I am kind of embarrassed to admit that we had never been to Sedona or the Grand Canyon, but I soon learned that many of you hadn't either! Now you will have an itinerary to use as a base for your next epic road trip in Arizona!
Every detail of the itinerary went perfectly! We are always open to learning about new places to visit, and we used several suggestions from various sources to create this long weekend vacation.
Highlights: Spring Training do's and don'ts - "Hot" Tips too Fantastic restaurants A new to us hotel that was once a private home Learning to navigate rain while traveling A spectacular chapel built in the red rocks of Sedona A distillery with postcard views that will blow your mind Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time during a light snowfall - Epic! Important Links:
Travel Connections Podcast
Adventures of Empty Nesters
Instagram:
Suzanne Stavert
Adventures of Empty Nesters
Phoenix:
Tratto
Pizzeria Bianco
Mastros Ocean Club
Royal Palms Hotel
Sedona:
L'Auberge de Sedona
Mariposa
Dahl and DiLuca
Redwall Distillery
Wildflower
Pink Jeep Tours
Chapel of the Holy Cross

Welcome to another episode of Travel Connections. Once again, we hit a home run with our next guest. Aurora Echo lives on Whidbey Island, WA, and owns a delightfully successful business called Wildly Beloved Foods. 
It's interesting; Aurora only validates that every time I visit Whidbey Island, WA, I meet someone new who impresses me. I am once again reminded of how exceptional this destination truly is. My husband and I have visited the island many times, rain or shine, during the summer or while the snow is falling. It is located only about an hour north of Seattle, depending on traffic and ferry wait time. We absolutely love it. 
Whidbey Island and the people who live there are so fascinating that you will find that we have created several podcast episodes in which I have interviewed many intriguing guests who all live on the island. What better way to share a destination than to tell the story through the locals who live there?
Artisanal Pasta on Whidbey Island, WA Recently, I had the opportunity to meet a powerhouse of a woman who created her own business out of necessity and from a passion for culinary adventures. Aurora Echo created Wildly Beloved Foods, where she makes delicious pasta with healthy, organic ingredients. The minute I met her, I knew she had to come on the podcast and tell her story. It's just too good! Her tenacity and strength to overcome many challenges and succeed to where she is right now inspires me!
Highlights in this episode: How passion and tenacity helped to create an organic pasta business Why organic food matters- What is the 'Dirty Dozen'? Aurora shares sage advice about starting a new business How does Whidbey Island fit into the success of Wildly Beloved Foods? What are some of the challenges that female business owners face? Why is environmentally friendly packaging important to Aurora? Suggestions for a trip to Whidbey Island, WA! Website:
Wildly Beloved Foods
Travel Connections Podcast
Adventures of Empty Nesters
Instagram:
WildlyBelovedFoods
GoWhidbeyCamano
Suzanne Stavert
Adventures of Empty Nesters
Other Podcast Episodes Featuring Whidbey Island:
A Spectacular Weekend on Whidbey Island - I am Smitten!
A Conversation with Restaurateur Jenn Jurrians
Art & Life on Whidbey Island with Holly & David Price
Kayaking and Island Life on Whidbey Island
Orchard Kitchen: Farm-Focused Fine Dining
Regenerative Travel on Whidbey and Camano Islands