Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

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AT#1016 - Travel to Mongolia Oct 03, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Mongolia as the Amateur Traveler talks to returning guest Randy Rohrer about his trip to this vast, sparsely populated country for the Naadam Festival, the ancient Mongol capital of Karakorum, and the landscapes of the Gobi Desert.

Randy says Mongolia appeals to travelers looking for somewhere exotic and still relatively off the beaten path. It combines the history of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire with a living nomadic herder culture and surprisingly varied landscapes, from mountains in the north and west to the Gobi Desert in the south.

Randy traveled for a little under two weeks on an organized trip with Wilderness Travel, working locally with Mongolia Quest. His itinerary concentrated on central and southern Mongolia, beginning in Ulaanbaatar, traveling overland to Karakorum and the Gobi, and returning to the capital by air.

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AT#1015 - Travel to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Barley about his home region and a week-long itinerary that combines Lancaster City, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, historic small towns, local food, outdoor recreation, and some surprisingly diverse dining.

Chris grew up on a tobacco and dairy farm in western Lancaster County. Although he once wanted to leave the area and explore the world, he says returning as an adult has given him a new appreciation for just how much there is to experience there.

Lancaster County may be best known for its Amish communities and outlet malls, but Chris argues that those are only a small part of the story. The region has developed a notable food scene, excellent antiquing, early American history, theaters, galleries, outdoor recreation, and an increasingly diverse population.

Lancaster is also easy to reach from major East Coast cities. Amtrak service connects Lancaster with Philadelphia, New York, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, and Lancaster City itself is compact enough that visitors can explore much of downtown on foot.

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-lancaster-county-pennsylvania/

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AT#1014 - Travel to El Salvador Sep 19, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to El Salvador as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jayne Dear, author of Tales of a Traveller in Central America, about her journey through this small but surprisingly diverse Central American country.

Jayne describes El Salvador as a “hidden gem,” with dramatic volcanic scenery, forested highlands, coffee plantations, colorful towns, inexpensive transportation, friendly people, and some of the best-value travel she encountered in Central America. The country has 23 volcanoes, and Jayne says it often seems as though every town has one looming over it.

For travelers with one week in El Salvador, Jayne recommends concentrating primarily on the western part of the country, with time in Santa Ana, Lake Coatepeque, the Santa Ana Volcano, the Ruta de las Flores, and San Salvador. Travelers who prefer the beach could substitute a couple of days at El Tunco.

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-el-salvador-2/

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AT#1013 - Travel to Salt Lake City and Northern Utah Sep 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Chris talks with Nathan Brennan from brennanfitnessacademy.com about a week-long summer road trip through Salt Lake City and Northern Utah, combining Utah history, mountain scenery, Olympic venues, hiking, lakes, small towns, and some distinctly Utah food.

Nathan lives between Salt Lake City and Provo and recommends a summer itinerary that begins and ends in Salt Lake City. The route travels north to the Great Salt Lake, east into the Wasatch Mountains and Park City, south through the Heber Valley and Provo Canyon, then loops back through Utah Valley and the Cottonwood Canyons.

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠here⁠

....

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-northern-utah/

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AT#1012 - Travel to Detroit, Michigan Sep 05, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Detroit, Michigan, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Cassandra Sugarman about her adopted hometown and a week-long itinerary that explores the city’s comeback, automotive heritage, music history, neighborhoods, museums, food, and nearby communities.

Cassandra describes Detroit as a city of revival. The rise of the automobile industry transformed Detroit into one of America’s great industrial cities, while later economic downturns and the city’s 2014 bankruptcy left visible scars. In the years since, new investment, restaurants, public spaces, art, and restored historic buildings have helped reshape the city.

She recommends spending about a week in Detroit, although travelers with three or four days can easily choose the parts of the itinerary that interest them most.

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.

Day 1: Downtown Detroit and the RiverWalk

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-detroit-michigan/

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AT#1011 - Travel to Madrid, Spain Aug 29, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Madrid, Spain, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Felicity Hughes of TheMakingOfMadrid.com about how to spend about a week exploring her adopted hometown.

Felicity moved to Madrid in 2012, writes and podcasts about the city, and is currently the lead writer for Lonely Planet’s Madrid guides. She recommends giving Madrid more than the typical three-day visit. While you can see the headline sights quickly, a week gives you time to explore Madrid’s historic neighborhoods, museums, food culture, and parks, while also taking two important day trips to Toledo and El Escorial.

Why should you go to Madrid?

Felicity says, “I think it’s brilliant… Madrid has London beat… the transport system here rarely breaks down. It’s really efficient, it’s really cheap… And the people… everybody’s really accepting of you… They’re so friendly and open. And of course, the glorious sunny weather. For me, the essential charm of Madrid is the people… you won’t get to experience that unless you take a breath and just sit in a bar and have a conversation with someone… People are so friendly here, it’s incredible.”

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-madrid-spain-2/

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AT#1010 - Travel to Northern Portugal Aug 22, 2026

Show notes

Discover the lush landscapes, charming towns, Atlantic beaches, historic cities, vineyards, and national parks of Portugal's Minho region in this one-week itinerary with Sandra from Verdeful.

Why should you go to Minho?

Sandra says, "The reason why I would like to tell people more about this part of the world is because it's such a beautiful place with a lot of greenery. It's what makes Minho special to me. If someone has a week in northern Portugal, I would suggest a route that mixes coast, countryside, and also a bit of city life... we can explore some coastal villages, beaches, spend some time in some historical cities, and then, of course, go to the vineyards and have some nice sparkling Vinho Verde."

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-northern-portugal/

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AT#1009 - Travel to Virginia (Richmond, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown) Aug 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, Chris talks with Virginia-based travel writer and television host Malorie Mackey about visiting Richmond and Virginia’s Historic Triangle.

Malorie recommends combining Richmond with Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown rather than treating them as separate trips. Together, they offer a mix of colonial history, Revolutionary War sites, Civil War history, museums, gardens, outdoor recreation, restaurants, breweries, living-history experiences, and theme parks.

A rushed version of the trip can be done in three days, but Malorie and Chris agree that five or six days would provide a much better experience.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-virginia-richmond-williamsburg/

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AT#1008 - Travel to Orléans, France Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

Travel to Orléans, France, with Riana from Teaspoon of Adventure as she shares a seven-day itinerary featuring Joan of Arc history, Loire River scenery, medieval towns, museums, local food, and some of the most impressive châteaux in the Loire Valley.

Orléans is about 75 miles southwest of Paris and approximately 90 minutes away by train. Its compact historic center, good train connections, and access to the surrounding countryside make it a practical base for exploring both the city and the Loire Valley.

Riana recommends spending the first three days in Orléans, taking train trips on days four and five, and renting a car for château-hopping on days six and seven.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-orleans-france/

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AT#1007 - Sailing on a Maine Windjammer, the Schooner Heritage Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, I recount a six-night sailing voyage aboard the Schooner Heritage, one of the vessels in the Maine Windjammer Association fleet.

The trip began and ended in Rockland, Maine, and covered roughly 116 miles through Penobscot Bay. Unlike a conventional cruise, there was no fixed daily itinerary. Each day’s route depended on the wind, tides, currents, weather forecast, and the availability of a safe anchorage.

I was a guest of the Schooner Heritage. The cruise was hosted, while I paid for transportation to Rockland, expenses before boarding, and crew gratuities.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/sailing-maine-windjammer/

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