Doug Parker and Richard Simms discuss major cruise news, including a man-overboard prank, new residential cruise concepts, Disney's plans in Japan, and Norwegian's Philadelphia debut.
Guest Heather shares her solo experience aboard Norwegian Joy, covering stateroom comfort, dining, entertainment, a…Doug Parker and Richard Simms discuss major cruise news, including a man-overboard prank, new residential cruise concepts, Disney's plans in Japan, and Norwegian's Philadelphia debut.
Guest Heather shares her solo experience aboard Norwegian Joy, covering stateroom comfort, dining, entertainment, and excursions, and an awesome food tour in Cozumel.
She offers practical tips for first-time and solo cruisers, praises Norwegian's solo traveler community, and recommends specialty dining. The episode provides valuable insights into cruise trends, ship life, and making the most of solo travel at sea.
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What will your next domestic getaway look like? Imagine arriving at a gleaming new airport terminal bathed in California sunshine, stepping into a Midwestern city claiming its title as America's soccer capital, or watching the birthplace of independence prepare for the celebration of a lifetime.
…What will your next domestic getaway look like? Imagine arriving at a gleaming new airport terminal bathed in California sunshine, stepping into a Midwestern city claiming its title as America's soccer capital, or watching the birthplace of independence prepare for the celebration of a lifetime.
2026 is shaping up to be a milestone year, one in which extraordinary—yet often overlooked—destinations are rewriting their stories with billion-dollar renovations, world-class events, and experiences you won't want to miss.
In this episode, host Angie Orth welcomes two AAA insiders who spend their days tracking trends and scouting destinations: Jim Benning, Editor-in-Chief of Westways, and Derrik Lang, Editor-in-Chief of AAA Explorer. Recording from the historic Ace Garage in Tustin, California, they reveal the domestic destinations that deserve a spot on your 2026 travel list.
You'll discover why San Diego's new airport terminal and NASCAR debut make it more than just a beach town, and how Kansas City is transforming with adaptive architecture and high-profile athletics. You’ll hear what makes Santa Fe's art scene timeless, how Lexington is redefining its identity beyond horses and bourbon, and how Philadelphia is preparing for America's 250th birthday.
What You’ll Learn:
3:41 San Diego's multi-billion dollar airport renovation and first-ever NASCAR race
6:25 The soccer capital of the USA and the FIFA World Cup
8:27 The innovative Rock Island Bridge project
18:54 Lexington's transformation beyond horses and bourbon
22:13 Philadelphia's year-long America 250 celebration
Where are YOU planning to go in 2026? Tell us in the comments!
From cocktail bars behind deli shops in Barcelona to a Polish brewed beer using Philadelphia yeast drank in the northwest corner of Spain (yes, it's as confusing as it is delicious), we sampled some of the best coffees, cocktails, and beers we've ever had in our lives during 2024...... and this epis…From cocktail bars behind deli shops in Barcelona to a Polish brewed beer using Philadelphia yeast drank in the northwest corner of Spain (yes, it's as confusing as it is delicious), we sampled some of the best coffees, cocktails, and beers we've ever had in our lives during 2024...... and this episode reveals them all!more
Deesha Dyer never thought she’d wind up in the White House. As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, she desperately wanted to travel but it always felt out of reach. Until she landed a coveted internship in the Obama administration, working in the office that arranged all of the president’s travel. Ove…Deesha Dyer never thought she’d wind up in the White House. As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, she desperately wanted to travel but it always felt out of reach. Until she landed a coveted internship in the Obama administration, working in the office that arranged all of the president’s travel. Over the next eight years, she would travel around the world with the President and First Lady—in style!—visiting embassies, hobnobbing with celebrities, and yes, traveling alone, much of which she’s chronicled in her new memoir, Undiplomatic.
She also got a peek into the diplomatic world, where “I would never see any Black people in the U.S. embassies,” she told me. Until she worked in the White House, she had no idea that something like the U.S. Foreign Service existed. And that sparked an idea: To start a nonprofit that would help other Black girls access these opportunities. In 2014, she founded beGirl.World Global Scholars, a two-year program that culminates in a big international trip. In today’s episode, she takes us on that first journey.
She and her cofounder, Marcella, took 10 girls to London and Paris, a two-week whirlwind that was delightful and stressful, learning a lot about what to do—and what not to do. Plus, in the companion interview on YouTube, Deesha shares all the behind-the-scenes details about traveling with the Obamas, what it’s like to fly on Air Force One, and the delightful challenge of transitioning back to “normal” travel after eight years of diplomatic luxuries.
Resources
Read the transcript of the episode.
Listen to the episode on YouTube.
Order Deesha’s book, Undiplomatic.
Learn more about, and support, beGirl.World.
Follow Deesha on her website and on Instagram.
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week.
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