Places I Remember with Lea Lane | Wave AI Podcast Notes

Super Scenic Florida Road Trip: Key Largo to Key West

Send us Fan MailThe Florida Keys Overseas Highway is a living corridor of reefs, bridges, history, and local tradition. We sit down with journalist and photographer Andy Newman, who spent 44 years with the Florida Keys Tourism Council, to build a true start-to-finish Florida Keys road trip.We talk logistics: how long the drive takes, why the mile markers function like addresses, and when you can get away without hotel reservations. From there, we trace the story behind the islands themselves: Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad, the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, and how the modern highway opened the Keys to a different kind of traveler.Then we start the itinerary. Key Largo brings John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the Christ of the Deep, plus smart reminders about the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and boating responsibly around shallow, sensitive habitat. Islamorada delivers sport fishing culture, the History of Diving Museum, and the simple joy of hand-feeding tarpon. Marathon adds the Dolphin Research Center, Aquarium Encounters, the Turtle Hospital, and a walk into history on Pigeon Key. The Lower Keys bring Bahia Honda beaches, key deer, and even an Underwater Music Festival. Key West rounds it out with the Conch Republic story, Hemingway Days, six-toed cats, sunset celebration at Mallory Square, and the option to reach Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson.If you love travel stories with practical tips, local food, and real history, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with your favorite road trip partner, leave a review.Andy Newman is currently an avid fisherman and photographer, and lives in the Florida Keys.Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Read her weekly essays on Substack._____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 130 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. All episodes are also on her website: placesirememberlealane.com_____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube.

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Vienna, Austria: Imperial City of Music, Palaces, Cafes

May 500:21:35Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailWe’re joined by American expat resident Cherie Siebert to trace Vienna from its Habsburg-scale grandeur to its everyday pleasures. Vienna can feel like a living museum and a laid-back neighborhood on the same afternoon. We talk through how easy it is to get around on foot and by public transportation, where palace areas like Hofburg, Schönbrunn, and the Belvedere fit into a real day, and why seasonal markets mix architecture, craft, and local tradition. From St Stephen’s Cathedral’s tower and crypt to the surprising places where Roman ruins appear under your feet, Vienna keeps handing you history.Then we follow the sound. Cherie shares her favorite place to hear classical music, the Musikverein Golden Hall, plus the pull of the Vienna State Opera. As for art, the city’s deep museum bench, including Gustav Klimt’s iconic “The Kiss.” We also make room for the city’s hard truths, including Holocaust memorial reminders found by simply wandering the center.To round it out, we get into Vienna coffeehouse culture, where to skip long tourist lines, why locals treat cake and coffee as a ritual, and how wine bars and nearby wine inns expand the food story. We also cover parks, Danube swimming spots, the Prater Ferris wheel at night, and easy day trips by train to Salzburg, the Wachau Valley, Bratislava, Budapest, and even Prague. If you enjoyed this, subscribe, and share the episode with a fellow traveler.**Cherie Siebert is an expat who lives in and loves Vienna. She is a teacher, jewelry maker, traveler and life-lover. Find her at artsfish@me.com Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Read her weekly essays on Substack._____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 130 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. All episodes are also on her website: placesirememberlealane.com_____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube.

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Sicily: Layers of History, Beauty, Pleasure

Apr 700:22:37Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailSicily is an Italian island in the Ionian sea between Italy and the African coast. Greece, Rome, the Arab world, and Norman Europe left remnants there that you can still experience. Chef, blogger, and tour director Ric Orlando tells us why Sicily feels different from the rest of Italy. His “deep dive” trips take the Anthony Bourdain approach seriously: spend time with locals, follow the market stalls, and let conversations set the pace.We get into Palermo’s layered history, the Palatine Chapel’s mosaics, Monreale, Teatro Massimo, and the city’s street markets. Ric also explains how Sicily’s volcanic soil around Mount Etna is changing the island today, from a booming Sicily wine scene to new crops driven by climate change, and why infrastructure outside the main tourist cities still shapes daily life.Then east to Catania, to the “Black City” built from dark volcanic stone. We linger at the pescheria fish market where small boats sell the morning’s catch. We talk Sicilian flavor, especially the Arab influenced sweet and sour combinations, and we end with cannoli, farm made cheese, and the living traditions of Piana degli Albanesi. Finally, Taormina brings cliffside beauty, a Greek theater, an artistic past, along with the modern 'White Lotus' buzz, before Ric shares a personal memory that ties family photos back to a real village festival.Come wander through the best of Sicily with us. Subscribe, share with friends who love food and history, and leave a review. **Our guest, Chef Ric Orlando, leads tours to Sicily.Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. _____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 125 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. All episodes are also on her website: placesirememberlealane.com_____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube.

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Yachting! Plus Travel Tips, Adventures From Below Deck's Captain Kerry

Mar 300:17:38Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailWonder what luxury at sea really takes when the cameras stop rolling? We sit with Captain Kerry Titheradge from Bravo’s Below Deck, a leader trusted with 300-foot vessels and volatile reality TV moments. We unpack the true costs of chartering a superyacht, why five-star hotel service can’t match a dialed-in crew at sea, and how leadership—not boat handling—is the captain’s hardest job. We get a candid look at production rhythms, safety priorities, and the moment a cameraman helped avert disaster. Then we slip into adventure mode: Cappadocia’s sunrise balloons, Fethiye’s paragliding cliffs, Dubrovnik’s stone ramparts, Kotor’s dramatic bay, and Australia’s trifecta of the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, and Barossa Valley vineyards where kangaroos hop between rows. Back in Florida, Kerry chases quiet flight on an e-foil, skimming above water in search of small, perfect moments.That ethos flows into Yachting Concepts, his company guiding new owners—especially under 100 feet. Buying a yacht is the easy part; stewardship is the real voyage. Kerry closes with a Maldives memory threaded through Middle Eastern terminals alive with peaceful diversity, coral gardens facing climate pressures, and a solo ascent of the Eiffel Tower on the way home.If you enjoyed this sea-level view of luxury, leadership, and adventure, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more curious travelers can find us. **Our guest, Captain Kerry Titheradge, CEO of Yachting Concepts, appeared for three years on Bravo TV's popular reality show Below Deck.Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. _____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 125 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. All episodes are also on her website: placesirememberlealane.com_____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube.

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Smart Choices For Solo, Budget and Women Travelers

Feb 300:21:07Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailA four-month plan turned into eight years on the road, and that leap reshaped everything. We sit down with Caryl Eve Dolinko, author of A Woman’s Guide to World Travel, to unpack how purpose-led planning makes travel deeply rewarding—especially for women considering solo adventures.What do you actually want from your trip? Whether it’s tracing your ancestry, learning to cook regional dishes, studying music, or chasing landscapes, your why helps you choose your how—solo freedom, a trusted travel buddy, or an interest-driven group. Caryl highlights woman-friendly destinations with strong infrastructure and cultural openness—Thailand, Spain, Israel, Japan, Denmark, the Netherlands—and shares ways to navigate more complex regions through women-only hostel rooms, local rail options, and online communities that turn safety into solidarity.More tips: Caryl’s keeps packing simple: neutral layers, multi-use pieces, and a compact medical kit with prescriptions in original containers. We dig into airline fees, the power of carry-on travel, and the truth that you can buy what you forgot—often better and cheaper—once you arrive. Ships can be a smart option at any age: onboard medical care, built-in security, and an unpack-once lifestyle that opens up new ports without the hassle.Solo travel gets special attention: how to meet people naturally, make dining alone feel purposeful, and turn restaurants into planning hubs. We map practical budget moves—museum free days, transit passes, street markets, and neighborhood lunches—and show how a few local phrases build instant rapport. We also go there on romance abroad, both the allure and the boundaries, and we share grounded safety tactics. Caryl closes with a luminous memory from Machu Picchu.Follow the podcast, share the episode with a friend who needs a nudge.Our guest, Caryl Eve Dolinko, author of A Woman’s Guide to World Travel, has traveled to almost 100 countries, and speaks and writes about travel around the world.Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. _____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 125 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. All episodes are also on her website: placesirememberlealane.com_____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube.

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Peaceful Périgord, France: Chateaux, Caves, Cuisine

Jan 600:24:13Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailWe head to Périgord—the historic heart of France's fertile Dordogne region—to map a four-color journey through Noir, Blanc, Pourpre, and Vert: cliffside castles, prehistoric cave art, limestone towns, vineyard hills, and green valleys stitched with old paper mills. Our guests, Stephanie Williamson and Emily Conyngham, know the area from the inside, with details and choices that shape a smarter, quieter trip.We start in Périgord Noir, using Sarlat’s 14th-century streets and market days as our base, then climb to the hedged terraces of Marqueyssac for that golden-hour view as hot air balloons drift above the river. From there, we decode the caves—how to experience Lascaux’s faithful replica without harming fragile art, and why early mornings and shoulder seasons pay off. In Périgord Blanc, limestone brightens the landscape around Perigueux, subterranean churches carve sanctuaries from rock, and truffle culture comes alive with local hunters and their Lagotto dogs. It’s not just about the black diamonds; it’s about stories passed down, guarded groves, and the rhythm of the forest.Périgord Pourpre brings the glass to your hand: Bergerac reds, Montbazillac’s famed sweet whites, and wine trails that weave past châteaux like Lanquais, the “Unfinished Louvre.” We connect history to taste, from old trade routes to today’s small estates where conversation is part of the pour. Finally, Périgord Vert opens the lungs: forest walks, rivers, mills, and quiet paths that invite you to slow down and notice. Along the way, we talk duck and foie gras, chestnuts, mushrooms, strawberries, and why summer reservations matter even in small towns. For would-be expats and for tourists, we end with memories covering language, cost of living, healthcare realities, and the charming community fabric that makes this quieter side of France so very special.***Our guests are Stephanie Williamson, CEO and founder of Raison d'être travel that plans customized itineraries worldwide; and Emily Conyngham, who moved to the region in 2014 from the United States and owns a shop in Monpazier called Atelier Charmont.Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Contact her at placesirememberlealane.com_____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 125 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. _____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube.

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Favorite Travel Bits From The Past Year (2025)!

Dec 200:23:25Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailYear’s end is the perfect time to chase moments that help us fall in love with travel. We stitch together a lively route from New York's Erie Canal’s quiet power to Namibia’s Etosha, where elephants, zebra, and predators converge around water in an arid dreamscape. Along the way, we meet a winemaker who steers us into Spain's Alicante desert for a paella cooked over grapevines—one fire, one broth, no second chances—and learn why constraint can turn a meal into a memory that lasts.Our path bends to Sorrento, a flat and beautiful Italian base that opens to Capri, Ischia, and the Amalfi Coast. We talk walkable alleys, lemon groves that become limoncello, and sunset cocktails on cliffside terraces. We ride rails through Canada at sunrise and across Switzerland where a simple coffee sparks a love story. In Mexico City, lucha libre proves that travel joy can be loud, communal, and gloriously acrobatic, while Barcelona Spain lifts the spirit with castellers human towers, Sant Jordi’s books and roses, and music festivals that sweep from legends to up-and-comers.We step into sacred time in Assisi in Italy's Umbrian region, to see Giotto’s frescoes and St. Francis’s world, then cross to India's Agra Fort where Shah Jahan arranged his bed and even a small mirror to keep the Taj Mahal always in view. Add a few delightful detours—a red-clay miniature golf course in Normandy, train-station romance in Belgium, a harmonica gifted to a child in a Ugandan forest (and a musical moment)!If these stories spark your curiosity, hit follow, and share with a friend who needs new trip ideas, Then dig into our archive of over 120 episodes to plan where your next unforgettable moment will begin.**Our guests this past year are a mix of travel pros and travel enthusiasts -- and all of them have insightful tips and stories to tell.**Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Contact her at placesirememberlealane.com_____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 120 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. _____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube. Please subscribe, like, and comment.

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India Must-Sees: Delhi, Mumbai, The Taj Mahal In Agra

Nov 400:21:49Tap to summarize

Send us Fan Mail We visit Delhi, Agra, and Mumbai with linguist and educator Dr. Jilani Warsi.Old Delhi draws us into the Red Fort’s vast red sandstone walls, the bustle of Jama Masjid, and the color and flavors of Chandni Chowk where chai, sweets, and silks leave their mark. We balance that with New Delhi’s calm and the Lotus Temple’s open welcome to all faiths, then look upward at Qutub Minar’s 12th-century tower, a vertical timeline of early rule and artistry. Along the way, we share on-the-ground advice: why to skip driving yourself, how to group sites to save time, and where an evening light-and-sound show still brings the past to life.Agra reframes the journey around love and power. The Taj Mahal becomes more than a postcard as dawn light turns marble rosy and the close-in inlay work reveals delicate stone flowers. Across the Yamuna River, Agra Fort holds Shah Jahan’s final vantage point, a story you can feel when a small mirror catches the mausoleum’s glow. A short hop leads to Fatehpur Sikri, where Hindu and Islamic design blend into one living compound, proof that style can be a bridge across belief.Mumbai changes the tempo again: Marine Drive’s night shimmer, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link stretching like a lit ribbon, and the gravitational pull of Bollywood’s studios and theaters. We leave the skyline by boat for Elephanta Island, where ancient cave temples to Shiva offer a cool breath and timeless stonework. Between stops, we chase flavor—kebabs, biryani, and samosas, and share simple ways to eat well and safely where the locals line up.Whether you’re planning your first India itinerary, refining a return, or just enjoying armchair travel, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it too._____Dr. Jilani Warsi, born a two-hour drive from Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya where Buddha reached Nirvana, grew up in a multilingual environment and teaches at Queensborough Community College in New York. He curates English language lessons for native and non-native speakers under the moniker of DrEnglish, on YouTube, @DrAmericanEnglish. He is also a shutterbug and a student of life._____Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Contact her at placesirememberlealane.com_____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 120 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. _____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now also drop on YouTube. Please subscribe, like, and comment.

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Travel Tales From An Award-Winning Badass

Oct 700:25:52Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailMargie Goldsmith, author of Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce, suggests "do one thing every day that scares you" – a mantra that transformed her into the adventure-seeking "badass" she is today. She shares captivating stories from her journeys across more than 100 countries, revealing how memorable travel experiences often arise from unexpected human connections.We start in the remote mountain paths of Bhutan, where Margie found herself teaching American camp songs to fascinated schoolchildren. In Morocco, what began as local women laughing at her marathon training outfit evolved into a joyous mountain-top celebration.Her tales take us to Mongolia, where an 85-year-old toothless horseman (the country's fastest racehorse rider) led her across vast plains, and to Easter Island, where she recounts the dangerous traditional Birdman competition where participants risk their lives.Whether she's distributing harmonicas to children in developing nations, playing blues with an Acadian women's drum corps in Canada, or exchanging personal items with a mountain guide in Argentina despite having no common language, her tales ring with authenticity, and resonate decades later.From following a Finnish reindeer herder through Lapland's snowy forests to navigating past aggressive elephant seals in Antarctica, Margie demonstrates how facing fears leads to extraordinary experiences and personal growth.This engaging conversation, including many of Lea's travel tales as well, will inspire you to seek authentic connections in your travels – and challenge yourself, as Margie does. As she proves through her harmonica performance ending the episode, it's never too late to develop new passions and continue growing through travel and creative expression._____Margie Goldsmith is an award-winning writer, musician, and author of Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce, available in print, Kindle and audiobook, with Margie narrating (including some of her music!). Contact her at margiegoldsmith.com_____Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to many guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Contact her at placesirememberlealane.com_____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has dropped over 120 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. _____Travel vlogs of featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now drop on YouTube.Please subscribe, like, and comment.

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Quirky Travel: Snowmen, Museums, Bookstores, and Cartoons

Sep 200:24:01Tap to summarize

Send us Fan MailBob Eckstein, the brilliant, funny award-winning illustrator and New Yorker cartoonist, shares how his career evolved from writing to cartooning and his passion for uncovering extraordinary stories in ordinary subjects throughout the world. His latest book, "Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums," showcases North America's most captivating museums and the transformative experiences they offer visitors of all interests. The interview focuses on how he:• Spent seven years traveling globally to solve the mystery of who made the first snowman• Became a cartoonist accidentally while researching his first book on snowmen history, and wrote a book about bookstores around the world.• Transitioned from museum-hater as a child to passionate advocate after visiting Natural History Museum• Selected museums for his book based on beauty, compelling stories, and community impact• Created museum categories for everyone, including those who think they hate museums• Aims to create books appealing to men, who he believes aren't reading enough• Highlights unique museums like the Mob Museum, the Spam Museum, and the Museum of Jurassic Technology• Spent a week sketching on the oldest working ship in the world, later recreating its captain's quarters in his home• Has exciting upcoming projects including museum postcards, a book about writers and their cats, and a movie• Recommends visiting Bruges early morning or late evening to experience its true beauty**Guest Bob Eckstein is an award-winning illustrator and New Yorker cartoonist. Check out his website! Also, see his books and new sets of gorgeous postcards here.**Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to many guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. _____Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has dropped over 120 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen. _____Travel vlogs of our featured podcasts-- with video and graphics -- now drop on YouTube.Please subscribe, like, and comment.

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