Day: October 6, 2017

Top Five Travel Podcasts

TIPS, Travel

If like me you have a long commute to and from work one of the best ways to pass the time is to listen to travel podcasts as a way to either plan your next trip or live vicariously through a fellow traveler’s adventures. I download and listen to 14 different podcasts and listed below are my five favorites.

#5) Travel with Rick Steves -Technically this is not a podcast but a radio show hosted by the renowned traveler Rick Steves. If you do not listen live you can download the content as you would any podcast and play it back at your leisure. Rick’s show covers several travel topics per episode and includes interviews and a call in segment.

#4) The Indie Travel Podcast – Craig and Linda are two New Zealanders who have been traveling around the world since 2006. They have a great chemistry and their love of travel comes through in every podcast. Their podcasts cover travel destinations, some how to advise, and fun top ten or favorite lists. The enhanced version of the podcast has some wonderful pictures.

#3) Counting Countries – Ric Gazarian hosts this unique travel podcast which features interviews with travelers who either have or are trying to go to every country in the world. As Ric says there are more people who have been to outer space than who have traveled to every country in the world. The stories these travelers have are fascinating to both people who have this lofty goal or who dream about the adventures that are still to be had out in the world.

#2) Rick Steves’ Travel Talks – Another podcast from Rick Steves that is not really a podcast. This is a series of lectures covering travel how to tips, cruising, destinations and art history. The lectures are specific and very detailed. There is a video of the lecture if you are not driving which will enhance your enjoyment of the material. I highly recommend his series of lectures on art history which follows the history of western European art from Romanesque to Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque. Understanding the history of the art and architecture before you see the museums and sights will greatly enhance your experience.

#1) The Amateur Traveler – Chris Christensen is the amateur traveler. Chris host the best destination travel podcast on the web. Each podcast consists of an interview focusing on a single destination. The mandate for the podcast is that each guest outlines a one to two week itinerary for the destination topic of the week. With well over 500 podcasts chances are you will find a destination you are planning on going to or want to relive the experience. Chris’s pleasant interview style and the knowledge of the guests being interviewed make this both a fantastic travel resource and enjoyable listen. There is also an enhanced version where Chris adds some wonderful travel photography many times provided by the guests being interviewed.

Five Favorite New England Agricultural Fairs

Attractions, Events/Festivals, Maine, Massachusetts, New England, New Hampshire, Reviews, TIPS, Travel, United States

Fall has always been my favorite season in New England. The coming of the fall colors also brings the fair season where you can stuff yourself with unhealthy food and bask in the agricultural roots of the region. There are 51 agricultural fairs in New England that have we sites and numerous other smaller celebrations in local towns. Most of the fairs in New England with the possible exception of The Big E are much smaller in scale than the big state fairs you will see in places like Texas or Minnesota. The smaller nature of our fairs make them all the more charming and quaint. They just seem to fit in with the fall foliage and rustic charm of old New England.

I certainly have not been to all of the fairs in New England and there are no doubt fantastic fairs that I have not visited, but I have lived in New England my whole life and have visited many of them on the list. This then is my top five favorite fairs:

#5) King Richard’s Faire – A little bit of a cheat here as this is anything but the traditional New England agricultural fair. This is a contrived and manufactured recreation of a fairy tale imagining of what a medieval Renaissance faire would be like. With those caveats in mind this is great fun for young and old alike. Cos=players will love the dress up aspect and the shopping and shows are a delight.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

#4) Topsfield Fair – This fair has more of an amusement park and less of an agricultural feel. Its proximity to Boston brings more well known acts to their grandstand. The fair runs a full week culminating on the Columbus Day holiday each year. They seem to always have the areas largest giant pumpkin each year with many records set. The grandstand is at one end of the fairgrounds and the arena is at the other. In between these two areas are a mix of fast food, agricultural exhibits and animals. There is a little too much “flea market” feel for my taste in many of the buildings. Don’t miss the bee and honey display in the center of the fairgrounds.

#3) The Big E (Eastern States Exhibition) – This is the big one, a fair celebrating the agricultural and rural traditions of all six New England states. Enormous and crowded with more than 1.5 million visitors over a two week period in September. Each state has a replica of their state capital where you can go in and experience the sights, sounds and tastes that each state has to offer. This is the one fair on the list that is more than a pleasant afternoon diversion. This is well worth making plans and spending several days taking in the shows and events. Not a fair I go to every year but one you should make the extra effort and plan on staying for a few days.

#2) Fryeburg Fair – This week long fair held the first week in October in Southern Maine is a prototypical example of a traditional New England agricultural fair. Starting in 1851 the fair has grown into Maine’s largest agricultural fair. Despite the growth and the resulting large crowds it attracts the fair maintains its rural charm and has avoided the gentrification many fairs have undergone. Although it is only ~ 2½ – 3 hours from Boston I would recommend you plan ahead and book a stay in nearby Conway, New Hampshire.

#1) Deerfield Fair – This four day fair in southern New Hampshire is the perfect mix for the modern fair goer. The amusements are down at the bottom of a hill away from the exhibits and food stands. The shows are agricultural mainstays such as dressage competitions, horse pulling and animal shows. The food is plentiful and tasty albeit very unhealthy. Try to catch the sheep dog demonstration as you enter the park. The main horse ring is where you will find the horse shows and it is surrounded by food choices. The fresh caramel popcorn (still hot!) is a favorite. If there was one fair that I would go to every year this would be it.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The fall foliage season in New England is on many people’s bucket lists. If it is take the time and go to one of the many fairs in and around the area.