Hear about travel to Nova Scotia, Canada, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Elisabeth Frost from Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist about exploring her home province. Elisabeth lives in Wolfville, in the heart of the Annapolis Valley, and shares an itinerary that combines maritime history, dramatic tides, coastal villages, vineyards, hiking, and beaches. Nova Scotia offers an unusual amount of variety in a relatively compact region. Visitors can explore a lively capital city, walk on the ocean floor at low tide, visit historic fishing communities, sample local seafood, and discover quiet beaches, all without traveling enormous distances. For first-time visitors, Elisabeth recommends three bases: Halifax, Wolfville in the Annapolis Valley, and Nova Scotia's South Shore. Rather than trying to see the entire province in a week, she encourages travelers to spend two or three nights in each area and adjust their activities around the weather and the Bay of Fundy's extraordinary tides. 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-nova-scotia-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe as the Amateur Traveler podcast talks to returning guest Rebecca Merrell about exploring two lesser-visited countries in Central Africa. From tracking hundreds of mandrills through the rainforest and searching for western lowland gorillas to snorkeling off volcanic islands and tasting locally produced chocolate, Rebecca shares an adventure that combines wildlife conservation, remote national parks, tropical beaches, and Portuguese colonial history. Rebecca spent approximately two and a half weeks exploring the region, including nine days in Gabon and seven nights in São Tomé and Príncipe. She recommends Gabon for its extraordinary wildlife and largely untouched rainforests, while São Tomé and Príncipe offer a more relaxed mix of beaches, chocolate plantations, diving, and ecotourism. 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-gabon-and-sao-tome-and-principe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to coastal Peru as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jorge Salas of New Paths Expeditions about the archaeology, wildlife, food, and living cultures of Peru beyond Machu Picchu. Jorge argues that Peru’s Pacific coast deserves far more attention from travelers. This dry coastal desert preserves thousands of years of history, including adobe pyramids, elaborate tombs, ancient textiles, and the remains of civilizations that flourished long before the Incas. The trip begins in Lima, where Jorge recommends arriving, spending the night near the airport, and heading south the next morning. The drive follows the Pacific through a desert broken by narrow, fertile river valleys. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: 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-coastal-peru/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about a trip to Normandy and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France as Chris Christensen from Amateur Traveler recounts his journey through two fascinating regions during the inaugural France-USA Media Forum in 2026, organized by Atout France. This bonus episode features two half-week itineraries rather than the usual one-week itinerary. Chris explored Normandy before traveling south to Bordeaux, the Dordogne, and Cognac. He recommends spending a full week in either region rather than trying to combine both into one trip. Along the way, he explores the legacy of William the Conqueror, the Allied invasion of Normandy, medieval castles, prehistoric cave paintings, Bordeaux's wine culture, and the centuries-old tradition of cognac production. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: 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-normandy-and-nouvelle-aquitaine/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Brodsky of WanderWolf joins us to talk about traveling in southern Algeria, including Algiers, the Roman ruins at Tipasa, Djanet, and a multi-day trek through Tassili n’Ajjer National Park to the ancient rock art of Sifar. Southern Algeria offers a very different Sahara experience from the classic image of endless sand dunes. Tassili n’Ajjer has dramatic sandstone formations, narrow canyons, black lava fields, ancient cypress trees, and thousands of prehistoric paintings and carvings documenting thousands of years of human life in a landscape that was once much wetter. Andrew’s trip combined a few days in and around Algiers with a five-day, four-night trekking trip through Tassili n’Ajjer. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: 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-southern-algeria/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: 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-mongolia-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Check out the Smart Travel Podcast: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 ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-detroit-michigan/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices