Practical Wanderlust
Practical Wanderlust
Lia & Jeremy Garcia
A few years ago Lia & Jeremy quit their jobs, put their stuff in storage, & took off on a year-long honeymoon. (It was basically a disaster, but they had fun anyway.) Today, they travel and write about their ongoing (mis)adventures on their travel blog, PracticalWanderlust.com. On this bi-weekly podcast Lia and Jeremy share their most ridiculous travel stories and practical tips to help you avoid making all of their terrible, terrible mistakes - plus all of the weird history they've learned along the way!
The Story of Louisville, KY
Horse races, bourbon, baseball bats, and a...death tunnel? Today we tell the story of Lia's hometown: Louisville, KY! We trace the history of the city from its frontier origins to the modern-day. Louisville's history runs deep, and it's not always pretty. So pour yourself a bourbon and tune in. Unless you're driving - that's not cool.For more Louisville content, check out:15 Lovely Things to Do on a Romantic Getaway to Louisville50 Places to Visit in Louisville, Kentucky27 Best Breweries, Distilleries, and Bars in Louisville, KY29 Amazing Place to Eat in Louisville, KentuckyInterested in quitting your job to go travel? Check out the new book by Practical Wanderlust's own Lia Garcia: How to Quit Your Job and Travel, available December 8th on Amazon.
Dec 4, 2020
1 hr 6 min
Hiking and Camping Stories (or "High Stakes F*ck Ups")
Mudslides, panic attacks, altitude sickness, and a very judgey llama. These are just a few of the things we have encountered on our many...many...MANY hiking and camping misadventures. Want the full details of these stories? Check our links below:The Mono Hot Springs Disaster The Cataract Falls CatastropheMudslides on the Valle de Cocora HikeDays of Fun on the Quilotoa LoopHigh Altitude Hijinx at Laguna 69The Complete Failure that was Machu PicchuAnd for those of you who are not as terrible as we are, check out our 42 Car Camping Essentials!
Oct 13, 2020
1 hr 21 min
Welcome to Season 2!
Quarantine amirite? We took a season break earlier than planned, but we are BACK! On this mini-update, we look at how we've handled the season break (mostly screaming into the void and baking bread) and how Season 2 of the podcast will be different. 
Jul 28, 2020
17 min
California Highway One Road Trip (or "The Best Highway in the World")
A humanist cult, a Danish hideaway, a gravitational anomaly, towering trees, a spoiled rich kid's castle, clothing-optional hot springs, and the cutest animals (and weirdest) imaginable: welcome to Highway One, the most beautiful highway in the world! In this episode, we cover everything you need to plan your trip up the California Coast and all the weird history you never knew about the stops along the way.Planning a road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway? We've got a few blog posts that will help:The Ultimate 10-Day Highway One Road Trip Itinerary8 Places to Visit on California's Central CoastSelf-Guided Los Angeles Brewery TourTravel Guides: Mendocino, Morro Bay, & Paso RoblesWe’ve also created a free, printable Highway One itinerary! The 7-page PDF also includes our San Francisco Self-Guided Walking Tour. Plus, we’ll also send you our favorite tips to help you plan an amazing California road trip!For more ridiculous adventures visit us at PracticalWanderlust.com and follow @practicalwanderlust on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!Audio production & music composition by Tyler Hafer.
May 11, 2020
1 hr 6 min
Bali, Indonesia (or "Don't Trust the Monkeys")
Monkey thieves, temples, Jeremy crashing a motorbike into a tree, and coffee made from ... er, poop. Lia and Jeremy are talking about the breathtaking island of Bali, including all of the must-dos and please-do-nots. Visit our blog for more Bali travel tips:25 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking in BaliThe Perfect 2-Week Bali ItineraryHow to Visit Bali on a BudgetWhat to Pack for BaliFind more ridiculous adventures at PracticalWanderlust.com, and follow @practicalwanderlust on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!Sign up for our semi-monthly newsletter!Audio production & music composition by Tyler Hafer.
Apr 20, 2020
35 min
Disney World & Disneyland (or "The Happiest Place on Earth?")
A futuristic utopia that's definitely not a cult. A suicide-themed ride. Lia's college internship. What do they all have in common? Disney World, of course! In this episode, Lia spills all the Mad Tea on the most magical place on Earth, plus insider tips from her time as a Cast Member. We also explain our tried & tested Disney Strategy (aka STRAT), because waiting in long lines for rides is some Bippity-Boppity-BS.Planning a trip to Disney? Get the FREE Printable Disney Starter Kit! The Disney Starter Kit includes a Disney packing checklist, 2 Disney Parks Scavenger Hunt previews, and the Disney World Resort Bar Crawl instructions. Plus, we'll send you loads of our insider tips for planning a magical trip to Disney.We've also created two epic Disney Parks Scavenger Hunts designed to take your Disney trip to the next level!Check out more of our Disney content on the blog:Virtual Disney World TourWhat to Pack for Disney (& what NOT to)How to Do Disney: Disney Parks Strategy GuideThe Disney World Resort Bar CrawlFind more ridiculous adventures at PracticalWanderlust.com, and follow @practicalwanderlust on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and our semi-monthly newsletter!Audio production & music composition by Tyler Hafer.
Feb 24, 2020
49 min
Mini-Episode: The Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt
On our first mini-episode, we talk about Lia's ridiculously elaborate display of affection creepily early on in our relationship. And in true Liaremy fashion, it is needlessly extra and doesn't go as planned. So pull up a comfy chair, pour some wine, cut yourself a few slices of cake, and enjoy (because self-love is also part of Valentine's Day)!For more of our personal stories, check out:32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel25 Things We Never Asked for from Traveling the World for a YearFind more ridiculous adventures at PracticalWanderlust.com, and follow @practicalwanderlust on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!Sign up for our semi-monthly newsletter!Audio production & music composition by Tyler Hafer.
Feb 10, 2020
32 min
Lake Tahoe, California (or "Our Morbid Obsession with The Donner Party")
Towering pine trees, ancient granite cliffs, crystal clear water, cannibalistic pioneers... wait, what? Today we travel to Jeremy's favorite place on Earth: Lake Tahoe, California. Strap on your snow goggles and come along as we cover the macabre past and enchanting present of this alpine paradise with more ghosts than you can shake a ski pole at.Planning a trip to Tahoe? We've got a few blog posts that will help:How to plan an amazing Tahoe winter trip (on a budget)The 10 best road trips from San Francisco24 mindblowing Northern California hikesFind more ridiculous adventures at PracticalWanderlust.com, and follow @practicalwanderlust on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!Sign up for our semi-monthly newsletter!Audio production & music composition by Tyler Hafer.
Feb 3, 2020
51 min
The Year-Long Honeymoon: Part 3, Europe & The Rest of It (or "Grandpa Bob's Death Party")
Jeremy gets a BMW stuck in a French castle, Lia wakes up to an unwanted guest in her bed, and Grandpa Bob fakes his own death. This is the final chapter of our disastrous year-long honeymoon!More stories from our year-long honeymoon:The Whole Honeymoon Story (& how much we spent)What NOT to do on a French road trip30 Things nobody tells you about quitting your job to travelFind more ridiculous adventures at PracticalWanderlust.com, and follow @practicalwanderlust on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!Sign up for our semi-monthly newsletter!Audio production & music composition by Tyler Hafer.
Jan 20, 2020
1 hr 3 min
The Year-Long Honeymoon: Part 2, Peru (or "The Machu Picchu Kerfuffle")
Altitude sickness, a stolen backpack, surfing accidents, and our failed Machu Picchu hike. This is the story of our disastrous two months in Peru!More stories from our year-long honeymoon:The Whole Honeymoon Story (& how much we spent)Things no one tells you about backpacking in South AmericaThings no one tells you about backpacking in PeruThe whole Machu Picchu storyFind more ridiculous adventures at PracticalWanderlust.com, and follow @practicalwanderlust on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!Sign up for our semi-monthly newsletter!Audio production & music composition by Tyler Hafer.
Jan 6, 2020
52 min
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