My wife and I became parents back in 2020.  It’s our first and only child.  Our families would ask us what we wanted or needed for her.  Aside from the typical things like diapers, formula and some clothing we really couldn’t think of anything.  Then my wife had the idea of a membership to the Maryland zoo in Baltimore.  We figured our kiddo would love walking around to look at the animals, even though she was still too young to really understand it.  Also, a membership allowed us to come and go as many times as we pleased.  So, if we went and she wasn’t feeling it, we could leave and not feel like we were wasting our money.

Fast forward a few years and we still have a membership there.  The zoo has become a special place for my family.  It’s the place we go whenever we need to get out of the house and enjoy a nice day outside.  We go year round and our daughter loves it.

The Maryland zoo in Baltimore is the nation’s third oldest zoo.  It has been such a pillar for the Baltimore community for the last 150 years or so.  And the zoo has become big on the world wide conservation scene.  The Maryland Zoo is dedicated to conserving wildlife for future generations, and keepers often visit other spots around the globe to work on local communities.

Take the African Penguins for example.  They are in crisis and could very well become extinct thanks to things like climate change and over fishing.  The Maryland Zoo has been heavily involved in working to keep them alive.  The zoo cares for the largest colony of African penguins in North America, and it has a strong partnership with groups in Southern Africa trying to help these beautiful animals continue their legacy.

The Maryalnd Zoo has some big changes coming up in the next couple of years that sound really exciting.  I’m excited to share this conversation with Kirby Fowler…the president and CEO of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

One thing I’m realizing while I do more of these conversations is that there’s a lot about Maryland I don’t know about.  I had always thought that I had a pretty good understanding and knowledge about the state.  But then I speak with folks like today’s guest and I know that there’s huge pieces of this state I’m missing out on.  And I feel bad about that.

At one point in today’s conversation I talk about how this piece of Maryland gets forgotten a lot.  I do think that’s true for a lot of people.  I know it sounds bad but I don’t mean it that way.  Today we’re talking about St. Mary’s County.  If you’re looking at a map of Maryland, St. Mary’s County is the southeastern tip of the mainland of the state.  It sort of wraps around the eastern side of DC.  For me, once I hit the Capital Beltway I feel like I’m out of Maryland.  I always forget about all of the incredible places that are just around the other side of our nation’s capital.

Today I’m speaking with Liz Mildenstein.  She’s the executive director at Visit St. Mary’s.  I learned a lot in this conversation.  Like I had no idea that the colonial capital was in St. Mary’s County in Leonardtown.  That’s kind of fascinating to me.  I hope you enjoy our conversation about St. Mary’s County.

It’s easy when you live somewhere to overlook the beauty that’s right in your backyard.  I always think back to when I moved to Philadelphia for a few years.  One of the things I wanted to see was the Liberty Bell.  I asked a friend who had lived in Philly her entire life to go with me one day.  She told me she had never seen the Liberty Bell.  I was dumbfounded. If you’re not familiar, the Liberty Bell is literally right in the middle of the city.  I would’ve thought that just dumb luck would’ve brought her by the bell at one point.  But I guess not.

I’ve lived in Baltimore now for nearly 17 years.  I like to think that I’ve gotten around to see a lot of the big spots, but I know there are still plenty of places I haven’t gone.  There’s this mental thing with me where I think about visiting one but then say, “nah I’ll see it next time.”  Then it just keeps getting pushed off.

Today’s conversation is about one of those places.  I’ve driven by Ladew Topiary Gardens so many times.  Each time I say to myself, “we need to come check this place out.”  Then one thing leads to another and we never do.  After having this chat, I’m feeling very embarrassed for not visiting earlier.

I’m speaking with Emily Emerick.  She’s the Executive Director for Ladew Topiary Gardens.  She has been there for a long time and knows the gardens inside and out.  This was a fascinating conversation.  I’m definitely planning on making a visit here soon.  I hope you’ll consider it too.  Please enjoy our chat about Ladew Topiary Gardens.

Are there places on your travel bucket list?  I’m sure you’ve got some spots that you’ve always wanted to visit.  One of the places I’ve always wanted to see is Cooperstown New York.  I grew up around Boston so baseball runs through my veins.  The baseball hall of fame has been on my list for so long.  I still have this vivid memory of watching A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN for the first time and thinking to myself how badly I wanted to visit that place.
And I’ve been so close so many times.  My wife grew up not too far from Cooperstown and her family still lives there.  But for whatever reason, we haven’t made it there yet.  I will say though, as I’ve spent more time in central New York, I ‘ve realized there’s so much more to Cooperstown than just the baseball hall of fame.
The area is beautiful.  Cooperstown sits on the south shore of Gilmmerglass Lake, there’s hiking, leaf peeping, beers and so much more.  Joining me for this episode of Delightful Destinations is Cass Harrington.  She’s the president and CEO of THIS IS COOPERSTOWN.
Ok that’s it.  I’ve convinced myself.  My family is going to Cooperstown next time we go up to New York.  I hope you enjoy my conversation with Cass Harrington.

Through the first 10 episodes of Delightful Destinations, I’ve been lucky enough to speak with a few representatives of counties on what’s known as the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  If you’re listening to this podcast and you’re not super familiar with the geography of Maryland, the state is almost kind of split in two by the Susquehanna and the Chesapeake Bay.  Both sides of the state have very different styles.  The western shore is what most people recognize of Maryland.  You’ve got Baltimore, the I95 corridor, the DC area etc.  On the eastern shore it’s a little more rural, you’ve got the beaches, nature and a whole lot of water activity.

I’m excited this week to bring you a conversation about the beautiful Queen Anne’s County.  If you’re on the western part of the state and you want to go east you have to cross the Bay Bridge.  The Bay Bridge dumps you off right in Queen Anne’s County.  While that initial area is filled with shops, restaurants and activity, the county has so much more to offer.

Joining me today is April Plummer.  She’s the Marketing and Destination Development Specialist for Queen Anne’s County.  This was a great chat.  I’ll admit to you that I haven’t spent a lot of time exploring Queen Anne’s County. My wife and I have spent a little time in the Kent Island area, and we’ve driven through to get to Ocean City.  But that’s about it.  I loved hearing more about what the county has to offer and the fun opportunities going on this fall.  I hope you enjoy my conversation with April Plummer.

I don’t know about all of you, but this is my favorite time of year.  It’s officially football season.  Both the professional and collegiate seasons are underway and I’m addicted.  My fantasy team could use some help, otherwise I’m a ver happy football fan.  With that season underway, I thought it was a perfect time to talk about Alabama.  No, not the school or its football team.  The state.

On this week’s episode of Delightful Destinations I’m speaking with Brooklyn Lundy.  She’s a PR manager for the Alabama Tourism Department.  Brooklyn is a born and raised Alabamian.  Is that what we call them?  Alabamian?  Or is it Alabamans?  Either way.  Brooklyn knows her stuff and she’s great at painting these beautiful pictures of the small southern towns, the white sand beaches and history that Alabama has to offer.

I went into this conversation known next to nothing about Alabama and I left with a whole new appreciation for the state’s beauty.  Hopefully my travels will bring me down that way at some point in the near future.  Please enjoy my conversation with Brooklyn Lundy.

Today I’m learning more about Indiana. To be honest, the most I know about Indiana is that the NFL Combine is in Indianapolis, Peyton Manning is second to Tom Brady in everything and I feel well-versed in the fictional town of Pawnee Indiana from Parks and Rec. 

It was really nice learning more about this state through my conversation with Justus O’Neil, the public relations and social media officer for Indiana Destination Development Corporation.
Indiana has so many great things to offer.  More than I had any idea.  And it sounds like it’s perfect for a visit this fall. 

If you want to know more about Indiana the best place to go is the website visitindiana.com.  I hope you enjoy my conversation with Justus O’Neil.

I think it’s time we head back over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  There’s this term, ‘Fly Over States.’  That term represents the states in the middle of the country that people fly over when they’re on their way to somewhere else.  Places like Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, you get the idea.  For me, there is a similar thing here in Maryland.  I call them drive through counties.  These are the areas you drive through to get to your destination.  When I think about it, I’ve been to most counties in this state. But I haven’t really stopped to check them out.  I’ve just been on my own little mission.

This week’s show is about one of those drive through counties.  I’m speaking with Cassandra Vanhooser.  She’s the director of economic development and tourism for Talbot county.  Talbot County is a beautiful area on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  There’s water, tons of outdoor recreation, a big arts community and so much more.  But so many people just drive through it on their way to Ocean City, or down further south.
  
Cassandra is here to tell us more about the wonders of Talbot County and why you should take some time to explore the area.

In the first 6 episodes of this podcast I’ve taken you on trips to different counties in Maryland and Virginia, and we made a stop in New Jersey.  This week I thought we’d check out one of the premiere amusement parks in the country.  Let’s visit Dutch Wonderland.

I’ll admit that I’ve lived in the mid-atlantic now for about 25 years and up until last year I had never been to Dutch Wonderland. The jewel of Lancaster Pennsylvania sits on some 48 acres.  It was opened back in 1963 with the theme being a KINGDOM FOR KIDS.

I think that’s why I hadn’t gone before.  I had been told that it is largely designed for families and children.  While it took me becoming a dad to finally make my first trip to Dutch Wonderland I’m so glad I finally made it.  The place is great.  I genuinely felt like I was in a safe space with my daughter.  There’s something special about being in a place with a lot of other parents and kids.  It’s like everyone was looking out for one another.

My daughter had an absolute blast, and even though she was only 2 ½ at the time, she still got to ride so many different rides.  We’re looking forward to going back again this summer.  

On today’s episode of Delightful Destinations I’m speaking with Dutch Wonderland marketing director Courtney Burkarth.  She’ll give us all the scoop about the best attractions, where you can stay when you come visit and other things to take advantage of.