On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan welcomes back Amy Virshup, the editor of the New York Times Travel section. Amy and Kiernan dive deep into this year’s “52 Places to Love” list and the challenges of travel journalism in the midst of a global pandemic. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: NYT’s “52 Places to Love” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/travel/places-to-visit-vacation.html  Turkmenistan’s Gates of Hell https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-gates-of-hell-turkmenistan  Slovenia’s Church of the Holy Trinity https://www.istria-culture.com/en/the-holy-trinity-church-in-hrastovlje-i13 

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan discuss Boston’s biggest attractions, from educational walks to lovely parks, stellar museums to historic graveyards. And of course, what’s a trip to Boston without taking in a baseball game at Fenway and belting out “Sweet Caroline”? Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Freedom Trail https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/  Boston Common https://www.boston.gov/parks/boston-common  Public Garden https://www.boston.gov/parks/public-garden  Duck Statues https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/make-way-for-ducklings-statue  Ether Monument https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/donate/ether-monument/  Granary Burying Ground https://www.bostonpreservation.org/advocacy-project/granary-burying-ground  Old State House/Boston Massacre site https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/osh.htm  Paul Revere House https://www.paulreverehouse.org/  Old North Church https://www.oldnorth.com/  USS Constitution https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/  Bunker Hill Monument https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/bhm.htm  National Park Black Heritage Trail https://www.nps.gov/boaf/virtual-black-heritage-trail-tour.htm  Beacon Hill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Hill,_Boston  North End https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Boston  Museum of Fine Arts https://www.mfa.org/  Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum https://www.gardnermuseum.org/  Symphony Hall https://www.bso.org/brands/symphony-hall/about-us/historyarchives/the-history-of-symphony-hall.aspx  Little Boy saying “Wow” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZetePo1VhYo  Fenway Park https://www.mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/tours  John Adams https://www.hbo.com/john-adams  The Golden Pinecone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_State_House 

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan look back on the spectacular year of 2020 and choose their top 3 favorite episodes from the archives. Ryan: Montreal: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-69-montreal/ The Grand Tour: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-80-the-grand-tour/ Socially Distanced Hiking Near NYC: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-78-socially-distanced-hiking-near-nyc/ Kiernan: Choosing a Travel Companion: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-74-choosing-a-travel-companion/ Chattanooga & Lookout Mountain: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-88-chattanooga-lookout-mountain/ Every National Park With Conor Knighton:  https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-82-every-national-park-with-conor-knighton/

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ through song, ornament exchanges, and outdoor light displays. Don’t forget to hang up your sock! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Dyker Heights https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/dyker-heights-christmas-lights  Somerville Lights Tour http://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour  Peanuts at Beaumont Farms in Wallingford, CT https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Wallingford/Wallingford-News/Beaumont-Farm-holiday-light-display.html#gallery-3  Ryan’s ornament for Kiernan https://www.etsy.com/listing/703955588/felt-ornament-teddy-roosevelt-theodore?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=teddy+roosevelt+ornament&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1  Kiernan’s ornament for Ryan https://www.fun.com/santaur-is-coming-to-town-christmas-ornament.html?mpid=223910&gclid=CjwKCAiAoOz-BRBdEiwAyuvA66UsRf8CG2dlb07N0rJ1TO8PDsVxFOfnbvKHFrJ9etInOtWhSoT9IRoCwLoQAvD_BwE  Snoop Dogg and Anna Kedrick’s “Winter Wonderland/Here Comes Santa Claus” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sTvdeLQsMM Lou Monte’s “Dominick the Donkey” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca5wXojemRM 

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan continue their tour of the South and spotlight Charleston’s history, food scene, and standout walks. Plus, a tale of a Ghost Dog named Poogan! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Rainbow Row https://charleston.com/charleston-insider/lowcountry-lifestyles/the-captivating-history-of-rainbow-row  Fort Sumter https://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm  Nathaniel Russell House Museum https://www.historiccharleston.org/house-museums/nathaniel-russell-house/ Old Slave Mart Museum https://www.charleston-sc.gov/160/Old-Slave-Mart-Museum  Stems & Skins https://stemsandskins.com/  Obstinate Daughter https://theobstinatedaughter.com/  Husk https://thegrocerycharleston.com/ The Grocery  https://thegrocerycharleston.com/  The Ordinary https://eattheordinary.com/  Poogan’s Porch https://www.poogansporch.com/  Murakami Museum https://lithub.com/a-new-library-built-in-honor-of-haruki-murakami-will-open-in-2021/ Jumbo https://www.tufts.edu/about/jumbo#:~:text=The%20tale%20of%20Tufts'%20official,a%20veritable%20mecca%20on%20campus.

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us back down south for another installment of his 30-part mini-series on the wonders of Tennessee. Ryan deems Chattanooga the “find” of his recent road trip, with highlights including Lookout Mountain, an underground waterfall, a cult-run deli, and plenty of creepy fairy tales. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Chattanooga overview https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga,_Tennessee Chattanooga Choo Choo song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGBwmLRNLJ4  Chattanooga Choo Choo movie trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgmFbar83Vw  Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel https://www.choochoo.com/our-story  Tennessee Riverwalk https://www.visitchattanooga.com/blog/post/a-guide-to-chattanoogas-riverwalk/  Harrison Bay State Park https://tnstateparks.com/parks/harrison-bay  Yellow Deli and Twelve Tribes https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2018/may/19/yellow-delitwelve-tribes-back-spotlight-subje/471156/?bcsubid=cf4dcede-731f-4157-822e-1591f60c88ce&pbdialog=reg-wall-login-created-tfp The Funicular Ryan Ignored https://ridetheincline.com/  Ruby Falls https://www.rubyfalls.com/  Rock City https://www.seerockcity.com/ Lover’s Leap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lover%27s_Leap Fairyland Caverns https://enchantedamerica.wordpress.com/2014/07/19/fairyland-caverns-rock-city-ga/ Hudson River Museum https://www.hrm.org/  Odeuropa https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/18/world/europe/europe-historic-smells.html 

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan talks to A. Kendra Greene, the author of “The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums.” The book is not only a primer on the huge number of museums on this small island, it is a deep dive into Iceland’s culture, history, and national psyche. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: “The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums” by A. Kendra Greene https://www.amazon.com/Museum-Whales-You-Will-Never/dp/0143135465  The Icelandic Phallological Museum https://phallus.is/en/  Petra’s Stone and Mineral Collection https://www.steinapetra.is/  The Herring Era Museum http://www.sild.is/en/  NYTimes “Sizing Up the Rural-Urban Travel Divide: Who’s Up and Who’s Down” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/travel/rural-versus-urban-travel-pandemic.html Red Snappers https://www.beansmeats.com/product/red-snapper-frankfurts/ 

On this special early-release episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan learns about Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, by talking to Harvard Professor of the Study of Latin America Davíd Carrasco about the history and traditions of the holiday. Kiernan also talks to Texas Monthly writer José Ralat about pan de muerto, the festival’s signature bread of the dead. How about Ryan? You know Ryan. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Professor Carrasco’s video series for the Harvard Peabody Museum https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/Muertos José Ralat’s “Pan de Muerto is a Cross-Cultural Taste of History” https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/tex-mexplainer-pan-de-muerto-is-a-cross-cultural-taste-of-history/  Peabody Museum’s Altar https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/node/287  Catrina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Calavera_Catrina  Museo Mural Diego Rivera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museo_Mural_Diego_Rivera  Papel Picado https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papel_picado  Santa Muerte https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte  Ay Mujer Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/AyMujer?ref=yr_purchases  “Gustavo, The Shy Ghost” by Flavia Drago https://www.amazon.com/Gustavo-Shy-Ghost-Flavia-Drago/dp/1536211141  

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan hops in the jalopy and heads to Knoxville, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. Plus, Kiernan realizes that somehow they’ve recorded eighty four episodes without ever talking about Ryan’s proclivity for doll furniture. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Knoxville Urban Wilderness https://www.visitknoxville.com/urban-wilderness/ SoKno Taco Cantina https://soknota.co/ Market Square in Knoxville https://www.visitknoxville.com/blog/post/10-things-to-know-about-market-square/ The Sunsphere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunsphere  Knoxville Museum of Art’s Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door https://knoxart.org/exhibitions/beauford-delaney-and-james-baldwin-through-the-unusual-door/?fbclid=IwAR0-LC-ypve4glLMCt8KO0snbhITplQMdBB0CWj1VxuvwZFmAB0vGYC6Ls4  Knoxville Museum of Art’s Thorne Miniatures Rooms https://knoxart.org/exhibitions/thorne-rooms/  Downtown Wine+Spirits https://www.dtwine.com Rainbow Falls, Great Smoky Mountains https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/rainbow-falls-pyv.htm  Tuckaleechee Caverns https://tuckaleecheecaverns.com/development-of-caverns/ Avoiding Bear Attacks https://www.news.meredithlmg.com/general/what-not-to-do-in-a-bear-attack-push-your-slower-friends-down-in-attempts/article_531801ea-f4be-5571-be0f-e121786c1caa.html Toxic Cyanobacteria in Zion National Park https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/toxic-cyanobacteria-bloom-in-the-virgin-river-and-the-streams-of-zion-national-park.htm 

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan discusses his recent trip to Maine’s Downeast region, including Acadia National Park. From lobsters to seascapes to yurts (yes: yurts), Maine earns its nickname of “Vacationland,” so don your best Bean boots and give a listen. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Downeast Maine https://visitmaine.com/places-to-go/downeast-and-acadia  Acadia National Park https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm  Beals, Maine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beals,_Maine  Great Wass Island Preserve https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/great-wass-island/  Jasper Beach https://coastalcare.org/2011/02/jasper-beach-machiasport-maine-usa/  Bill Coperthwaite Yurt and Dickinsons Reach https://www.yurtinfo.org/the-yurt-foundation  Roque Bluffs State Park https://www.stateparks.com/roque_bluffs_state_park_in_maine.html  Blue Ridge Parkway https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/ Thai National Park is mailing back trash left behind by tourists https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/09/18/tourist-trash-mail/