The ROAMies Podcast

D is for Colora-DOors :)
From cave entrances and grand hotel thresholds to hot springs and historic streets, we explore the literal and metaphorical doors of Glenwood Springs—then bring it home with a master craftsman who’s turning a door into a table and inspiring new life in our own 1916 fixer-upper.

MENTIONED in this episode:
visitglenwood.com
https://www.glenwoodcaverns.com
speakeagle.com

Connect with Skip Ralls /...

Steam rising off the world’s largest hot springs pool. A sunrise balcony at Hotel 1888. Naturally formed vapor caves beneath the Rockies.

In this Colorado episode of The ROAMies Podcast, we head to Glenwood Springs for what started as a girls’ getaway and turned into a full-body reset and a reminder that travel can reshape how we live back home.

Plan Your Trip

Visit Glenwood Springs https://visitglenwood.com
Glenwood Hot Springs R...

Thanks to William Roam for sponsoring this episode! williamroam.com 

A single day in Bath reshaped how we travel—and how we unwind at home. We mapped a rail-first route through the UK, hopped off in this honey-stone city to dodge London traffic, and discovered how a smart stop can ripple through daily life. Between a whimsical dinner, a tiny yet brilliantly lit hotel room, and a slow morning perched above the River Avon at Pulteney ...

Looking for a smarter way to travel and a richer way to live when you get back? We’re launching Season Eight with A for Airbnb, sharing how a long road trip through Finland and Norway transformed from a checklist of sights into a string of homes. From a lakeside house with a wood-fired sauna in Puolanka to an RV in the Inari village, from the Arctic Circle at Rovaniemi to Norway’s brooding fjords, we used Airbnbs to slow down,...

Think Texas has no mountains? We open the map and prove otherwise with a deep dive into Big Bend’s peaks, canyons, and night skies—and we brought the region’s top insider, Robert Alvarez of Visit Big Bend, to guide the way. From the first “don’t speed in small towns” lesson to the last stargazing tip, this journey is built for travelers who want to plan well and wander slow.

www.VisitBigBend.com

We break down the real ...

A ghost town with a beating heart. That’s the promise—and surprise—of Terlingua, where rock walls, open skies, and a stubborn love of place turned ruins into a living community. We sit with Bill Ivey, whose father-son land deal on a car hood set off decades of stewardship: preserving the look of history while opening doors to comfort, music, and belonging.

Bill takes us inside the restoration of Perry Mansion and the hard ...

The desert doesn’t whisper here—it sings off canyon walls. We headed to Big Bend to chase that sound and came back with a pocket full of must-do hikes, a few hard-won driving tips, and a fresh respect for how wild West Texas still is. From the instant payoff of Santa Elena Canyon to the echoing turns of Boquillas, we show you how to thread quick stops with immersive moments so you actually feel the place, not just check it off.

A great Big Bend trip starts with a smart plan, not a scramble. We lay out a traveler’s roadmap to Terlingua—where to find the best tacos and tostadas, how to grab a table at the Starlight Theater without burning your evening, and which spots box up trail-ready lunches before you disappear into the park. From a press-lauded barbecue basket to soft-serve pints and breakfast burritos on the go, you’ll get a real feel for the food sce...

What if your Big Bend trip started with stillness? We kick off a West Texas series by dropping into Marathon, a tiny town that appears like a mirage after miles of open desert—and turns out to be the smartest basecamp for exploring Big Bend National Park. With guest insights from Samuel, guest services manager at the Gage Resort and Spa, we unpack how a 1927 hotel became an oasis of warm wood, courtyards, and gardens where the nois...

We kick things off with their origin story in Las Vegas before diving into how they built a channel that’s equal parts inspiration and problem-solving. If you’ve ever tried to choose between eight near-identical resorts or wondered whether a river cruise beats an ocean ship, this conversation delivers real answers. Meet Victor and MJ! Victor takes the lead on nature and specs, MJ brings luxury taste and practical comfort, and toget...

Trains changed the way we see Europe—less stress, more story. We break down how a Eurail pass turns a tangled map of national railways into a flexible, budget-friendly way to hop countries, chase views, and make room for the unexpected. From last-minute detours to castle-lined rivers, we share the wins, the snags, and the simple habits that make the journey smoother and more fun.

We dig into the nuts and bolts: when you mu...

A suitcase goes missing for nine days across multiple airlines and countries, and we turn the chaos into a clear, repeatable travel system. Alexa walks through the exact steps that lowered stress, sped up delivery, and maximized reimbursements while touring, teaching, and performing on the road.

We start with prevention that pays off when things go wrong: layer-by-layer packing photos, a simple cloud inventory, suitcase sh...

You know those trips where everything teeters on the edge until someone steps in and saves the day? That’s the energy of this episode. From a Disney cast member gifting a last-minute Lightning Lane to an advisor coaching clients through an Italian airport strike, these stories show what happens when expert travel advisors turn chaos into calm. You’ll hear adventures from Disney to Rome, the Maldives to the Black Forest—plus a catam...

Ready to order coffee without pointing, find the station without panic, and ask for help without freezing? We sat down with language coach David Durham to build a traveler’s toolkit of Spanish you’ll actually use in real life—from warm greetings to confident check requests, from essential directions to emergency phrases that keep you safe.

We start with the why: Spanish connects you across Mexico, Central and South America...

Join us as David Durham shares essential Dutch phrases that will help you navigate the Netherlands with confidence. Learn how speaking a few key words can enhance your experiences, connect you with locals, and make your travels smoother and more enjoyable. 

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Join us as we teach essential Portuguese phrases for travelers. Learn how to navigate with ease, order meals confidently, and connect meaningfully with locals to make your trip more enjoyable and authentic. 

Want Portuguese you can actually use the moment you land? We invited our friend David to walk us through a traveler’s toolkit that works in both Brazil and Portugal, focusing on sounds, phrases, and tiny tweaks that turn confusi...

Join us as we share practical Finnish phrases you’ll really use while traveling, along with cultural insights that make Finland a must-visit destination. Discover how a few words can enhance your experience and deepen your connection with this fascinating country. 

Think you can hear the difference between tuli, tuuli, and tulli? We dive into the sounds, rhythm, and real-life phrases that make Finnish surprisingly learnable—and endl...

Join us as we share essential French phrases to help you navigate Paris, Switzerland, and other French-speaking regions with confidence. Learn how politeness and the right expressions can open doors, create connections, and make your travels more enjoyable and authentic. 

Polite French is a travel cheat code. A single “Excusez-moi” can turn a hurried barista into a guide, a packed metro into a clear path, and a confused check into a...

Planning a trip to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland? Learn key German phrases and pronunciation tips to help you communicate confidently, connect with locals, and make your travels smoother and more enjoyable. 

Learning a few phrases in the local language can completely transform your travel experience. This couldn't be more true for German-speaking countries, where a little linguistic effort goes a remarkably long way in conne...