We are travel enthusiasts who do not claim to be professionals! Instead we are two Halifax, NS natives with travel blogs who somehow found one another on the internet and now, we have a podcast!!
Join us every week as we talk about our favourite destinations, travel tips, travel fails and all things travel!
We have a big passion for travelling and talking about travel so we hope you will listen and join the conversation.
Hey everyone. Welcome back to Travel Mug Podcast. It's not Travel Tip Tuesday, but we thought that we would wrap up 2023. I can't believe that we're here, Meggan
Meggan:
No, neither. Neither can i. A, this podcast is here and B, that we're as humanity is at the end of 2023.
Jenn:
Travel Mug Podcast is three and a half years old. I, I don't, it doesn't seem like we've been doing this for that long.
Meggan:
I know our baby's growing up. It's making me so sad.
Jenn:
It will be going to school before. We know. I thought that I would throw out a couple of fun facts for our listeners. So, our most downloaded episode that we released in 2023 is a beginner's guide to Montreal. Um, the most downloaded of all time is a beginner's guide to New York City, a Beginner's Guide to London, and then packing. So people love the beginner's guides and need help with packing.
Meggan:
Well see if they're gonna go to these places. They need to know how to pack. So I think those are a, a good marriage.
Jenn:
Yes. we welcomed eight new guests onto the podcast this year, which I know they're all great. And it was our best year ever for downloads, and it was, um, it was great. So we're just really thankful for all of the downloads and shares. And Meggan, do you have like a personal favorite episode or one that stands out to you from, uh, from the last little bit?
Meggan:
I do. So I, I know that your answer is similar and it's, I'm not stealing it. I think we both just have similar tastes, but for me, I really liked, uh, the, how travel has changed over time episode it was kind of a departure from like our normal content and it was really fun to research. I'm also super proud of our beginner's guides. the one for London, England, of course, . This year brought us a lot of new listeners, and they always are usually a hit, and I'm glad our listeners enjoy them. So more of those to come for sure. What about you?
Jenn:
No. Yeah, it's, I mean, it's hard to pick a favorite. I remember being so excited when CATSA emailed us to reached out to be on the show. I was like, CATSA that, like government was
Meggan:
I know. We're both like the Canadian government would like to join our podcast.
Jenn:
what? And I mean, I think it was a really good and helpful episode, but I just remember being like.
Meggan:
I know it was an honor. Honest to goodness,
Jenn:
it really was It super exciting. And uh, yeah, that was super cool. And, and same, I really love the travel, how travel has changed episode, like it was just interesting to research for sure. And we also got to travel to some fun places this year. So I went to Disney with my husband and then I also explored some Florida outside of the parks, and I fell in love with Mount Dora. I'm not even lying to you Now that it's cold outside here. We've been looking at real estate and Mount Dora, just like, um, how can we move there? Um, ,we also went to Boston this year for the first time. We hadn't been there before. We got to see John Mayer and I really loved Boston as well. And, uh. We got to do some, some other, you know, around Nova Scotia trips. A lot of time spent in the Valley, which is one of my favorite places. It is my favorite place in Nova Scotia, I think outside of the south shore. So, yeah, lots of fun stuff. Meggan, why don't you recap where, where you've been this year.
Meggan:
So 2023 took us to Cuba in the winter. So that was in February. While it was not everything we hoped and dreamed for, uh, we had perfect weather, perfect beach. So, you know, I'm not sad about it now. Um, looking back, those two things were definitely a highlight of the trip. also got back to Bar Harbor a couple times. Of course, we had lots of amazing weekend getaways this year. The year before I had huge fomo. After Europe was done, we had nothing booked, and I'm like, I'm not living like that again. Um, so we had lots of weekends away. We stayed at some really cool places this year, and a big shout out to New Brunswick. Um, we found, some of our most, uh, favorite Airbnbs there this I would have to say though, our most favorite one was actually locally located in Clare Nova Scotia. I booked Peter's 50th birthday. It was perfect. So lots of great exploring around, uh, new Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Jenn:
Yeah. So Meggan, what are your travel plans for 2024?
Meggan:
So, I am sure we will again, do a couple of weekends to break things up in the winter, uh, bar Harbor in May, as always. And then we are going back to Iceland for two weeks in June. So
Jenn:
Yay.
Meggan:
I know, I know. We're obviously keeping an eye on, and the people and our thoughts there in Iceland hoping that the, a volcano does not erupt and things can go back to normal. Nothing to do with the trip. Just hopeful for the people in the country itself. We'll figure the rest out. Um, we do still need to plan another trip. We intend to do a full week away somewhere.. In September-ish. We're still trying to figure that out. I have a plan. I need to get Peter on board. more to come and plus my sister and I are going to meet up in Toronto. She lives in Calgary. so likely for a girl girls weekend sometime, maybe in September as well. What about you?
Jenn:
Ooh. So first up, we have Florida in February. So similar to our trip from last year. We're doing a couple days at Disney and then a couple days with our friends. We're hoping to finally cross the Kennedy Space Center off of my list. My husband's been before, but it's been on my list for like the last several trips and we just haven't done it. So this time, um, we've also booked tickets to see Jason Mraz in Bangor, Maine, which I'm very excited. Excited about seeing Jason Mraz and uh, yeah, I think we'll do a little bit of Maine exploring. We may even check out Meggan's beloved Bar Harbor just to like see what all the fuss is about. You know,
Meggan:
right.
Jenn:
uh, I'm also hoping for one other bigger trip in 2024, perhaps to Europe, probably in the fall. We haven't ironed out those details yet, but I'm like, you know, similar to you. I'm like, I'm working on it.
Meggan:
Yes. Understood. Understood. We will update when everything comes together. sure. Now, from your perspective, obviously our perspective, what can people expect from us in 2024?
Jenn:
Yeah, I mean, more fun episodes. We know that you guys love the Beginner's Guide episodes, so we're planning to keep expanding on that. Of course, you'll get, um, travel, um, wrap up episodes, trip report episodes after we travel a bit, and Meggan, maybe we'll take a weekend getaway together. I mean, who knows?
Meggan:
I think it's probably time. Yeah, maybe.
Jenn:
Hopefully won't podcast. We'll still be friends
Meggan:
I'm sure there'll be some stories outta that one.
Jenn:
so we hope that you'll stick around to find out. So, uh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of both of our hearts. Um, we wish you and your loved ones all the very best in 2024, and we can't wait to spend more time with you.
Meggan:
Definitely Happy New Year. We'll talk soon. All those good things. It's been such a great year, Jen. Thank you for being, um, the best podcast partner, girl could ever dream of. You're the very best and you are the heart and soul, and thank you for everything. It's, it's a pleasure and let's keep going.
Jenn:
let's keep going. Like we're, we're just getting started.