The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast
The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast is where travel, food, and culture meet. Hosted by San Francisco–based travel writer, storyteller, and mom of two teens Shannon Gomes, the show features thoughtful conversations with experts in the food and wine world, avid travelers, creators, tastemakers, and locals who reveal what truly makes a destination memorable—and how to experience it like a local, with food always at the center of the journey.
From unforgettable meals and hidden neighborhoods to meaningful cultural experiences and practical travel insight, each episode is designed to inspire curious travelers—especially Gen X listeners who value depth, connection, and great food—to explore the world more intentionally and to bring a sense of discovery back home.
Shannon is also the writer behind The Gomes Guide (https://thegomesguide.substack.com), a weekly travel-focused Substack filled with stories, recommendations, and inspiration for meaningful travel. Listeners are invited to subscribe for fresh ideas, insider tips, and destination inspiration delivered each week.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or simply dreaming about one, The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast celebrates connection, community, and the joy of experiencing new places through food and travel.
The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast
Norway Travel Guide: Oslo, the Lofoten Islands & Arctic Adventures with Dana Smith
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Thinking about Norway? This episode will make you want to go.
I sit down with Dana Smith to talk about her unforgettable trip from Oslo to the Lofoten Islands, one of the most stunning (and surprisingly accessible) places in the Arctic Circle.
We start in Oslo, where Dana shares her first impressions of the city, from its quiet, local feel to hidden gems she discovered just by wandering (including a pop-up speakeasy and some very cool natural wine spots). She also shares one of her best travel tips: using Google Maps to pin places in real time so you always know what’s nearby.
Then we head north… way north.
The Lofoten Islands are all dramatic peaks, turquoise water, and tiny fishing villages, and Dana describes that feeling of constantly stopping to say, “Wait… is this real?” We talk about hiking, cold plunging in the Arctic, staying in traditional fisherman cabins, and why renting a camper van might be the ultimate way to experience it all.
We also get into the practical side of planning a Norway trip, including when to go (hello midnight sun), what to pack (layers, always), how easy public transportation is, and why Norway’s deep love of the outdoors shapes the entire experience.
If you’re dreaming about Scandinavia, epic landscapes, and a trip that feels completely different from anywhere else, this episode is full of inspiration and helpful tips.
👉 For more travel inspiration, tips, and behind-the-scenes stories, subscribe to my Substack at The Gomes Guide.