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
Traveling Patagonia: Overlanding, Glaciers & Adventure in Chile and Argentina with Carolyn Shimek
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What’s it really like to travel to one of the most remote places on earth?
In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn Shimek to talk about her two-month adventure through Patagonia, spanning both Chile and Argentina, where she and her husband traveled by truck camper, hiked across glaciers, and fully embraced life off the grid.
We get into how they planned such an epic trip (including working with a local travel planner), and what it’s actually like to overland across Patagonia, from finding campsites using apps like iOverlander to navigating unpredictable weather, ferry delays, and long stretches without gas stations.
Carolyn shares the real experience of being out there, from extreme winds and constantly changing landscapes to those “is this even real?” moments surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and wide-open wilderness.
We also talk about some unforgettable highlights, like trekking across a glacier (with a slightly nerve-wracking twist), ziplining over rivers just to continue the hike, and boating past icebergs and seals in near-total silence.
Beyond Patagonia, we touch on side trips to places like Tierra del Fuego and the Atacama Desert, plus cultural experiences like learning from an indigenous weaver and sipping pisco sours after long days of adventure.
And if you’re thinking about planning a trip like this, Carolyn shares what you need to know, from packing the right gear (hello wool base layers and serious wind protection) to building in flexibility when things don’t go according to plan.
If you’re craving a true adventure, this episode will inspire you to go bigger, stay longer, and embrace the unknown.
👉 For more travel inspiration, tips, and behind-the-scenes stories, subscribe to my Substack at The Gomes Guide.