The Informed Traveler
The Informed Traveler
Travel Year in Review & Tennessee Holiday Celebrations
Only a few week's now until we turn the page from 2025 to 2026 so on this week's show Travel Expert Onanta Forbes joins me to look back on the year and review some of the top travel stories of 2025. Then we'll head to the state of Tennessee to learn what kind of traditions and celebrations they have during the holidays.
Well, hello and welcome to the Informed Traveler Podcast, a weekly travel podcast where our goal is to help you become a more informed traveler. I'm your host, Randy Sharman. Only a few weeks now until we turn the page from 2025 to 2026. So on this week's show, travel expert Onanta Forbes joins me to look back on the year and review some of the top travel stories of 2025. And then we'll head to the state of Tennessee to learn what kind of traditions and celebrations they have during the holidays. But first, let's kick things off, chatting with Travel Expert Onanta Forbes, who joins us each week to discuss some of the travel news and travel trends. You can follow her adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and X at Onanta Forbes. OnantaForbes.com is her website. Hello, Onanta.
SPEAKER_01:Hey, how are you?
SPEAKER_00:I'm well, thank you. It is that time of year to do a year in review um some of the stories, the travel stories. To me, there wasn't really any big blockbuster story. You know, there was the ongoing story about travel to the U.S. and uh what I call the unpredictability of travel because we had a lot of labor unrest uh here in Canada. And then there was Hurricane Melissa. Those are some of the ones that stood out for me. How about you?
SPEAKER_01:I think you're right. And I think also some of the um economic uncertainty as well as just the different pressures that uh people are seeing when they travel with the different transportation systems. And you know, you mentioned Hurricane Melissa, climate events once again influence travel decisions, whether you could go or not go. Um I think, you know, uh Jamaica is a very popular destination for Canadians, and that one probably hit hit hard or hit home because it the island remains a top winter destination. But um, you know, now it's it's open and actively welcoming Canadian visitors. So it does underscore um, I guess, rebuilding, which is just normal in travel.
SPEAKER_00:Well, yeah, I think these are just uh sometimes just normal things, especially weather events, um, you know, the politics behind uh the US travel and even the the economics, because our our Canadian dollar uh certainly isn't doing well against other currencies, and uh the the whole labor unrest thing too, uh which that could pop up at any time as well.
SPEAKER_01:Well, definitely um if you notice the ads on TV with the WestJet flight attendant strike and then Air Transat just dodged a bullet with their pilot strike. So definitely I think um people are are just going to have to realize that's just part of the the landscape now. And also just think about buying travel insurance because that will help you with trip interruption or disruption or cancellation and gives you peace of mind that if you have to move on a dime, you can.
SPEAKER_00:Mm-hmm. Well, exactly. And we uh constantly uh talk about uh travel insurance and the importance of it, not just uh for trip cancellation and interruption, but also for the medical part.
SPEAKER_01:Right, absolutely. And I think other things that are a growing concern, especially in uh Europe and Asia, is over tourism. Um, and Europe and Asia are two regions that are heavily favored by Canadian travelers. And so our popular destinations include Amsterdam, Greece, and Japan, which have introduced visitor caps, new regulations, and tourist taxes in their effort to manage congestion and protect local communities. So these measures may um have Canadians rethinking when they go, the destinations and their travel styles, especially if you're going for longer term. Because I know in Europe, say the Canary Islands, they don't they're not loving us in so with uh with uh you know tourist go home ads or or you know just different things. So you may want to look at secondary cities or maybe slower-paced itineraries, but that is a consideration because nobody wants to pay good money to be yelled at.
SPEAKER_00:Well, that's for sure. Uh it is that conundrum, right? Like uh destinations want tourism, they want the tourism dollars, but only to a certain point, and then it becomes diminishing returns.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. And um, so that was one of the trends of this year, as well as, as you mentioned, air travel within and beyond Canada. It it it it's a it's still a major paying point in in 2025. Um, you get the delays, you get the staffing shortages, you get the congestion at major hubs such as Toronto Pearson or Vancouver, Montreal. That really tests travelers' patience. There's also, whether you know or not, you um if you really kind of pay attention, there's rising airport fees and airfare costs, which you know strain people's budget and um also looking at um calls just on a government level for regulatory reform and improved passenger protection, because um there are times where you believe, and rightfully so, that you should get compensation, but it it's not always the case. So think about that too. Um and have I guess one of the biggest things in travel is have a plan B.
SPEAKER_00:Well, exactly. And through all of that, people still want to travel, obviously, because overtourism is still a problem. So regardless of all the the troubles and trials and and things uh people go through to get somewhere, they still want to go.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely, and they should go. Life's too short, it you know, it can change on a dime. So let's go. Um, if you can. Like obviously, if you financially can and you have the time and the resources to do it. Because definitely politics also shaped travel patterns. Like under the U.S. administration, there's been changes and some rhetoric regarding, you know, different things that certainly dampen Canadian travel to the U.S. You see that cross-border trips have declined. Um, a lot of Canadians are looking overseas or maybe even closer to home. Um, economic uncertainty, including recession fears and global tariff disputes. It just added another lay of cautions, making Canadians, rightfully so, increasingly price sensitive and value-driven when booking trips. But again, that's where the travel agent comes in because they have a broader scope that can maybe help you help you know with different options available to you. But then, you know, it's not all gloom and doom. Um, there's, you know, cruising is still hugely popular for Canadians. There's new ship launches with Disney, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean. That's generated huge interest, particularly among families and multi-generation groups, um, looking for cost and convenience. And then also on a hotel front like Hyatt's acquisition of Playa Hotels and Resorts. They expanded all inclusive options and destinations Canadians know well, like Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. So I think, in summary, travel in 2025 required Canadians to be more strategic, maybe, and planning with greater care, flexibility, and just awareness of what's going on in the world. Um, and like you said, uh Canadians continue to prioritize travel. They just adapt. And that's how we have to be able to do that.
SPEAKER_00:Part of that adaptation, too, and it goes back to your point of it's not all doom and gloom, is that travel to Canada was was quite good this year, and a lot of Canadian tour operators and destinations um were uh were quite happy with the results.
SPEAKER_01:Well, our Canadian dollar goes a long way for Europeans and even US people coming here. So, yes, so domestic um within Canada, I'm I I believe, and and stats will show that it's probably has grown in certain destinations, um, and and just the attractiveness of our country. Well, not only because economically, but just because we have a lot to offer.
SPEAKER_00:Well, we do, that is for sure. Now, on a personal level, uh our listeners will know that you did a lot of traveling. What was uh your highlight in your travel adventures this year? And there's a lot to choose from, so it's a tough question, I think.
SPEAKER_01:It's a good question. And that you know what, first of all, I just want to say how grateful I am and blessed I am that I was able to explore the world. Um because as I say, um it it's uh it's a it's it's nice to be able to do that and to do it when we can. Um I would say one of our highlights would be at the beginning of the year when we started our our long stay journey, uh escaping winter months, and went to Australia. Australia is a great destination to explore because it's easy. It's it is a big country just like Canada. You do have to plan accordingly. But for us like Canadians, um the language is is um easy. It's English, um, it's easy to drive, it's um there's so many different cities that you can visit, including um the their island of Tasmania. And the uh people are really quite lovely, whether it's the indigenous, aborig Aboriginal people, um, the Australians just in general, very well warm, very welcoming. Our dollar did well well there, and um, you know, got to do different modes of travel, whether it was train or driving a car or just enjoying the local um public transportation, easy to get around. So I'd have to say the sun and the surf and the people of Australia. Yes.
SPEAKER_00:Nice, very nice.
SPEAKER_01:And you? What about you? What did you enjoy?
SPEAKER_00:I bucked the trend that I went to the US a lot. So, and you know, we never get into politics here. It's it's one of those things, and I think we said before if you don't want to uh go to the US, don't. That's fine. Uh no judgment. And if you do, that's fine too. No judgment. And so I did. I I've always wanted to go to uh I'm a big uh Civil War uh buff, history buff. And uh our visit visit to uh Charleston, uh South Carolina was amazing. Got to visit Fort Sumter where the the Civil War started, so it was amazing to see that. Also, the highlights were uh Chicago, Louisiana, to taste some of the great foods of food of Louisiana. So uh yes, I I uh and it was it was nice to to to go to the United States and just see for yourself rather than just read the headlines and listen to the rhetoric.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, and I know we're in media, but sometimes media can be a little maybe over dramatic. Um so it's nice. It is it it sometimes can get carried away. Just like I what we experienced when we went to Jamaica just like early December. Yes, it was definitely hip, but it wasn't it wasn't the whole island. So you have to put things in perspective when um we looked at it. So I think you need to be pragmatic and to choose your sources of information carefully.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and again, if you uh want to go to a destination, no judgment, go enjoy it. Uh I mean you may never get another chance to do it. So, like you say, go just just travel. Just go and do it and learn and and uh experience it for yourself.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely, yes.
SPEAKER_00:So that was 2025. Uh here's to uh uh an exciting 2026 uh ahead, and we'll talk about some of the destinations on next week's show. Uh Best Places to Travel for 2026. So Onanda Forbes is a travel expert. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and ex at Onanta Forbes. OnandaForbes.com is her website. Merry Christmas, Onanta.
SPEAKER_01:And to you, enjoy the holiday season.
SPEAKER_00:This is the Informed Traveler Podcast. I'm Randy Sharman. Just want to remind you of our website, theinformed traveler.org. That's where you can find our contact page if you have any questions or comments about the podcast. You can also email me too with any questions you might have. My email address is Randy at the Informed Traveler.org. And you can check out our social media pages too at Facebook.com slash informed traveler, Instagram at informed traveler, or on X at Informed Traveler. That's where you'll find a number of videos and reels from our adventures throughout the year and audio clips from our past shows. Plus, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter. It's released at the beginning of every month. Our December issue is available now. Just go to our website, the informedtraveler.org, click on the newsletter button, and it'll take you right there. Or better yet, you can subscribe to it and have it arrive in your inbox each month. Well, like many places, Tennessee is gearing up for the holidays or has been for the past few weeks. So joining us now to share what some of those celebrations and festivities are is Amanda Murphy. She's the director of communications for Tennessee Tourism Tnvacation.com is their website. Hi, Amanda. Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, all that stuff.
SPEAKER_02:Happy holidays and um hello from Tennessee.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Um, you know, there's lots of places that have holiday traditions and festivals and lights and decorations, and you name it. Uh, but what makes Tennessee unique when it comes to the holidays and and all the festivals and things that are going on?
SPEAKER_02:Tennessee has something for everyone. We do holidays like nowhere else, whether it's huge concerts to getting away to the mountains, um, live music on Bill Street. We really have something for every traveler here in Tennessee.
SPEAKER_00:Nice. Well, let's talk about that. Uh I think when people uh think Tennessee, uh the first place that comes to mind is Nashville. We can start there because it's well, it's a it's a good hub for everybody to land and and get their feet on the ground and get their bearings going, right? You find that for most people?
SPEAKER_02:Nashville is a great um easy destination. The great thing about Nashville is it's connected. Uh the airport here is one of the fastest growing airports in the nation, and we've got new lots of new direct flights. So you can get here from virtually anywhere in the world with with a lot of ease these days. So, yes, it makes sense. You might start your trip in Nashville.
SPEAKER_00:Well, and I think one of the things that you have over, well, I'm gonna say uh for us people living up north is the weather. That helps a lot when it comes to just exploring and and and being uh looking at the all the holiday festivals and uh things like that, right?
SPEAKER_02:Yes, we uh we do have cold. It is cold right now, so I want to be honest about that. Um, but we are fortunate we don't typically get the massive lows and major snowstorms, but we have a lot of fun when it snows here. Um, you just have to be prepared for a little bit of ice with that because we're kind of on that line where the weather changes.
SPEAKER_00:So talk about some of the things that are going on in Nashville right now, and then we'll expand out into the the rest of the state.
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely. Nashville's a great city to come and enjoy the holidays. Right now we've got Cheekwood is uh glow. They have a one-mile trail with over a million twinkling lights. It I just it's it's incredible. It is like a fairy land of winter wonderland there. So if you're if you're interested in seeing how they've decorated their gardens, it's a beautiful historic mansion with a lot to see. And they actually are decorated by former Chief House, Chief White House florist Laura Dowling. So it's really incredible um to see what she's pulled together. And then the zoo would also be at the top of my list. Animals are fun to see all year round, but they really bring the lights out at Christmas with silk lanterns, they just transform into a holiday escape that's really unlike anything.
SPEAKER_00:Well, plus, it's not very uh difficult to find uh music, if that's your thing in Nashville, is it?
SPEAKER_02:This is true. The Opry is a great place to celebrate the holidays, as is the historic Ryman Auditorium. You can find some wonderful Christmas shows and not to not to forget the symphony, the Skirmer Horns Symphony, which is a magical building. Um, I they are doing the home alone uh redo right now with the symphony orchestrating that. So it's really a beautiful place to get out and see and experience music.
SPEAKER_00:And it seems to me too, like uh, you know, a lot of people they like to be with their families at home during the actual holiday, Christmas days and things like that, things like that. But these start in November and run uh right up until uh almost New Year's Eve, right? So you so if you want to get into the holiday spirit, uh you can do that uh by visiting before the the Christmas season really gets going, right?
SPEAKER_02:It's a party all year long in Tennessee, and especially in December. We just have so much magic. You know, you you can start planning now for the holidays or come on this week and it's ready to go. We um there's just so much to explore. So, yes, we are decorated and we're ready for ready for visitors to come see us.
SPEAKER_00:Now talk about some of the other areas uh other than Nashville. I know that uh, you know, obviously there's there's Dollywood, there's Memphis, uh so there's so much to choose from. So maybe you might want to start your holiday visit maybe back in October so you get it all in.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I do there is a lot to see. I want to start with um Carols and Barrels, which is our whiskey trails activation around the holidays. So they really get their distillers to go all out, and that's a statewide experience, but they're taking um whiskey experiences and bringing it to the customers. So there are lots of pop-up bars that really bring it all together, and you can find those all across the state. So that's something we're really proud of. And we know the distillers do a great job as well as the bars. So that's a fun, a fun way to get out and explore in every corner of the state. So that would be the first thing I might suggest. If you're not sure where to go, um, perhaps find some carols and barrels to get you started and in the spirit. And and literally and figuratively.
SPEAKER_00:And what else do we have?
SPEAKER_02:You could head over to Memphis, Bill Street, live music. You you get live music all year long, and no doubt at the holiday season, that's a great way to experience it. I love personally a big fan of the Peabody, they are all decked out right now with lots of trees. Their rooftop bar is magnificent and a great view of the city. And then you'll want to stick around because they also do a great New Year's Eve celebration. So that's also one not to miss. And they're famous for their ducks. So if you haven't been to the Peabody, you have to time it so that you can see the ducks. So one of my favorite ways to see the ducks is to stick around, have a cocktail, they have a lovely bar in the lounge, and um stay for the duck procession at five when they go back upstairs to their home for the night.
SPEAKER_00:Tell me about. The uh Christmas in the Village. Uh, this is uh the great Smoky Uh Mountain Heritage Center. That's further, I'm gonna say, east from Nashville, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yes, smokies are a wonderful way to experience Christmas. Um, we have so many wonderful small towns over there. So, Christmas in the village is a great way to get a taste of the makers. They really bring the Appalachian tradition to life. Um, so you're gonna get to see people that are uh in there in the spirit. They're sewing, they're cooking, they're doing all the things that have been passed down through generations in the Appalachian region.
SPEAKER_00:And uh, of course, there's Dollywood. Um Dolly Dolly Parton seems to do it outright no matter what time of year. So it's gotta be really magical to spend a few days uh at Dollywood over the holidays.
SPEAKER_02:Dollywood is so magical at the holidays. I can't even fully describe how many lights there are, but you cannot miss them. You will walk in and they will just at every corner there are twinkling lights, a glow, tunnels of lights to walk through. Um you know what's great about Dollywood is there's truly something for everyone this time of year. Uh we get families from generations that will show up, whether it's you know, from small, from young to old, there is something for everyone. So the holidays are really special at Dollywood. You can you can sense her touch on it, and it's just magical, but you have to have some of Dolly's world famous cinnamon bread. It's it's you know, it there's no better time to have her cinnamon bread than at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_00:That sounds good.
SPEAKER_02:It's lovely.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Okay, Chattanooga now.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, Chattanooga is also magical. Like, I have so many favorites. I feel like I just keep going on and on. I'm like, oh, that's magical too. But I was actually just at Rock City a few weeks ago. They are completely decked out. So Rock City is an outdoor experience, but they really nail it at the holidays. It is a magical place. You don't want to miss their lights. It is glow, glowing trails and gnomes, and just um all the things that make the holiday season magical. They've got, once you get about to the halfway point at Rock City, there's a restaurant. They've got some themed beverages, and you can have a meal overlooking the mountainside. It is just, it's simply magical. And when I was there, um someone was paragliding by us and waving at us as we ate lunch. So it really is a magical experience. And then you keep Miss Ruby Falls, which is also wonderful all year round, that they really bring out the extra, extra joy at the Christmas celebration.
SPEAKER_00:And it's it seems to me like the to if you really were planning something like this, you could spend a couple days in Nashville, and then, you know, I suppose the best thing to do is rent a car and just explore these places, right?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, if you're comfortable driving, renting a car is a great way to do it. Uh, there are ways to explore the state now that don't require a car rental, but you know, come, I think you need about two to three weeks to really hit it all. So come at the beginning of December and just go ahead and make it a month-long celebration if you can.
SPEAKER_00:So now getting back to the driving thing, are there planned tours where uh you could just sign up for a tour or and hop on and and not have to worry about that?
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely. There actually is a bus service now from Nashville. If you're flying into Nashville, you can hop on the bus. They will take you straight to Dollywood, which is great. It's just a couple hours on the road. Um, and they will drop you at Dollywood and make sure you have a magical day and then get you back. Then we have some great tour companies. Mint Julep is one um in Nashville as well that does a lot of themed tours and will make sure that you get to experience all the fun and joy of the season.
SPEAKER_00:Let's talk about New Year's now. What are some of the New Year's traditions that you would find, I don't know, in a typical home in Tennessee?
SPEAKER_02:Well, New Year's is a big deal in Tennessee. It really brings our music to life. So you're gonna find a lot of big celebrations in Nashville and Memphis. And then because we are an outdoor destination as well, a lot of people like to just have a cosier night, maybe get out to one of our state parks or one of our national parks and have a quieter experience so that they're ready to bring in the New Year's Eve with a hike.
SPEAKER_00:Uh now looking into the into the new year 2026, is there anything that uh catches your eye that uh you might want to mention that people put on their their calendar and maybe plan a trip then?
SPEAKER_02:Oh my goodness, 2026 is shaping up to be another incredible year for Tennessee. Um, we talked a little bit about Dolly Parton's magical touch at Dollywood. She's got more magic lined up for us in 2026. Her new Song Teller Hotel is opening in Nashville. They're already taking reservations. That is aiming to be a summer opening in 2026. Um, and then she'll have a new museum in there as well. So we're really excited about that. Um, 2026 is also what I would consider the year of food. We just got 36 Michelin recommendations and stars across the state at various restaurants at all levels. So I think 2026 is the year I would say you need to eat your way through Tennessee.
SPEAKER_00:Food, music, festivals, it sounds like a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_02:We have a lot going on. It's a great time to come see us.
SPEAKER_00:Well, people can check out your website, tnvacation.com. Amanda Murphy is the Director of Communications for Tennessee Tourism. Uh, it was a real pleasure chatting with you, Amanda, and happy holidays.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you so much, Randy. Happy holidays to you as well.
SPEAKER_00:And that is our show for this week. If you have comments or questions, we'd love to hear from you. If you have a show idea, send that along as well. My email is randy at theinformed traveler.org. If you like what you heard, tell a friend. You can check out our website too at theinformedraveler.org. In the meantime, thanks for listening. Travel safe and be an informed traveler.