On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys return to discussing one of Ryan’s personal heroes: the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. They discuss Olmsted’s signature style, how his family cashed in on the family name, and 8 top Olmsted designs outside of the world famous Central Park.  Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Ryan’s interview with a renowned Olmsted biographer https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-101-the-travels-of-frederick-law-olmsted/ Olmsted 200 https://olmsted200.org/ Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site https://www.nps.gov/frla/learn/management/index.htm  Biltmore in Asheville, NC https://www.biltmore.com/blog/olmsteds-deliberate-approach/ Back Bay Fens in Boston, MA https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/park-overview/back-bay-fens/  US Capitol Grounds in Washington D.C. https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/buildings-grounds/capitol-building/capitol-grounds Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT https://www.myrecordjournal.com/Archive/2015/11/ColumnJWK-rj-111315  Prospect Park in Brooklyn https://www.prospectpark.org/learn-more/park-history-slideshow/  Belle Isle in Detroit, MI https://www.modeldmedia.com/features/belle-isle-olmsted-legacy-041816.aspx  Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, NY https://www.saratoga.com/hotspots/congress-park/  Olmsted NYC Restaurant http://olmstednyc.com/  Rick Steves Interview in the New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/rick-steves-says-hold-on-to-your-travel-dreams 

Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast

Top Olmsted Picks

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan brings us back to Quebec City and Montreal in our first ever follow-up travel guide episode. Ryan recommends great new bars and restaurants, along with some old standbys and natural wonders. And don’t worry: there’s plenty of French names to be massacred.  Montreal Episode:  https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-69-montreal/ Quebec City Episode:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/qu%C3%A9bec-city/id1438098925?i=1000463905461 Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec https://www.mnbaq.org/ Lévis Forts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9vis_Forts Montmorency Fallshttps://www.sepaq.com/destinations/parc-chute-montmorency/ Little Burgundy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Burgundy September Cafe   https://www.septembersurf.com/ -  Vin Mon Lapin  Until November - The Infinite:  https://phi.ca/en/exhibitions/the-infinite-montreal/ Lachine Canal National Historic Site https://www.pc.gc.ca/fr/lhn-nhs/qc/canallachine Sam Knight’s “New Yorker” article on the British National Trust and its grappling with a history of slavery and empire https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/23/britains-idyllic-country-houses-reveal-a-darker-history   

Montreal and Quebec City 2021

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan talks about his favorite New England neighbor: Portland, Maine! Portland offers gorgeous seaside walks, standout restaurants, and plenty of historical and cultural must-dos. Portland is also heaven for the discerning beer-enthusiast. Plus, National Park conspiracies! Things We Talked About:  Quebec City podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/qu%C3%A9bec-city/id1438098925?i=1000463905461  Smithsonian National Postal Museum interview https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smithsonian-national-postal-museum-with-director/id1438098925?i=1000438061317  Holy Donut https://theholydonut.com/  Duckfat https://www.duckfat.com/  Hugo’s https://www.hugosmaine.com/  Eventide https://www.eventideoysterco.com/  Eventide Cookbook https://www.eventideoysterco.com/shop/eventide-cookbook  The Honey Paw https://www.thehoneypaw.com/  Izakaya Minato https://www.izakayaminato.com/  Nura https://www.nuraportland.com/  Longfellow Books https://www.longfellowbooks.com/  Allagash Brewing Company https://www.allagash.com/  Bissell Brothers https://bissellbrothers.com/  Oxbow Blending and Bottling https://oxbowbeer.com/  Austin Street Brewery https://www.austinstreetbrewery.com/  Lone Pine Brewing Company https://lonepinebrewery.com/  Goodfire Brewing https://www.goodfirebrewing.com/  Breakwater Lighthouse/Bug Light https://www.visitportland.com/blog/2020/03/11/bug-light-park/  Choragic Monument of Lysicrates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choragic_Monument_of_Lysicrates  Portland Freedom Trail https://www.mainehistory.org/PDF/walkingtourmap.pdf  Eastern Promenade https://easternpromenade.org/the-eastern-promenade  Eastern Promenade Olmsted plan https://www.portlandmaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3377/Eastern-Promenade-Master-Plan  Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad https://mainenarrowgauge.org/   West End https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_(Portland,_Maine)  Peak’s Island ferry https://www.cascobaylines.com/schedules/peaks-island-schedule/  Peak’s Island https://www.cascobaylines.com/islands/peaks-island-maine/  Casco Bay Mail Boat https://www.cascobaylines.com/maine-boat-tours/specialty-cruises/mailboat/  The Missing 411 National Park conspiracy episode https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4794  Milk Street’s Sweet Corn Cake https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/mexican-sweet-corn-cake 

Portland, Maine

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan interviews journalist Steve Holt on the 100 year history of the Appalachian Trail, from the luminaries that conceived it to the conservationists protecting it today. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Quebec episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/qu%C3%A9bec-city/id1438098925?i=1000463905461  An Idea Turns 100: A Photo History of the Appalachian Trail: https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/history/an-idea-turns-100-a-photo-history-of-the-appalachian-trail/  Steve Holt https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/author/sholt/  Appalachian Mountain Club https://www.outdoors.org/about/  Appalachian Trail Conservancy https://appalachiantrail.org/  Dartmouth’s Rauner Library https://www.dartmouth.edu/library/rauner/  The Trouble History of Inclusion in American Outdoor Spaces https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/history/the-troubled-history-of-inclusion-in-american-outdoor-spaces/  Ryan’s Delaware Water Gap Hike https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/appalachian-nst.htm  Kiernan’s Bear Mountain Hike https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/connecticut/appalachian-trail-bear-mountain-to-race-brook-falls 

100 Years of the Appalachian Trail

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan and Kiernan share their top picks for travel movies that really get their wanderlust pumping! Though Ryan might be a bit more of a cinephile, Kiernan’s had enough hours of plane-viewing to hold his own. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Dump trucks supercut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UluH0QmnwfM&t=1095s  Our interview with the creator of Accidentally Wes Anderson https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/exploring-accidentally-wes-anderson-with-creator-wally-koval/  Talented Mr. Ripley https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134119/  “The Grand Tour” episode https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-80-the-grand-tour/  Before Sunrise https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112471/  Midnight in Paris https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1  The Trip https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740047/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2  Grand Budapest Hotel https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0  Planes, Trains and Automobiles https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093748/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0  HBO’s The White Lotus https://www.hbo.com/the-white-lotus  “CBS Sunday” Morning Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cbssundaymorning/ 

Our Top Travel Movies

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan interviews Justin Martin, the author of “Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted” about the legacy of America’s most influential and prolific landscape architect. Plus, Olmsted’s journeys into nature inspire the boys to recount their favorite state parks in the Last Stop. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Justin Martin’s website https://justinmartin1.com/ “Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted” https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Place-Frederick-Olmsted-Lawrence/dp/0306821486  “A Fierce Glory: Antietam—The Desperate Battle That Saved Lincoln and Doomed Slavery” https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Place-Frederick-Olmsted-Lawrence/dp/0306821486  National Parks are Overrun https://nypost.com/2021/06/14/pandemic-fatigued-americans-are-overrunning-national-parks/ 

The Travels of Frederick Law Olmsted

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys celebrate the show’s 100 episode milestone with a major update on the Quest for Rick Steves and a visit from the show’s most popular guest. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Rick Steves on Out of Office video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC4Fj53Wbu8  Conor Knighton interview from Episode 82 https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-82-every-national-park-with-conor-knighton/  In the Jailhouse Now https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-7-in-the-jailhouse-now/  Historic Homes in America https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-4-historic-houses-in-america/ 

Rick Steves and Conor Knighton

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan wraps up the Great Boston Trilogy by diving deep into Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands. Kiernan speaks to Boston Harbor Now’s Director of Programming Rebecca Smerling, who shares her encyclopedic knowledge of the must-do’s and secret gems of Boston’s epic waterfront. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Boston Harbor Islands https://www.bostonharborislands.org/  Boston Harborwalk https://www.bostonharbornow.org/what-we-do/explore/harborwalk/  USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/visit/museum-ship/plan-your-visit/  Boston Sea Wall Murals https://seawalls.org/activation/boston-usa/  Long Wharf Middle Passage Marker https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/12/02/in-the-age-of-black-lives-matter-new-england-faces-its-own-role-in-slavery  Deer Island tour https://www.mwra.com/02org/html/faqstidi.htm  Castle Island Sugar Bowl Walk https://www.mass.gov/doc/castle-island-trail-map/download  Spectacle Island https://www.bostonharborislands.org/spectacle-island/  Georges Island https://www.bostonharborislands.org/georges-island/  Historic Boston Light Lighthouse https://www.nps.gov/boha/learn/historyculture/boston-light.htm  Blackberries on Lovells Island https://www.bostonharborislands.org/lovells-island/  Little Island https://littleisland.org/  London Highline https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/26/a-new-sky-garden-for-london 

Boston Part 3: Boston Harbor & Harbor Islands

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan interviews Wally Koval, the creator of “Accidentally Wes Anderson,” the brilliant Instagram account—and now book!—capturing the most interesting and idiosyncratic places on Earth. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Accidentally Wes Anderson: AWA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accidentallywesanderson AWA Website & Newsletter: https://accidentallywesanderson.com/ AWA Book:  https://accidentallywesanderson.com/book/ “Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted” https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Place-Frederick-Olmsted-Lawrence/dp/0306821486 Rick Steves Monday Night Travel https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel

Exploring “Accidentally Wes Anderson” with Creator Wally Koval

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan and Kiernan put on their marketing hats and analyze the many ad campaigns that are trying to convince people to travel post-Covid. In other words, the boys dig up campaigns from around the world and snark about how they would have done it better, because of course they would have. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Boston “All Inclusive” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7F1VCrt0BY  Portugal “Hello World. It’s Me, Tomorrow.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgRwvUxmhOM  Croatia “Safe Stay in Croatia” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ_1pn_JOTU  Redmond, Washington “You Stay You Pay” https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/redmond-wash-will-pay-you-to-visit-during-covid-16043806.php  Indonesia “Waiting for You in Indonesia” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtQb3t_2SPA  Utah “Forever Mighty” https://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/forever   

Post-Covid Travel Ad Campaigns

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us on a tour of one of his favorite places on earth—Brooklyn! With museums, parks, art festivals, and standout restaurants, who needs Manhattan? Plus, Ryan being Ryan and Brooklyn Being Brooklyn, natural wine is discussed at length.  Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Bushwick’s Murals and Galleries https://freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/brooklyn-tours/bushwick-brooklyn-walking-tour/ Bushwick Open Studios  https://www.instagram.com/officialbushwickopenstudios Our episode on Natural Wine in Brooklyn:  https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-24-natural-wine-in-brooklyn/ Two new favs: https://www.winonasbk.com/https://www.beaubrooklyn.com/ Two older favs:  https://www.legaragebrooklyn.com/ https://www.llamainnnyc.com/ Big Onion Tours https://www.bigonion.com/tours/  Secret Brooklyn Book https://jonglezpublishing.com/product/secret-brooklyn/  Sugaring at Maple Corner Farm http://www.maplecornerfarm.com/  Autobiographical novel about 1970s Bushwick. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/books/review/jacqueline-woodson-another-brooklyn.html

Ryan's Brooklyn

 On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan takes us back to Massachusetts for the second installment of the Great Boston Trilogy. With the big blockbuster attractions behind us, Kiernan covers his personal favorite parks, museums, and universities. Warning: he does mention Harvard excessively. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Emerald Necklace Conservancy https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/  Franklin Park Zoo Remains https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/abandoned-zoo-ma/  Minuteman National Park https://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm Minuteman Poster by Paul Rand https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/minute-man-35737  Arnold Arboretum https://arboretum.harvard.edu/  JFK Presidential Library Coconut https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/coconut-bearing-rescue-message-mo-634852   New England Aquarium https://www.neaq.org/  Museum of Science https://www.mos.org/  “The Alchemist” at MIT https://listart.mit.edu/public-art-map/alchemist  MIT Great Dome http://museum.mit.edu/150/70  MIT Campus Map https://whereis.mit.edu/  Sol LeWitt at MIT https://listart.mit.edu/public-art-map/bars-color-within-squares-mit  MIT Museum https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/  3 Lies on John Harvard https://blog.dce.harvard.edu/summer/3-lies-harvard  Harvard Art Museums https://harvardartmuseums.org/  Rothko at Harvard https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/watching-them-turn-off-the-rothkos   Harvard Natural History Museum Glass Flowers https://hmnh.harvard.edu/glass-flowers  Northlandz Trainset https://northlandz.com/  New River Gorge National Park https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/travel/national-park-new-river-gorge.html 

Boston Part 2: Kiernan’s Picks

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan talks to travel journalist and consumer advocate Christoper Elliott on how the pandemic has changed travel and what the next year will look like as vaccinated people start to head out on the road and into the skies again. Elliott writes for USA Today, the Washington Post, and Forbes. Plus, Kiernan sings the praises of used bookstores (don’t worry—there’s no actual singing.) Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Christopher on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/chriselliotts Christopher on the Web:  https://chriselliotts.com/ https://www.elliott.org/ “Boston Statues” https://www.amazon.com/Boston-Statues-Katharine-Knowles/dp/0827170157  Grounds for Sculpture https://www.groundsforsculpture.org/ 

USA Today’s Christopher Elliott on the Future of Travel

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan welcomes back Amy Virshup, the editor of the New York Times Travel section. Amy and Kiernan dive deep into this year’s “52 Places to Love” list and the challenges of travel journalism in the midst of a global pandemic. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: NYT’s “52 Places to Love” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/travel/places-to-visit-vacation.html  Turkmenistan’s Gates of Hell https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-gates-of-hell-turkmenistan  Slovenia’s Church of the Holy Trinity https://www.istria-culture.com/en/the-holy-trinity-church-in-hrastovlje-i13 

NYT Travel Editor Amy Virshup Strikes Back!

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan discuss Boston’s biggest attractions, from educational walks to lovely parks, stellar museums to historic graveyards. And of course, what’s a trip to Boston without taking in a baseball game at Fenway and belting out “Sweet Caroline”? Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Freedom Trail https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/  Boston Common https://www.boston.gov/parks/boston-common  Public Garden https://www.boston.gov/parks/public-garden  Duck Statues https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/make-way-for-ducklings-statue  Ether Monument https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/donate/ether-monument/  Granary Burying Ground https://www.bostonpreservation.org/advocacy-project/granary-burying-ground  Old State House/Boston Massacre site https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/osh.htm  Paul Revere House https://www.paulreverehouse.org/  Old North Church https://www.oldnorth.com/  USS Constitution https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/  Bunker Hill Monument https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/bhm.htm  National Park Black Heritage Trail https://www.nps.gov/boaf/virtual-black-heritage-trail-tour.htm  Beacon Hill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Hill,_Boston  North End https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Boston  Museum of Fine Arts https://www.mfa.org/  Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum https://www.gardnermuseum.org/  Symphony Hall https://www.bso.org/brands/symphony-hall/about-us/historyarchives/the-history-of-symphony-hall.aspx  Little Boy saying “Wow” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZetePo1VhYo  Fenway Park https://www.mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/tours  John Adams https://www.hbo.com/john-adams  The Golden Pinecone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_State_House 

Boston Part 1: The Must-Sees

Out of Office is a travel podcast hosted by us, Ryan Davis and Kiernan Schmitt. From early childhood, we were each infected with a serious case of wanderlust (among other things.) We define travel broadly, from local day trips to high-flyin’ overseas adventures. Each week, we dig into one topic—ranging from the serious to the silly, the practical to the outlandish—and give advice on how to get out there and explore the world.

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Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast

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