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.
Episodes
38 episodes
A Food Lover’s Guide to Porto & the Douro Valley (Wine, Markets & Culinary Travel with Joanne Weir)
Dreaming about Portugal? This episode will make you want to go… and eat everything.I’m joined by chef, cookbook author, restaurant owner, and culinary tour operator Joanne Weir to t...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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34:53
Traveling with Teens: What They Really Think (Family Travel Tips from My Own Kids)
Ever wondered what your teens are really thinking on family trips?In this special episode, I sit down with two of my favorite guests, my own two teens, to get their honest take on traveling as teens… and let’s just say, they don...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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18:12
Moving to Zürich: What It’s Really Like to Live in Switzerland (Expat Life, Motherhood & Swiss Culture with Kassie Borreson)
What does it really take to move your life to Switzerland… and start a family there?In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kassie Borreson, who moved from San Francisco to Zurich with her husband, brought along their two cats (yes, r...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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45:18
Hiking the Camino de Santiago: What It’s Really Like (And Why You Might Do It Twice) with Sofie Dolan
What would make someone walk hundreds of miles across Spain… and then go back and do it again?In this episode, I sit down with my friend Sofie Dolan, who has hiked the Camino de Santiago not once, but twice, to talk about what makes this...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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53:46
Budapest Travel Guide: Thermal Baths, Danube Views & Hidden Gems with Lori Wright
Thinking about Budapest? This episode will put it on your list.I sit down with Lori Wright, who recently traveled to Hungary on a photography tour, to talk about why Budapest might be one of the most beautiful (and underrated) cities in ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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32:04
Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide: Beaches, Food & Local Life in Banderas Bay with Kathleen Shanahan
Thinking about Puerto Vallarta? This episode will make you want to book the flight.I sit down with Kathleen, who splits her time between the U.S. and Mexico, to talk about what makes Puerto Vallarta and the greater Banderas Bay such a sp...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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37:34
How to Pack & Fly Like a Pro: Carry-On Only, Jet Lag Tips & Travel Hacks with Sylvia Klinger
Want to travel lighter, stress less, and actually feel good when you land? This episode is packed (pun intended) with tips.I’m joined again by seasoned traveler Sylvia Klinger, who has visited 50+ countries and logs over 200,000 miles a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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51:38
European Christmas Markets: Germany, Austria & Switzerland Travel Guide with Maggie Downs
If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing a European Christmas market… this episode will make you want to book the trip immediately.I sit down with travel writer Maggie Downs to talk about her journey through some of the most magical Christ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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27:52
Dewees Island, SC: A Car-Free Coastal Escape Near Charleston (Local Life & Travel Tips with Alicia Reilly)
What if you could live somewhere with no cars, no stores, and nothing but nature all around you?In this episode, I sit down with my friend Alicia Riley, who lives full-time on Dewees Island, a tiny, car-free barrier island just 20 minute...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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49:51
Moving to Australia from the U.S.: What It’s Really Like (Family, Visas & Starting Over with Emma Shoemaker)
What does it really take to pack up your life and move across the world… with two young kids?In this episode, I sit down with Emma Shoemaker, who moved her family from Florida to Australia after more than a decade in the U.S., to talk ab...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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28:57
San Francisco Food Tours: Eat Like a Local with Kara Ricciardi of Stretchy Pants Food Tours
If you love food and travel… this episode is for you.I sit down with Kara Ricciardi, founder of Stretchy Pants Food Tours in San Francisco, to talk about how food tours can completely transform the way you experience a destination. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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29:29
A Local’s Guide to Seattle: Food, Neighborhoods & Hidden Gems with Natalie Compagno
Planning a trip to Seattle? This episode is your insider guide.I sit down with Natalie Compagno, a California native who’s been living in Seattle for the past decade (and has traveled to over 100 countries), to talk about what makes this...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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28:04
Chile Travel Guide: Food, Wine, Patagonia & Culture with Paula Tejeda
Chile might not be at the top of your travel list… but after this episode, it just might be.I sit down with Paula Tejeda, a Chilean-born chef, cultural ambassador, and founder of San Francisco’s beloved ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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57:59
Travel by Music: How to Explore the World Through Playlists with Kyle Durnan-Kerns
What if you could experience a destination… before you even get there?In this episode, I sit down with travel writer and former tour guide Kyle Durnan-Kern, creator of the Travel by Music series, to talk about how music can comp...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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35:01
Traveling Patagonia: Overlanding, Glaciers & Adventure in Chile and Argentina with Carolyn Shimek
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 husba...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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45:00
Travel Photography Tips from a World-Renowned Photographer (Storytelling, Composition & Real Moments with Robert Holmes)
Want to take better photos when you travel? This episode will completely change how you see the world.I sit down with legendary travel photographer Robert Holmes, who has been shooting professionally since 1979 (including work for Nation...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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44:45
A Local’s Guide to Rome: Hidden Gems, Food & How to Avoid the Crowds with Renee Frojo
Planning a trip to Rome? This episode will help you experience it beyond the crowds.I sit down with Renee, who has been visiting Rome since she was 15 (and even studied abroad there), to talk about what makes this city so unforgettable… ...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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33:41
A Local’s Guide to Half Moon Bay: Beaches, Food & Coastal Vibes with Marcus D.
If you’ve ever driven down Highway 1 and wondered what it’s like to actually live in Half Moon Bay… this episode is for you.I sit down with local resident Marcus D., Star 101.3 Morning Show Host, to talk about life in this coastal town j...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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43:38
Solo Travel in Scotland: Edinburgh, the Highlands & Why You’ll Keep Coming Back with Jen Belcher
What if you found a place in the world that just… felt like home?In this episode, I sit down with Jen Belcher, who has traveled solo to Scotland three times in one year (yes, really), to talk about what keeps pulling her back. <...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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37:33
Australia Travel Guide: Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef & Hidden Gems with Janice Kho
Planning a trip to Australia? This episode will help you figure out where to start.I’m joined by Janice Kho, who grew up in Western Australia, to talk about what it’s really like to travel across this massive and incredibly diverse count...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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34:59
Home Exchange Explained: How to Travel the World for Less with CEO Emmanuel Arnaud
What if you could travel the world… without paying for accommodations?In this episode, I sit down with Emmanuel Arnaud, CEO of HomeExchange, to break down how home swap...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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29:53
A Local’s Guide to Palm Springs: Hotels, Food & the Perfect Desert Getaway with Jamie Haley
Need a quick escape from the chaos of everyday life? Palm Springs might be exactly what you’re looking for.I sit down with artist and Palm Springs local Jamie Haley to talk about what makes this desert destination so special, from its la...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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40:53
Norway Travel Guide: Oslo, the Lofoten Islands & Arctic Adventures with Dana Smith
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 Ci...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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39:49
Island Hopping in Greece: Athens, Hidden Islands & Greek Food with Marcia Gagliardi
Dreaming about Greece? This episode will make you want to book the ticket.I sit down with Marcia Gagliardi, a San Francisco–based culinary personality and restaurant columnist well-known for her groundbreaking
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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51:00
A Local’s Guide to Marin County with Adam (The Marin Dad): Hikes, Food & the Perfect Day Trip
If you live in the Bay Area… or you’re visiting San Francisco… this episode is your excuse to finally explore Marin County.I’m joined by Adam Cohen (aka “The Marin Dad”) to share what ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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43:12