The Middle Seat

Episode 007 | What It's Really Like to Visit the Galápagos (Aboard the Islander II)

✈️ THIS WEEK IN THE MIDDLE SEAT We recorded a whole podcast from our cabin every night so you didn't have to miss a single sea lion. You're welcome. ⏱️THE SHORT VERSION This week’s episode is a little different — we’re taking you with us, day by day, through our time aboard the National Geographic Islander II in the Galápagos. From golden rays and giant tortoises to first-time snorkeling nerves, baby sea lions, and one very emotional Claire, this one is equal parts wildlife recap, travel diary, and “you really had to be there” energy. If you’ve ever wondered what an expedition-style trip to the Galápagos actually feels like, this is your inside look. 🗺️ IN THIS EPISODE 1. what it’s actually like to board a Lindblad expedition ship in the Galápagos 2. the wildlife moments we still cannot shut up about: rays, tortoises, penguins, sharks, sea lions, and more 3. our honest recap of first-time snorkeling, kayaking, and zodiac excursions 4. why the Galápagos feels so different from almost anywhere else in the world 5. the emotional, surprising, and occasionally hilarious moments that shaped our week onboard 6. a few early clues into why we chose Lindblad + Nat Geo for this trip in the first place 📍 MENTIONED THIS WEEK 1. National Geographic Islander II [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/ships/national-geographic-islander-ii/] 2. Charles Darwin Research Center [https://www.darwinfoundation.org/en/] 3. Floreana Tortoise Story [https://www.islandconservation.org/floreana-tortoise-release/] 🔗 STAY CONNECTED 1. Follow Claire on Instagram + Threads → @paradisefallstravelco [https://www.instagram.com/paradisefallstravelco/] 2. Follow Dakota on Instagram + Threads → @shot.by.dakota [https://www.instagram.com/shot.by.dakota/] 3. Postcards from Paradise [https://paradisefallstravel.com/newsletter] → Claire's weekly newsletter that you don't want to miss 😉 4. Paradise Falls Travel Co. [https://paradisefallstravel.com/] 5. When you're ready to have Claire help you book the trip → Inquiry Form [https://paradisefallstravel.com/travel-inquiry] 💌 PS, A NOTE FROM CLAIRE (OPTIONAL) I really wasn’t prepared for how much this trip would affect me. I expected the wildlife to be incredible, obviously — but I didn’t expect to cry over sea lions approximately every 12 business minutes. The Galápagos has a way of making you feel very small, very lucky, and very aware of just how much beauty still exists in the world. And honestly? I’m already dreaming about going back. Maybe with you? 😉

Episode 006 | The Travel Trends We’re Actually Seeing in 2026

Six weeks into the year is when travel “predictions” stop being guesses and start becoming patterns. In this episode, Claire (travel advisor) and Dakota (resident passenger perspective) break down what’s really happening in travel right now — not what magazines are forecasting, but what people are actually booking, asking about, and craving. From longer trips and slower itineraries to small-ship cruising and experience-driven travel, the biggest shift isn’t just where people want to go… it’s how they want to feel when they get home. If you’ve ever come back from a trip needing a vacation from your vacation, this episode is probably for you. TIMESTAMPS: 1. 0:00 Introductions, the return from hiatus, and why we're talking trends 6 weeks in 2. 3:37 Claire's trends: longer trips, slow travel, and what clients are saying on every discovery call 3. 17:17 Experiential and soft adventure travel — plus a safari story that got a little out of hand 4. 21:54 Dakota's trends: small travel is in, big ships are out, Disney World vs. Disney cruises 5. 29:43 Why intentional planning matters more than ever (and why PTO is too valuable to waste) 6. 36:27 Claire's wish list: the trips she's dying to book in 2026 MENTIONED THIS WEEK: 🏨 Properties & Destinations 1. Rio Perdido [https://www.rioperdido.com/] 2. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay [https://www.1hotels.com/hanalei-bay] 3. Houston Zoo Galapagos Exhibit [https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/exhibits/galapagos/] 🤝 Travel Partners 1. Lindblad Expeditions / National Geographic Expeditions - Islander II [https://www.expeditions.com/ships/national-geographic-islander-ii] 2. Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) [https://slh.com/] 3. Relais & Chateaux [https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/] ✈️ Offers 1. The Simple Stay [https://paradisefallstravel.com/hotel-only] - complimentary hotel booking offer by Paradise Falls Travel Co. STAY CONNECTED & WORK WITH US (WELL, CLAIRE) Ready to plan a trip that actually changes you? Claire would love to help. Paradise Falls Travel Co. [https://paradisefallstravel.com/] Instagram: @paradisefallstravelco [https://www.instagram.com/paradisefallstravelco/] Newsletter: Postcards from Paradise [https://paradisefallstravel.com/newsletter]

Episode 005 | BONUS EP | Our Origin Story (how NOT to plan a honeymoon)

This week on The Middle Seat, we’re rewinding to the trip that accidentally started it all: our Gatlinburg “honeymoon” that was really more chaotic mini-moon with a heart-shaped tub, a 3am airport alarm, and an unopened Airbnb email that almost derailed the whole thing. Consider this our official origin story and a loving cautionary tale: why you should not fly out the morning after your wedding, what happens when you plan activities on the fly, and how opposite travel styles show up the minute you leave the Disney bubble. We’re sharing what we’d do differently now—as a travel advisor and a reformed DIY-groom—from flying into the right airport to treating short getaways as mini-moons instead of trying to force a full honeymoon into five days. And, of course, how that messy little mountain trip quietly planted the seeds for Paradise Falls Travel Co. and the Happily Ever After Collection, so other couples get the story without the stress. 💍 Mentioned in This Episode * Anakeesta [https://anakeesta.com/] * Paradise Falls Travel Co. [https://paradisefallstravel.com/] * The Happily Ever After Collection [https://paradisefallstravel.com/honeymoons#/] (mini-moons + honeymoons) * Postcards from Paradise [https://paradisefallstravel.myflodesk.com/postcards], PFTC’s weekly newsletter

Episode 004 | We went to Costa Rica and can't stop talking about it pt. 2

This week on The Middle Seat, we’re picking up where we left off in Costa Rica — trading Papagayo’s coastline for mineral-rich rivers, volcano views, and a hillside hideaway that made Dakota rethink what a “good bathroom” even is. In true Claire-and-Dakota fashion, this episode is part adventure recap, part honest storytelling, and part “we learned this the hard way so you don’t have to.” Consider this your guided wander through Guanacaste’s dry forest, an unforgettable zipline-to-hot-springs kind of day, a river float full of wildlife (and one very questionable splash), and the Arenal region in all its moody, magical glory. Then we head south to Uvita for grown-up serenity, Whale Tail views, and the kind of slow mornings that make you swear you’re moving here someday. It’s the episode that proves Costa Rica isn’t just diverse — it’s alive in every direction, and every region has a totally different story to tell. 🗺 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Here’s everything we talked about (and where to find it): * Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River [https://www.rioperdido.com/] * Amor Arenal [https://www.amorarenal.com/] * Kura Boutique Hotel [https://kuracostarica.com/] * Paradise Falls Travel Co. [https://www.paradisefallstravel.com] * Sign up for Postcards from Paradise [https://paradisefallstravel.myflodesk.com/postcards], PFTC's weekly newsletter!

Episode 003 | We went to Costa Rica and can't stop talking about it pt. 1

This week on The Middle Seat, we’re heading to Costa Rica — a destination that somehow manages to feel both wildly alive and completely at peace all at once. In true Claire-and-Dakota fashion, this episode is equal parts travel inspiration, honest storytelling, and “we learned this the hard way so you don’t have to.” From embracing the pura vida lifestyle to finding out why “rainy season” is actually Costa Rica’s best-kept secret, we’re sharing everything we loved (and what we’d tweak next time). We’ll take you through our stays at Andaz Papagayo, Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, and Ritz-Carlton Reserve Nekajui — plus all the little moments that reminded us why travel is meant to be felt, not just checked off. Whether Costa Rica is on your list or you’re just here to travel vicariously through us, this one’s an open invitation to slow down, look around, and soak it all in. 🌿 🗺 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Here’s everything we talked about (and where to find it): * Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo [https://www.hyatt.com/andaz/costa-rica] * Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo [https://www.fourseasons.com/costarica] * Ritz-Carlton Reserve Nekajui, Costa Rica [https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ritzcarltonreserve-nekajui] * Paradise Falls Travel Co. [https://www.paradisefallstravel.com] * Sign up for Postcards from Paradise [https://paradisefallstravel.myflodesk.com/postcards], PFTC's weekly newsletter!