YExplore Featured in NPR Podcast & Nationally Syndicated Blogs
By John P. DeGrazio
YExplore Media Buzz
The travel industry is all about building relationships. Over the years, we have developed several with our guests, writers, and other partners who experience Yosemite on our tours. Recently, we have been featured in some media stories about visiting Yosemite National Park and are very thankful for the recognition as one of the industry leaders for providing custom guided Yosemite hiking tours. Below are links to all three articles that have generated a YExplore Media Buzz. One is an NPR podcast from my very special friend Tom Wilmer, and the other two were on nationally syndicated blogs.
Last week I received a note from Cari Morgan, a writer from the O.A.R.S. Adventure Company, our partner for seven years. Cari “wrote a guest post for the National Park Foundation blog that mentions YExplore.” Cari has written several articles featuring YExplore, and we believe that is the product of us providing exceptional services for their guests in our partnership for multi-sport trips on the Tuolumne River and in Yosemite National Park. We ran one of these trips just last week and the photos of Cathedral Peak are from that multi-day expedition called the Yosemite and Tuolumne Hiker.
Another form of YExplore Media Buzz came from my good friend Tom Wilmer who is the author of an NPR podcast called “Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer” which is a Lowell Thomas Award winning show broadcast from KCBX FM Central Coast Radio in California. Tom and I are good friends and members of OWAC, the Outdoor Writers Association of California. He and I sat down for this interview “Discover Yosemite National Park with YExplore guided hikes” at our spring conference in May 2016 in Placer County, CA. It was great catching up with Tom during that interview and it was funny because we ended it at least three different times. We began to chat at every cut when a new revelation was made that Tom had to include in the interview. Tom is a kind man with a soothing voice whose “journeys” are a true joy to give a listen. You may subscribe to his podcasts on iTunes or via RSS.
Finally, I received a call from Richard Varr, a well-rounded freelance writer, photographer and videographer with more than 25 years writing experience. His blog is titled “Richard Varr’s Travel Blog, Notes from a travel writer” Richard recently made a trip into Yosemite and included some of the quotes from our interview in his story titled “Yosemite National Park: Granite Peaks, Towering Waterfalls and Lazy Meadows“.
I really enjoy speaking with writers and podcasters, especially when the initial interview develops into a lasting relationship. We always welcome YExplore Media Buzz as we continue to provide memorable experiences for Yosemite visitors. Check out our YExplore In the News Page for articles featuring our local Yosemite small business. You may also like to read:https://www.yexplore.com/john-p-degrazio-yosemite-ambassador-of-the-week/(opens in a new tab)
2016 marks the Centennial Anniversary of the National Park Service. When I first learned of the Yosemite Ambassador program to celebrate this anniversary, I was highly impressed with the group of athletes, musicians, and local personalities who were selected. I was profoundly happy for my good friend Les Marsden who is the founder and conductor of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra. There is no better representative of Yosemite than Les who has masterfully written symphonic poems celebrating the Yosemite Anniversaries that the symphony has been performing at free concerts throughout the Yosemite region.
