Discover Janesville: Four Seasons of Gardens, Trails, Adventures, and Events

Welcome to another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast! In this episode, Howard sits down with Katie Tranel, Director of Digital Strategy and Public Relations for the Janesville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Fresh off their involvement with the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual conference in Madison, Katie shares why Janesville, Wisconsin, is the ultimate four-season destination—whether you’re planning a family vacation, couples getaway, or seeking your next outdoor adventure. Discover the hidden gems of Janesville, from its expansive trail systems and beautiful botanical gardens to its thriving local food scene and vibrant art community.  We’ll also explore how Janesville’s new Woodmen Sports and Convention Center is attracting exciting events and why this “small but mighty” city should be on your travel radar. Grab your coffee and get ready to explore everything Janesville has to offer! DISCUSSION 1. Introduction and Episode Context Acknowledgment of Travel Wisconsin and Destination Madison for hosting the conference 00:12. Introduction of guest Katie Tranel and her role 00:49. 2. Experience at the OWAA Conference in Madison Katie shares her first impressions attending the OWAA conference 03:34. Highlights of networking and meeting creators, including podcasters 03:57. Value of local opportunities—living close to conference venue 04:25. 3. Geographic and Transportation Overview of Janesville Janesville’s central location in the Midwest 05:33. Accessibility to major cities (Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago) 05:38. Modes of transportation serving Janesville (bus lines, proximity to airports) 06:34. 4. Katie Role at the Janesville Area CVB Overview of a small but effective team 08:13. Duties in digital strategy and public relations: social media, newsletters, blogs, media relations 08:25. Content creator/influencer program 08:51. 5. Use of Multimedia and Community Outreach Regular video/podcast updates about local events 09:07. Collaborations with local production companies 09:21. Discussion about expanding into podcast platforms 10:24. 6. Event and Convention Attraction Strategy Impact of the new Woodmen Sports and Convention Center 11:09. Description of facilities (ice rink, convention center, multi-use arena) 11:33. Expansion into sporting events: martial arts, boxing, hockey, pickleball 12:16. Types of events: youth sports, local and regional competitions 13:54. 7. Outdoor Recreation and Visitor Experiences in Janesville Rotary Botanical Gardens as a key attraction 15:22. Extensive trail systems and paved paths 15:59. Connection to the Ice Age Trail and its unique features (e.g., Devil’s Staircase) 16:26. 89. Pre-Tour Experiences with OWAA Conference Attendees Biking and hiking on trails 17:23. Unique landscape and geological features of the area 17:35. Sunset boat tour on Lake Koshkonong 18:09. 90. Water Recreation and Partnered Destinations Overview of local rivers and lakes (Rock River, Yahara River, Clear Lake, Lake Koshkonong) 19:13. Activities such as kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and boating 19:13. 10 Janesville as a Four-Season Destination Birding in spring, pumpkin patches and harvests in fall 20:28. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling in winter 20:35. 11. Website Tour and Resources for Visitors Highlights of the Janesville visitor website 21:26. Visitor’s guide availability (digital and print) 23:41. Showcasing key assets: farmer’s market, public art, local food, and places to stay 21:58. Maps, murals, public art trail 25:32. Recreation categories: biking, birding, golf, parks, disc golf, itineraries 28:01. Local eateries, coffee shops, shops, and specific recommendations 30:13. Accessibility features and family-friendly attractions 35:08. 12. Community Highlights and Accessibility Rotary Botanical Gardens' holiday light show 25:01. Palmer Park’s accessible playground 35:08. 13. Reflection on the Role and Impact Katiel’s “aha” moments from community engagement and feedback 36:39. The value of promoting unexpected aspects of Janesville 38:01. Difficulty fitting all local attractions into even a two-day itinerary 39:12. 14. Key Contact Points and Closing Remarks Social media and website as primary information outlets 39:50. Encouragement to visit or contact the visitor office 40:03. LEARN MORE To learn more about the Janesville area, visit their website at https://www.janesvillecvb.com/ and on these social sites: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanesvilleCVB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorejanesvillewi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBmFvyHXUiw6uy0BkfK0cdA X: https://twitter.com/JanesvilleCVB1 OWAA 2026 Conference Hosts Travel Wisconsin: https://www.travelwisconsin.com/ Destination Madison: https://www.visitmadison.com/ NEXT STEPS Visit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes. KEYWORDS Katie Tranel, Janesville Area CVB, Travel Wisconsin, Destination Madison, OWAA, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview #KatieTranel #JanesvilleAreaCVB #TravelWisconsin #DestinationMadison #OWAA2026 #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview My Favorite Podcast Tools:   Production by Descript Hosting Buzzsprout Show Notes by Castmagic Website powered by Podpage Be a Podcast Guest by PodMatch Banner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva