Broken Bow vs Carlton Landing

Podcast interview with Broken Bow Travel's Jamie Sinton

Below is the transcript from Episode 5 of the Carlton Landing podcast, "All Things Carlton Landing".

Amanda:

On our show today, we have Jamie Sinton, owner of Broken Bow Travel. Jamie is originally from Colleyville, Texas but has lived in small town Oklahoma for 16 years. A few years after she moved, she realized her love for local travel and her specialty being hidden gems. After discovering broken Bow in 2013, she fell in love.

She couldn't stop talking about it and helping her friends plan vacations there. This sparked the birth and growth of Broken Bow Travel since she has expanded her services for other hidden gems such as Carlton Landing. She joins us today to provide insight on how Carlton Landing is similar to and unique from the Broken Bow Hochatown area. I'm excited for you to glean from her years of experience and I hope you'll share with your Broken Bow loving friends who are hesitant to try Carlton Landing because of their uncertainty with the unknown.

Amanda:

Jamie, I saw on your instagram that your account is officially titled Broken Bow Travel Sisters. Tell us a little bit about your name and what services you provide.

Jamie:

Yes. So we are broken Bow travel sisters and we chose that name for two reasons. One was because of Broken Bow Lake in the area that we specialized in promoting and also because we both were boy moms. I have three boys & my sister has two boys. We didn't have any girls yet but we're very girly and we love bows. So we're like how fun! We'll call ourselves the Bow Sisters and then we have implemented the bow in a lot of our marketing pieces. So it's really fun. And then we have a hashtag called #itsbowtime to just go along with what we call the cabin experience down in that area. Like, yay, we're going to broken bow. It's bow time!

Amanda:

I love that you get to work with your sister. How fun is that? How did you and your sister find yourself in this industry? And specifically, why did you choose Oklahoma and the Broken Bow area?

Jamie:

Yes, well, it is really fun working with my sister also because we get to experience this with our family and our friends, which was something we didn't even think about when we first started. So that is wonderful. We got started in Oklahoma and with the Broken Bow area because I moved to Oklahoma 16 years ago.

My husband is from Oklahoma and he had a job offer and I said, no, I'm not moving. I'm not moving to Oklahoma. I'm from Dallas and it was a small town, but then we were pregnant with our first child. So, yes, we did. We moved to Oklahoma and I had never lived in a smaller town, but my sister was graduating from Oklahoma. Oklahoma State. So she was already in Oklahoma.

Well, about a year after we lived here, I started researching the area. I'm a researcher. I love finding great places to visit, hidden gems, as you would say. And I don't know if I googled cabins or some kind of stay in Oklahoma, but I did, and these cabins popped up in Broken Bow. So we booked a cabin.

This was almost ten years ago, Labor Day weekend, and my family came up, my parents and my sister. We all met. It was a great a meeting place from Dallas. And by the time the weekend was over, we're like, okay, what is this place? Why is nobody talking about it? We were hooked from the very first weekend, which happens a lot.

I'm kind of a storyteller. I love sharing information and helping people. So over the next few years, we would go more and I would share it on Facebook. Now we have social media. And then people were coming to me asking for cabin help, like, hey, what is this place you're going to? And I found myself helping more people.

My dad is actually the one who said I probably should start a website & put your travels on there. He helped me with the domain names and getting that started. And then Instagram was becoming a thing, but I wasn't really great with it, so I tested it out on my cat first. I made a cat Instagram so I could kind of get a feel for it.

So we started eventually a Broken Bow Instagram because there were more cabins being built. I love homes and I love cabins, and I'm like, these are gorgeous places right here in Oklahoma. These need to be shared. Like, this is wild. So we wanted to get to know owners and help them share their beautiful spaces on social media.

Everything happened very organically. It wasn't something we ever set out to do. It was like we took one step, which led to two more steps. And then with my sister and I, we each have different strengths, and so we use those for the business. I do all the social media & a lot of the connections. My sister is my model. She helps with photography. We use our best strengths, come together, and then we help promote for owners. It's kind of how it started.

Amanda:

That's really cool that it just started with a passion and a family experience, and it kind of just grew slowly, organically. So at what point did you grow to promoting other areas in Oklahoma. I know you do more than just the Broken Bow/Hochatown area now. What other towns in Oklahoma do you promote?

Jamie:

So a few years ago, I had some yearly goals every year try to have some new goals. And a few years ago I really had this goal of, well, I have a lot of people coming back to host town a lot. What are some other places maybe that customer would also go?

So I ended up promoting Mena, Arkansas, which is not far from Hochatown. And they share the same forest, actually. And so Mena, Arkansas was one of the first places I promoted that was outside of Hochatown, and I was really excited about it. And then we promote just north of Hochatown, a town called Smithville, and it has a lot of cabins on the river. I wanted to show my followers that also.

And then I had also come to Carlton Landing ten years ago, about the same time as Hochatown or Broken Bow, and it was a little bit harder to get my foot in the door there, but eventually last year I was able to. And so we promoted our first place in Carlton Landing last year called the Nook, and then did a mini promotion for another house over New Year's weekend. So we've promoted Arkansas, we've promoted other parts of Oklahoma, and then we're going to be doing Texas later this year.

At first when Instagram first came out, they would say, oh, stay in your niche, don't stray too far, but you kind of have to go with your gut feeling. After a while I realized, well, I love places in Oklahoma, I love hidden gems, so it's only natural for me to promote neighboring towns that I also love, especially if it's serving the same customer.

Amanda:

So at what point did you hear about Carlton Landing? They've been around or the vision started in 2008 and it sounds like you just pretty recently discovered them. What was that process of how they came across your radar?

Jamie:

You know, I really don't remember how I discovered them. It was probably through my research because I'm always looking stuff up. But I discovered Carlton Landing also about ten years ago. So about the same time I went to Hochatown or Broken Bow, give or take, somehow I found out about Carlton Landing and we booked a trip for spring break years ago.

So it may have been someone I knew and they had told me about it and I had to check it out because that's kind of what I did. So we went for spring break and I remember thinking to myself, when I left, in my perfect world, I would have a rental in Hochatown AND Carlton Landing. I would have it in both places. Carlton Landing is closer to where I live, but I loved both, really. And so I've known about it for a while, but as far as promoting, it took us a while to kind of get our foot in the door there.

Amanda:

Yes. So you've mentioned you've been to, I think you said three or two of the different places?

Jamie:

We’ve promoted two, but I've been there to vacation several times personally.

Amanda:

Have you been there during multiple seasons? Various seasons? Or have you mostly been there in summertime?

Jamie:

I have been there multiple seasons. One year me and my family went for Halloween weekend, which someone had told us that was a really good time to go. So we went for Halloween weekend and we absolutely loved it. That was a really fun time to go. I highly recommend October. It's Halloween, it's very safe, and the kids just walk the streets and go to the homes. I've also been in May for Mother's Day weekend which is also a great time to go. And I've been in the summer and March, so several of the seasons now.

manda:

I love that. I love that you are able to speak to comparing and contrasting the two areas with varying season experiences.

So one thing that I think is interesting is that a lot of people in the Oklahoma City/Tulsa/DFW area are super familiar with Broken Bow. I'd say it's become a household name, which is so exciting for them. In fact, Adam and I were watching a movie recently that made several references to Broken Bow! We were like wow! It’s near the area we grew up. So it was just really exciting.

Amanda:

Although the dream of Carlton Landing started to become a reality way back in 2008, I feel like it wasn't really till 2020 that big growth began to happen. And yet still we have so many friends in DFW that are just now hearing about it for the first time from me. And my in laws, Adam’s parents, live in Tulsa and they say they are just now starting to hear about it from their friends as well, since, of course, we've been talking all about it and it made me think, I was thinking Why?

And the thought that came to me was, as humans, we tend to prefer the familiar, we veer away from the unknown. And so to a lot of us, Broken Bow is very, very familiar. And with that is that feeling of safety. Like, I know what to expect, I know I'm going to have a great time. But for a lot of people in these areas, Carlton Landing is still kind of a big question mark, a big unknown. So I was hoping that you could share with our listeners today how Carlton Landing compares to something that they're very familiar with, such as the Broken Bow/Hochatown area, and then we'll move on to talk about how Carlton Landing is unique.

Jamie:

Yes, well, that is a great observation and question. And so, to be honest, because I've been going to Hochatown or Broken Bow both for ten years. I have to say, for most of those ten years, it was a hard sell. A lot of people didn't really know about Broken Bow. It really wasn't until COVID that or a little bit before COVID that it really took off. So for many years it was a really hard sell for my Okies. My Okies are hard. The Dallas people, not so much, but the Okies really, really hard. Even to this day, I have to say, like, well, I'm not so sure. DFW people are different. People in Oklahoma, they like to go to Branson and they like to go to Grand Lake. Branson is hard because it has all the amusement parks. People in Oklahoma love that because they don't have a lot of that here and a lot of them have been going to Branson for their whole life. So, like you said, it's familiar to them. When COVID hit, it changed everything.

We thought one day we'd buy a cabin or something in Carlton Landing. We thought we had time. Well, when COVID hit, it just changed everything. Both Carlton Landing and Hochatown literally grew overnight. I mean, it was a wild ride, and so many new people were coming to Hochatown because there was nowhere else to travel. So all these new Texans were experiencing it, telling their friends. So I think a lot more people, actually, heard about Broken Bow too, but for many years, a lot of people still didn't even know about Broken Bow.

But I am floored still to this day how many people in Tulsa have no idea about Carlton Landing! And I'm like, well, my work is not done because a lot of people still do not know. It's wild to me, but it's a very common Okie thing, I have to say.

Amanda:

And I'll interject real quick for our non Oklahoma listeners. Tulsa is about an hour and a half north of Carlton Landing, so it is basically in their backyard.

Jamie:

Yes. I have friends who I have friends who are in the workforce, who are around lots of other people and they're like, what? I don't know. It makes me feel weird sometimes. Am I the only person who sees all this stuff? But that's how it feels sometimes.

But my favorite thing is Carlton Landing is a really hard place to describe. I could tell you for 2 hours all about Carlton Landing, but what I've noticed, until I take people there, it doesn't click. They're like, they kind of know it. But the same thing you can say for Hochatown too.

But I love taking new people to Carlton Landing because everyone I've taken falls in love with it. They're like, oh, now I get it! I think it's going to get better because it's growing. Even though Carlton Landing is on a slow growth plan, from what I hear, it has grown so much since COVID. It has changed so much since I first started going that more and more people will be talking about it.

Amanda:

Yes. So how does Carlton Landing compare to Broken Bow Hochatown area? Like, what are some of the activities or experiences that someone could expect to be able to get at both?

Jamie:

That's a good question. So when it comes to both, the things that are similar, are they both lake towns. Lake towns are very popular in Oklahoma and Texas. So you have access to really gorgeous lakes, big lakes, the boat, the kayaks. There's kayaking at Carlton Landing, there's lots of kayaking in Hochatown.

And I'm going to probably say Hochatown more because Broken Bow is south of Hochatown, but Hochatown is really where all the cabins are and they just recently, after years of trying, they are finally their own town. And so followers might hear me talk Hochatown and Broken Bow, but they're both right next to each other, so I know it's kind of confusing.

So kayaking, the boats, the lake life, the fishing. There's tons of fishing at both. And hiking. I believe that only 15 minutes from Carlton Landing is Arrowhead State Park, which has even more hiking.

I have not been yet, but there's also a golf course there plus fishing. There's even an airstrip if someone has a plane and they want to fly in.

But there's also a beautiful golf course in Hochatown. So they both have golf right by the water. So it's really great for anyone who loves to golf and also just nature- that you're out in nature. Lots of walking and also they're both places that you gather. And when I say that, I mean you're gathering with your friends, your family. It gives you the opportunity to gather with more people than maybe other places.

Amanda:

Okay, so you had mentioned before we move on to how they are different, how Carlton Landing is unique from the Hochatown/Broken Bow area. I'm curious. You mentioned that you have noticed Carlton Landing changed a lot over the years. I was curious to hear your thoughts on that growth and change.

Jamie:

Sure, yes, growth is great. Number one, it can have challenges. But I have seen Carlton grow in the best ways. When I first came years ago it did feel a little bit more like a second home community.

Maybe you felt a little bit like an outsider because all these people knew each other. They kind of know you're not from Carlton Landing. But I still loved it. I still loved what it was all about.

Well, as Carlton Landing grew back then, there wasn't even management companies. You just booked through Carlton Landing. Well, what happens is as you grow and you have more rental vacation homes, there's more competition.

So I saw more management companies, which I think is great because then it makes everybody have to do better because you have to have good customer service and must be on your game. So I've seen that happen. Now there's multiple management companies to choose from.

You have people like yourself who self manage so you have that, which is wonderful. But the best change I've seen is just more diverse now with more people and the growth, I've just seen more diversity which it just feels everybody's more open to everybody. It's been really great. It's been really great to see. I love it more now than I ever did.

Amanda:

I love that. And one thing that you mentioned was how it has a slow growth plan. And something I do appreciate is that they grow organically and sustainably. So whatever business comes into Carlton Landing, they want it to be successful.

I know that there can be a surprise to come to Carlton Landing and for there to be only a few options for food. I am excited for that to grow and change as there are more and more homes built and more people vacationing there all throughout the year. But I do appreciate that their vision is very intentional and whoever comes in as a business is going to be able to be fully supported. So with the new marina coming, it is all just going to be very exciting. I feel like we're on the precipice of just sliding down that giant hill very fast and I can't wait to see what happens.

Jamie:

So for me it's different because I have perspective and even when I first came to Hochatown, obviously there's more stuff now than there used to be. When I help people find cabins, I get the question a lot: What is there to do? That’s are normal question.

But I find that sometimes my family from Dallas or bigger areas, we’re so used to vacationing and just having a million things to do and being on the go the whole time. I really have to tell my people that you're going to be okay, it's going to be fine. You will be amazed at how happy your kids will be just in nature, being free, doing normal stuff.

And in Carlton Landing, we have been just fine with Mama Tigs. We bring our own food also. And now there's a new little grocery store there, which is awesome. And the biggest thing for me, my favorite new thing is The Meeting House. That has been a game changer, in my opinion, because Carlton Landing is this urban walkable community where you're supposed to walk around town and see your neighbors and be with people. Well, now there actually is a meeting place. And The Meeting House has great food, has great drinks, alcoholic drinks for people who want to have a beer or whatever. And it's just a great place for everybody. So I think when The Meeting House came for me, that was a huge turning point, too.

Amanda:

I didn't realize the meeting house was so new. Do you remember what year they opened?

Jamie:

I'm trying to think. So I went for Mother's Day weekend almost two years ago, and I think they had just opened up, so maybe two or four years ago. So when I first was coming to Carlton Landing, I don't think there was a meeting house.

There might have been an outdoor area, but once they had the meeting house, they really needed a meeting place. And as you know, they have the wonderful outdoor area where you can sit & listen to the bands at night. It's great for kids and everybody.

And when I went for Mother's Day weekend… Now, listen, Carlton Landing is not just for families. So me and my girlfriend a few years ago had a new tradition of going away for Mother's Day. We're like, this needs to change, so we're going away for Mother's Day. We kind of figured that out, and our husbands actually love it. But one year, five of us, we just went to Carlton Landing for Mother's Day weekend. And all the girls I went with, it was their first time. We had an absolute blast, and the meeting house was open and they had free mimosas and muffins for moms. It was awesome. I just cannot rave, my whole family all loved The Meeting House. That was a real game changer.

Amanda:

Yes. And I feel like along with that has come a lot of event planning. Again, I've only really known about Carlton Landing for a little over a year, but I love all of the events that they have on the schedule. And our listeners can go to www.carltonlanding.com/events. The events schedule is jampacked. Whether it's Friday night live music at The Meeting House or movies under the stars right next to Mama Tigs. There’s the Easter egg festivities and fall festivals- so much! And I think the ladies in charge of that have just been knocking it out of the ballpark.

Jamie:

Yes, that area behind Mama Tigs where the pizza has just recently opened up. It has a stage and the light with the American flag. It's just beautiful. And last summer, we were there in June and they had a wonderful band out there. They had food trucks. It was great. And then we were there for New Year's Eve this year, which I highly recommend. The Meeting House had the bar open until midnight. They had food and they had a band out there for New Year's Eve. I can't say anything bad. It was perfect.

Amanda:

Yes, it was hopping.

Jamie:

Oh yeah, you were there too! It was it was a big party. Yes, it was great. And especially for something like New Year's Eve, it's great to be somewhere like Carlton leaning because you're kind of in a bubble and protected. It's very safe and it's a great place to bring your teenagers and you're not worrying as much. So a lot of pros.

Amanda:

Absolutely. So you've kind of hit on a lot of answers to this question. But to kind of summarize it or answer it more succinctly how is Carlton Landing unique from the Hochatown/Broken Bow experience?

Jamie:

So Carlton Landing is very unique because of the story itself, that two people started this with their vision, number one. And it is a slow growth plan. But it's also unique because the homes, I mean, if you're a home person, the homes are absolutely gorgeous.

And yes, it was modeled after Seaside, Florida. But for our listeners, there's more than just the Seaside, Florida home there. There's also the most gorgeous brick homes. And honestly, brick homes are probably my favorite. They're like a work of art. I know the gentleman who started it. I think he's pretty famous now in Oklahoma.

But there are pods of homes. You have the brick homes, you have the Seaside homes. Then you have I think it's Pistache Park, where it's more modern homes. I just think that's so unique and wonderful. If you're a home person and you just love all that. It's just gorgeous.

Plus, it is a real Hallmark town. I can't give you anything else. Like, if you want to experience a Hallmark movie, you come to Carlton Landing. You walk the streets at night. It's so peaceful. You walk by all the gorgeous homes, the alleys that are just all decked out in fresh flowers and the hanging white lights.

I could go on and on about the Hallmark feel but then I think one of the best things about Carlton Landing is the way it's set up. The homes are like a horseshoe so all the kids can just run out the front door and play. That freedom for kids is just priceless to me because, today, there's not many places you can go where they can do that. And the kids love it.

My teenagers, they can walk down to The Meeting House or if they're old enough, to drive the golf cart. And it's good for the kids to learn those social skills of meeting others. There’s just not many places anymore that you can do that safely.

Amanda:

Yeah, I've actually only been to Broken Bow once, but I heard that Broken Bow is more of a community where your home is sort of secluded, which is part of the beauty of that. And to go someplace, you must get in your car to go? Tell us about that.

Jamie:

Yes, it's cabin culture, cabin life. So you do have cabins that are more secluded, but then you do have cabins closer to town. You have cabins that are on the river. So there's a lot of different scenarios, but for the most part, you have to get in your car to go places in town, which in Carlton Landing, most of the time, once you're in there, you're parked and you're going to just be walking around town, which is wonderful. So it is different in that way, for sure.

Amanda:

Okay. And then obviously, I suppose that Hochatown/Broken Bow, most of those homes are cabin style?

Jamie:

Yes, most if not all are cabin style. Hochatown does have a large assortment of different types of cabins, so you can have anything from rustic to more modern to modern farmhouse. We are having new treehouse cabins come soon on the river, but it definitely is more of a cabin life feel, where Carlton Landing is probably more of a seaside, beachy feel.

But you also do have the brick homes and other types of homes, too. So it is different in that way. But it's similar in the way that they each have so many gorgeous cabins and homes that every time you go back, you can experience a new place.

Amanda:

Yes, they're always building something new. And that's one of my favorite things. Again, I am not a goer and doer on vacation. I just want to read a book on the front porch and take strolls. But I love to just stroll around and look at the homes and look in the new homes if they're being built.

Jamie:

Yes, it's great because me and my friend love walking Carlton Landing in the evening, any time of day, which is also great exercise. And going into the home, it's just so fun. And it does feel like you're tucked away.

Amanda:

And so Carlton Landing is actually literally tucked away. It's about, what, an eight minute drive off the highway? So you kind of are in this little bubble, literally.

Amanda:

How does that compare with, and I guess this is more speaking to people who don't know about either, Carlton Landing and the Broken Bow area. How does that compare with broken bow? Like, is it kind of off the main highway or is it tucked back also?

Jamie:

So Hochatown is off a highway, but it's just a two lane highway, so it's a smaller town feel. If you're coming up from Dallas, you're going to go through a town called Idabel, which is kind of like four lanes, and then as you go north, the trees are going to get heavier.

You're going to have more pine trees and more like you're in the forest, it goes down to two lanes, although that may change over time. So you still have that small town feel kind of when you're going to Carlton Landing, when you're approaching.

And I heard one of your previous guests say, like, the closer you get, you start to feel calm, right? You start to feel like and that's kind of how I feel going into Hochatown, too, is just like when I see the trees and I see I'm like I already start to feel the sense of calm because, you know, you're in your place. But Hochatown is a very, very small, small town feel. It's all local restaurants. There's nothing chain yet, so it's still a very small town feel.

Amanda:

With Carlton Landing, it has the culture of kind of that walkable community culture and front door culture also to where you could just walk down the street and you see people and it's this expectation or this anticipation of saying hello to people you've not even met and you feel like it's just right. Or you walk to the bocce ball or play pickle-ball and people may join you for a pickup game at the volleyball pit. Is that a unique characteristic of Carlton Landing versus other places you promote?

Jamie:

Sure. It's definitely unique because of the way that it's set up as that type of community. Not like you're forced, but you're naturally going to meet new people very easily. I mean, we were at The Meeting House over new year's weekend and we were just sitting outside and we met some lovely ladies from Oklahoma City. You just naturally start talking and even the kids I mean, my youngest son met a friend the first day. If you're in Hochatown, if you meet new people, it's mostly going to be because you're at the winery, the brewery, the marina, somewhere where people are already gathered. Rarely do you go to the cabin next door and there'll be people walking around and stuff, but it's very different. Carlton Landing is really such an easy place to meet new people.

Amanda:

Okay, well, before I move on to my next question, do you have any kind of final thoughts with the Carlton Landing/Hochatown conversation?

Jamie:

I always approach it that it's not that one is ever better than the other. They're both such great places. They're so great for what they are. They each have their things that are unique to them. And I've been to both, obviously, many times, and I can tell you that my family loves both. We really do.

And so it's been really exciting to see both areas grow. It's great for Oklahoma and I really encourage anybody if you haven't been, if it's not that far from you, to try it out for a weekend. A big part, too, of why I promoted these areas when I moved to Oklahoma was because a lot of people couldn't travel to Disney. They couldn't do all these big vacations.

But you can go to Carlton Landing or to Hochatown, split the cost with your family or friends and make the most amazing memories with your kids, friends. Whoever it is, it really is great. We just have these really two great areas right here in Oklahoma.

Amanda:

Yes, it's amazing. I'm so proud. I grew up in southeast Oklahoma, not far from Carlton Landing, and it makes my heart proud to see such beauty cultivated and growing in Oklahoma. We're awesome. And more people know about our awesomeness.

Jamie:They do, definitely. And our work is not done, so we're going to keep doing it. But no, they both have great things to offer. And I think, like any new place you visit. You have to keep an open mind. You have to respect the place you're in and know that every place has growing pains and that I think it's hard in this day and age for people to slow down.

That's also why I like it, because it forces you to slow. And I think we are living kind of in this hustle culture, which is not great. Our kids don't need to have ten things to do on vacation in one day. They're going to be fine. Our kids were in Carlton Landing for New Year's Eve. They had bikes, they had a football. I mean, they were so happy.

Amanda:

Yes, absolutely. That's one of my favorite things is to go, like just go and be.

Jamie:

We need to just not think about stuff sometimes and to just be and to reflect. And I think because you can be outside so much in both Hochatown and Carlton Landing, we all need that as adults. All of us. I know it sounds corny, but we need it. We need to be outside more.

Amanda:

So true. It’s good for our soul and our mind. Love it. Absolutely. Great analysis. Thank you for that.

Amanda:

Another thought I was going to close with is one way I describe Carlton Landing is “Where Broken Bow meets 30 A”.

Amanda:

I don’t know if a lot of listeners know this, but the same company that master planned Seaside and Rosemary Beach, Florida, also master planned Carlton Landing. So there's a very similar look and feel to both communities. Yet Carlton Landing has its own unique flavor.

And I know that Seaside, that area of Florida is not your specialty, but I know you've been you have an excellent sense of analysis. So I was wondering if you could kind of speak to those people in DFW who love Seaside who have that need for the known and familiar. How would you say Carlton Landing compares to what they already know with those Florida resort communities?

Jamie:

I think somebody who enjoys going to Seaside area, Rosemary Beach, all those areas, I think they will be very happy with Carlton Landing. I mean, obviously the biggest difference is one has an ocean and one has a lake.

But let's face it, going to Florida is not cheap anymore. It's not inexpensive. And I would say if you love that beachy, coastal feel the way the homes are, maybe let's say this year you don't want to spend that much money to travel to Florida, to eat out every meal, whatever it is, try Carlton Landing because you're going to have a lot of that feel right there.

We still have water and the homes are absolutely beautiful and they're like that coastal kind of feel. So I always think that someone who like the Seaside life will also like Carlton Landing. The thing with Seaside now, it's so busy. I mean, it's a lot busier than it was when I went years ago. I'm sure it's very popular. So at least Carlton Landing is a little bit more subdued.

Amanda:

Okay, what do we have that other resort communities do or don't have?

Jamie:

I just think it's less travel, easier to access and that kind of things. It's been a while since I’ve been to Seaside, but I would just come back to the difference is probably like your kids can just roam more safely in Carlton Landing. There's more of a community feel. Not as crazy. And hectic. I kind of feel like it's probably an unpopular opinion, but I feel like Seaside is just Dallas removed in a way. I mean, it's like, pick up Dallas, put them in Florida. It's just very busy from when I was there and from what I hear. So I just think Carlton Landing is like a more nice, subdued option.

Amanda:

Okay, well, that is very helpful analysis. I've wondered this for a while, so I appreciate that perspective. Sure. And I am just so thankful. If someone wanted to get in touch with you, what is the best way for them to reach out to you? If they wanted some help planning either a Hochatown vacation or Carlton Landing vacation, what's the best way?

Jamie:

You can go to our website, brokenbowtravel.com. I’m very active on our Instagram @Broken.Bow.Travel.Sisters. You can direct message us. We're also on Facebook, we're also on TikTok.

Most of the things we offer, we do help owners with promoting their vacation rentals. We offer two packages where we come stay for at least two nights and help them promote on all the social media platforms. That's our main thing that we do.

But I'm also a social media manager. I manage a lot of pages for vacation rental owners, and I also do some consulting as well for people that don't want to hire a social media manager, but they just need some help with their Instagram and some tips and stuff or their rental. Besides social media nad our website, our email is Brokenbowtravel@gmail.com. I'm very responsive and I love helping people.

Amanda:

Well, thank you so much for your time here, and thank you for your expertise and for bringing it to the table and sharing it with all of us

Jamie:

Yes, thank you so much. I'm so glad you're doing this podcast, and it's just great things for Carlton Landing from here on out.

Amanda:

Thank you. If you'd like to follow Jamie on Instagram, you can find her @Broken.Bow.Travel.Sisters or online www.brokenbowtravel.com. Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope you'll consider following, sharing, and and leaving a five star review. We'll see you next time.