The college campus stirred in the early morning hours as we assembled for the day’s lessons. The routine of lectures, course assignments, and tests had become predictable. Even the route—from the parking lot, between the buildings, and down the hall to a room with...

My friends and family always say to me, “You’re living the dream.” Do they realize I work? Yes, of course they do… But to their eyes, I’m running around the world… always up to interesting things in interesting places. Quite frequently, as a travel writer, it’s all...

In 2015, I thought perhaps I’d hit rock bottom. I was a stringer for a weekly community newspaper for more than six years, with more than 850 published feature stories and four Keystone Press Awards to my credit. When the number of stories I covered on a weekly basis...

I was a struggling-to-make-ends-meet newspaper reporter when I received my first paid travel assignment. It wasn’t big or glamorous, but I felt like I’d won the lottery. I was asked by a magazine to visit a Vermont ski resort to take a mountain-biking lesson. Being an...

As a travel writer, I’ve enjoyed a myriad of perks. But my favorite benefit is the free trips. The perks don’t come overnight, and they take time to cultivate. But if you have a plan and work your plan, attending travel trade shows can yield a goldmine of hosted...