“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” Miriam Beard

I have always had the wanderlust. Even as an adolescent, limited to my own neighborhood, I mapped out new routes to the same old destinations each day, curious about every alleyway, every new flower sprouting through a sidewalk crack, every neighbor not yet met. When finally old enough to travel solo, my innate curiosity drove me to experience new cultures. Early on, I understood that if we knew one another better, we would be less likely to want to kill one another.

For years my traveling was confined to annual vacations and squeezed into extended weekends, with the unhappy remainder of the time spent earning a living, until I finally stopped fighting my desires and chucked my career for a life of travel. This was not an easy process. I came to it at the age of 54 with good writing skills, but with no portfolio of clips, nor any understanding of the way the industry works. But I was determined to pursue my only true passions in life: travel, writing, and photography. I strapped on a backpack and journeyed solo around the world for six months, blogging as I went. Upon returning, I spent a year begging editors to publish the work of an unknown, unrecommended writer with no credentials.

If it is true that fear and faith cannot exist in the same space, then I am living proof of this adage, for I never lost faith that I would succeed. For three years I honed my writing skills, developed networks, and built a respectable portfolio. My articles have now been published in traditional printed publications as well as other online venues. I write about all things related to travel, including destinations, accommodations, culture, and human interest features about interesting people I meet along the way. Although I will occasionally cover highly commercialized, crowded tourist sites – if a fresh approach can be found – I prefer off-the-beaten-path, little-known places blessed with natural beauty or uncommonly welcoming people; places where stress melts away and spirit is renewed.

Please take a few moments to meander around my blog. Alternatively, please feel free to sample some of my published work. Clicking on any of the links below will automatically download the article onto your local computer in an Adobe Acrobat .pdf format. Wishing you happy travels, be they actual or virtual.

New Scientist Magazine	Go Galavanting	Coastal Angler Magazine
Positive Change	Scene Magazine	Trazzler.com
UpTake.com Beaches	UpTake.com Attractions	UpTake.com Hotels
4Beachnuts.com	CheapoAir.com	Creative Loafing
UpTake.com Lodging Blog	Port Charlotte Herald	Lonely Planet Online
WowOwow.com	yTravel Blog	HostelBookers.com
World Nomads	Art of Backpacking Travel Blog	Nomadic Matt's Travels
Velvet Escape Travel Blog	Travel + Escape