This Month in Travel: What SATW Members Are Covering

Welcome to our monthly roundup of where SATW members are exploring, what stories they're telling, and how they're shaping the future of travel media. From exploring music history in Tennessee to tasting your way through Geneva’s chocolate scene or discovering the wonders of Cappadocia, here’s what our storytellers and PR pros are up to this month.

✍️ Features & First-Person Stories

Narrative-driven, experiential, or personal-voice pieces

• 🌆 “Step into ‘A Complete Unknown' on this tour of New York City”
  Linda Barnard, Postmedia
  Biopic Oscar buzz draws new generation of fans to Bob Dylan's old neighbourhood
• 🚢 “Exploring Cities on the Danube and Sleeping on the River”
  Tim Leffel, Perceptive Travel
  A longtime independent traveler joins 150 tourists exploring Danube River cities on a longboat and discovers the joy of waking up in historic places in ye olde Europe.
• ☢️ “Tennessee's Secret City Has A Nuclear Story To Tell”
  Jennifer Bain, National Parks Traveler
  The story of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• 🥾 “Hiking the Camino Real de Panamá, a Historic Sea-to-Sea Trade Route”
  Carolyn B. Heller, Condé Nast Traveler
  Long before the Panama Canal, this historic trade route connected the Pacific and the Caribbean.
• 🛤️ “Waitin’ for a Train: Now You Can Actually Ride in Merle Haggard’s Personal Dome Car”
  Kinsey Gidick, Garden & Gun
  In Virginia, one writer went a little off the rails to get the wild backstory.
• 🇯🇵 “Finding Serenity on the Kiso Road”
  Deborah Gaines, EVERETT POTTER'S TRAVEL REPORT
  In difficult times, the best antidote is to connect with things that are beautiful and enduring—that predate this moment and will be here when it’s gone.

🔧 Service Pieces & Guides

Practical advice, how-tos, or travel planning inspiration

• 🍫 “Taste Your Way through the Chocolate of Geneva with Choco Pass”
  Michelle Price, Honest & Truly
  A deliciously easy way to sample some of Switzerland’s finest chocolate offerings.
• ✈️ “The Dirtiest Places on an Airplane, Ranked”
  Kinsey Gidick, Fodor’s Travel
  The dirty truth about airplane cleanliness.
• 👪🏼 “A Family Travel Guide to Washington, D.C.”
  Kinsey Gidick, TravelAge West
  Washington, D.C., is a perennial family travel favorite, and for good reason.

🌍 Destination Features & Natural Wonders

Pieces that center around specific destinations, nature, or cultural discovery

• 🐋 “View Belugas in the St. Lawrence”
  Lucas Aykroyd, The Toronto Star
  The Toronto Star kicks off its new Only in Canada series.
• 🎖️ “National Medal of Honor Museum Opens in Arlington, Texas”
  Larry Bleiberg, Garden & Gun
  These are just ordinary people who in a moment of extreme danger or stress did something extraordinary.
• 🏒 “Celebrating the 1925 Victoria Cougars”
  Lucas Aykroyd, International Ice Hockey Federation
  A fascinating look back at the Victoria Cougars' historic 1925 Stanley Cup win and its place in Canadian hockey history.
• 🇮🇹 “Podcast: Exploring Italy's Glorious Amalfi Coast”
  Lea Lane, Places I Remember with Lea Lane
  Discover the charm of this coastal paradise.
• 🎿 “Why You Should Book This Two-Country Alps Ski Trip That’s Now on Your Ikon Pass”
  Hilary Nangle, SKI
  Ski between Austria and Switzerland and soak in the best of both at Silvretta and Ischgl.
• 🗺️ “What Are the Five Towns of Cinque Terre Italy”
  Sarah Blevins, Out Little Lifestyle
  Cinque Terre literally translates to Five Lands.
• 🇵🇦 “5 Things To See In Panama City Besides The Canal”
  Carolyn B. Heller, Forbes
  There’s a world to see in Panama beyond the famed waterway.
• 🏖️“Unexpectedly Santa Barbara”
  Chez Chesak, AAA The Extra Mile
  This small coastal California city packs in luxurious amenities, delectable cuisine and outdoor adventure.
• 💂“8 ways to enjoy London in fall”
  Lucas Aykroyd, Tripadvisor
  From cozy pubs and royal strolls to street festivals and fireworks.
• 🌺“On Martinique, a Caribbean Garden so Lush a French Empress Once Called It Home”
  Sharon McDonnell, Discover Silversea
  Tropical landscapes, botanical richness, and French-Caribbean heritage meet on this lush island once home to Empress Joséphine.
• 🇩🇪“Wilkommen in Texas Hill Country!”
  Mark Orwoll, East-West News Service
  From schnitzel to scenic byways, German roots run deep in this Texas region.
• 😎“Best Beaches in Puerto Rico for Families and Adventurers”
  Sherry Mims, AAA Travel
  From waves ideal for surfing to golden sands for sunbathing, there’s a perfect spot in Puerto Rico for every beach lover and adventurer.
• 🇹🇷“Timeless Troy: Ancient Ruins and Modern Discoveries in Turkey”
  Dannelle Fraser Gay, The Traveling Cheesehead
  From its iconic walls to recent excavations, explore how history and myth intertwine in this fascinating destination.
• 🚢“This Bucket List Cruise To New Zealand May Be Hobbit Forming”
  Lois Alter Mark, Forbes
  Princess Cruises sails through New Zealand, offering stunning views, visits with locals and immersive set-jetting experiences. The itinerary is so special, you’ll want to plan a sequel immediately.
• 🇸🇽“Why You Should Add Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten to Your Travel Bucket List”
  Cheryl Maguire, Success
  French and Dutch influences meet in a Caribbean paradise.

📰 Industry Insight & Travel Trends

Pieces with a news peg, broader trend, or tourism impact

• 🍁 “Newfoundland Magnate Zita Cobb Says Trade War Can Benefit Canada’s Tourism”
  Linda Barnard, Vacay.ca
  With fewer Canadians heading south, tourism at home might be getting a surprise boost.
• 🛋️“PS Turns Airports Into Exclusive Luxury Experiences”
  Lois Alter Mark, Forbes
  You’ll want to get to LAX or ATL three hours early to take advantage of every PS benefit.
• ✈️“Air New Zealand Business Premier Embraces The Māori Spirit Of Kia Ora”
  Lois Alter Mark, Forbes
  With its top-notch service, local flavors and commitment to long-haul comfort, Air New Zealand’s business class product ensures the journey is as warm and welcoming as the destination itself.

🏨 Hotel Stays & Resort Highlights

Stories that spotlight exceptional stays, new openings, and unique hospitality experiences

• 👙 “New Secluded Caves and Elevated Cuisine Add Lustre to Kingfisher Pacific Resort”
  Linda Barnard, Vacay.ca
  Wellness becomes a multi-sensory experience at the new $3.5 million Healing Caves.
• 🎶 “You Can Spend the Night Where Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton Recorded Their Award-winning Music”
  Cortney Brown Fries, Travel + Leisure
  These Tennessee Airbnbs harmoniously mix music history and creative inspiration.
• 🖼️ “W Panama — Panama City”
  Carolyn Heller, Luxury Latin America
  Book a stay at this cool art-filled Panama City hotel.

🍽️ Food & Drink Features

Celebrating local flavors, culinary traditions, and where to taste them

• 🍽️ “Acadian Cuisine and More: Foods in New Brunswick, Canada”
  Sherry Mims, AAA Travel
  New Brunswick is a must-visit foodie destination in Canada.

Inspired by these incredible stories? Join SATW today and become part of a network of professional travel storytellers and PR professionals.

Photo: Semin Paek from Pixabay