United States

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Lots of writing on the United States, divided by location to help your travel planning. Note: much of my research is from hosted press trips, though all views are my own and no one other than the editor of the applicable publication reviewed or approved my articles.

All over the U.S.:

For Forbes, Mark Mandela Day by planning a trip to commemorate human rights about Black Lives Matters murals and civil rights museums;
For Foodtribe, 6 surprising US small towns that will blow away your tastebuds.

Arizona

Your dog will love these hotels just as much as you, featuring six hotels in Canada, the US and Mexico that welcome pups as guests, including the Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Phoneix (for Perspectives by Scotiabank).

Arkansas: Hot Springs

The most welcoming town in America, for Second Chance Travels.
For RUBY Magazine, Fall harvest: Foliage and foodie stops across the country, about five great U.S. towns for culinary travel: Madison, Lexington, Virginia, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lodi in California, and Seattle.
A wayward weekend in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for The Wayward Post.
Finding heart in America’s Heartland, for Almost Fearless, about Hot Springs and Branson, Missouri ….
- Reprinted in Wanderlust Journal, a magazine much more deserving of your clicks: Finding Heart in America’s Heartland (which also features all of my photos, rather than some photos that don’t actually match the sites I talk about).
For Canadian World Traveller:
- Hot Springs, Arkansas: A spa town with a difference (online version).
- Hot Springs, Arkansas: A spa town with a difference (PDF).
- Or see pp. 58-59 and photo on p. 7 of the Canadian World Traveler Summer/Fall 2016 issue.
For Paste Magazine, Hot Springs water: On tap and on your plate.
Family road trip ideas, for Working Mother, including Lexington and Rockbridge County, Virginia, Nashville, Missouri’s Branson, Arkansas’ Hot Springs, and Seattle Southside.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Hotel features, for Luxury And Boutique Hotels:
- Review of Hotel Hot Springs & Spa.
- Review of The Arlington.

California

Two different FastPass systems for Disney parks, about California and Florida parks for USA Today’s 10Best.
For RUBY Magazine, Fall harvest: Foliage and foodie stops across the country, about five great U.S. towns for culinary travel: Madison, Lexington, Virginia, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lodi in California, and Seattle.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
For Working Mother, some theme park tips:
San Francisco tried to kill me: Ivan Ross Vrána writes a guest post giving restaurant advice for the Golden Gate City.

Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (photo by RR Koops)

Colorado

Your dog will love these hotels just as much as you, featuring six hotels in Canada, the US and Mexico that welcome pups as guests, including The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch on Beaver Creek Mountain (for Perspectives by Scotiabank).

District of Colombia: Washington

For USA Today’s 10Best: Watch hanami forecasts to plan cherry blossom trips.

Florida

For Forbes, Orlando for grown-ups — what to do beyond Orlando’s theme parks.
For Foodtribe, 6 surprising US small towns that will blow away your tastebuds.
18 secret spots in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, in Orlando, Florida, published in Reader’s Digest.
Unexpected Universal Orlando Resort, about cool things at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and more (for Canadian Traveller’s winter 2019-20 supplement).
For Matador Network, 7 exciting tasting flights if you’re over beer and wine, featuring deliciousness from several Orlando eateries.
Explore the outdoors in America’s largest city: Jacksonville, for USA Today’s 10Best.
Two different FastPass systems for Disney parks, about California and Florida parks, for USA Today’s 10Best.
All-inclusive beach vacations in Florida, for USA Today’s Travel Tips.
Monday nights in Orlando 2018, for USA Today’s Travel Tips.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Theme park treats: the weird and wonderful things you can find Walt Disney World and Universal Studios
My opinionated review of thrill rides in Orlando’s Disney parks and at Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure (pre-Wizarding World phase II, so I can’t tell you what it’s like inside Gringotts).

Hawaii: Kauai

Big waves, sunshine, ahi tuna and pineapple. What more does one need in life? All links on the Kauai page.

Illinois: Chicago

My trip to Chicago was short but sweet (especially as I stayed in a hotel that used to be a Milk Duds factory!). Check it all out on the Chicago page.

Kentucky

Need a getaway from Cincinnati? Here are five filled with romance (for Working Mother), including in Cincinnati, plus Hocking Hills, Amish Country, Marblehead Peninsula, as well as Louisville Kentucky.

Michigan

About Ann Arbor and Detroit:

About Ann Arbor:
- For Foodtribe, 6 surprising US small towns that will blow away your tastebuds.
- For Forbes: Go north: Summer fruit-focused road trips might be just what the doctor ordered, about some northern U.S. destinations where you can get your fruit on.
- High-flying joyride, about the Yankee Air Museum just outside of Ann Arbor, where I flew in a World War II B-25 bomber over the U.S.’ largest football stadium (Ohio Magazine’s Long Weekends fall 2019 issue).
- Review of The Kensington Hotel.
For Bon Voyage Travel, Educational adventures disguised as fun: including Ann Arbor and Madison plus Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Cambodia.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The best places to go for vacation in October, for USA Today, including Ann Arbor plus the fall harvest in Madison and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; golfing in Panama at the Santa Maria in Panama City or at the Buenaventura south of the city; under and on the water in La Paz, Mexico, and the South Pacific paradise of Tahiti.
For USA Today’s 10Best: Detroit on the move.

Missouri

My press trip to Branson, a small town famous for its music and theatre scene was especially interesting given it was just a week after the 2016 U.S. election. Stories include:

Finding heart in America’s Heartland, for Almost Fearless, about Hot Springs and Branson, Missouri, which was reprinted in Wanderlust Journal, a magazine much more deserving of your clicks:
- Finding Heart in America’s Heartland (which also features all of my photos, rather than some photos that don’t actually match the sites I talk about).
Visiting “Flyover America” in a Trump world: my perspective as a Canadian visiting middle America now that Trump will be president, for The Wayward Post.
For USA Today’s Travel Tips, Branson, Missouri: Silver Dollar City (including one of the best roller coasters I’ve ever been on).
Family road trip ideas, for Working Mother, including Lexington and Rockbridge County, Virginia, Nashville, Missouri’s Branson, Arkansas’ Hot Springs, and Seattle Southside.
United States vacations for seniors for USA Today’s Travel Tips (though this advice works for everyone outside of the party crowd). Traditional options are cruises (including river cruises with stops in places like Memphis and St. Louis) and Branson, Missouri. Less traditional options are Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and Lexington in Virginia.

And about St. Louis:

Meet me in St. Louis, for USA Today’s 10Best.
United States vacations for seniors for USA Today’s Travel Tips (though this advice works for everyone outside of the party crowd). Traditional options are cruises (including river cruises with stops in places like Memphis and St. Louis) and Branson, Missouri. Less traditional options are Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and Lexington in Virginia.

New York: New York City

Fancy some SoHo shopping? (for USA Today’s 10Best).
Summertime on Governors Island (for USA Today’s 10Best).
Walking New York City’s famous bridge (for USA Today’s 10Best).
Top 10 New York City: My 7 favourite NYC eats and 3 on my must-try list.
NYC field notes.
Sweets of New York (for World Travel Buzz).
Not just “Autumn in New York” (for Working Mother).

Nevada

Adults-only resorts in Las Vegas, for USA Today’s Travel Tips.

Ohio

Where to find romance in Ohio (for Working Mother).
Need a getaway from Cincinnati? Here are five filled with romance (for Working Mother), including in Cincinnati, plus Hocking Hills, Amish Country, Marblehead Peninsula, as well as Louisville, Kentucky.
Show me the romance, Missouri.

Oregon

For USA Today’s Travel Tips, Amusement parks in Washington or Oregon.

Tennessee

Several stories about Nashville:

For Montecristo Magazine, about a collection of rare vintage Italian cars at the Frist Center.
For Paste Magazine, about chefs riffing on a historical candy: Gourmet Goo Goo Clusters.
For The Wayward Post, A wayward weekend in Nashville.
Family road trip ideas, for Working Mother, including Lexington and Rockbridge County, Virginia, Nashville, Missouri’s Branson, Arkansas’ Hot Springs, and Seattle Southside.
Two hotel features, for Luxury And Boutique Hotels:
- Nashville Renaissance
- Gaylord Opryland Hotel

And about other places:

Get some soul in Memphis, for USA Today’s 10Best.
United States vacations for seniors for USA Today’s Travel Tips (though this advice works for everyone outside of the party crowd). Traditional options are cruises (including river cruises with stops in places like Memphis and St. Louis) and Branson, Missouri. Less traditional options are Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and Lexington in Virginia.
Romantic weekend getaways in Gatlinburg, Tenessee, for USA Today’s Travel Tips.

Texas

Review of Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort (New Braunfels, near San Antonio), for Luxury and Boutique Hotels.
Indoor waterparks in Texas, for USA Today’s Travel Tips.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Five fabulous fun-filled family summer holidays for Boutique Travel, featuring La Paz, Mexico, the Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort south of Panama City, Panama, and Schlitterbahn waterpark, near San Antonio, Texas.

Virginia: Lexington

For USA Today’s Eat Sip Trip, Drink some of America’s best coffee at this highway coffee roaster.
- A quote from my article was used by Dainius Vaitiekunas in his 2023 piece for the Daily Meal: 13 espressos that will elevate your morning routine.
For Foodtribe, 6 surprising US small towns that will blow away your tastebuds.
Review of the Robert E. Lee Hotel (for Luxury And Boutique Hotels).
Review of The Georges (for Luxury And Boutique Hotels).
For RUBY Magazine, Fall harvest: Foliage and foodie stops across the country, about five great U.S. towns for culinary travel: Madison, Lexington, Virginia, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lodi in California, and Seattle.
Family road trip ideas, for Working Mother, including Lexington and Rockbridge County, Virginia, Nashville, Missouri’s Branson, Arkansas’ Hot Springs, and Seattle Southside.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
United States vacations for seniors for USA Today’s Travel Tips (though this advice works for everyone outside of the party crowd). Traditional options are cruises (including river cruises with stops in places like Memphis and St. Louis) and Branson, Missouri. Less traditional options are Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and Lexington in Virginia.

Washington

About Seattle and surrounds:

For Forbes: Go north: Summer fruit-focused road trips might be just what the doctor ordered, about some northern U.S. destinations where you can get your fruit on.
A weekend in Seattle Southside — a more relaxed and real side of Seattle (for Second Chance Travels).
For RUBY Magazine, Fall Harvest: Foliage and Foodie Stops Across the Country, about five great U.S. towns for culinary travel.
For Working Mother, Romance near the Emerald City, Seattle.
Family road trip ideas, for Working Mother, including Lexington and Rockbridge County, Virginia, Nashville, Missouri’s Branson, Arkansas’ Hot Springs, and Seattle Southside.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
For RUBY Magazine, Fall harvest: Foliage and foodie stops across the country, about five great U.S. towns for culinary travel: Madison, Lexington, Virginia, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lodi in California, and Seattle.
Terracotta warriors of the first emperor at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center (for Vancouverscape).
Two hotel reviews, for Luxury and Boutique Hotels:
- Review of Cedarbrook Lodge (Seattle Southside / SeaTac).
- Review of Warwick Seattle.
Field notes.

And, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, Amusement parks in Washington or Oregon.

Wisconsin

For Forbes: Go north: Summer fruit focused road trips might be just what the doctor ordered, about some northern U.S. destinations where you can get your fruit on.
For Foodtribe, 6 surprising US small towns that will blow away your tastebuds.

About Door County, known as the lake version of Cape Cod and as Cherryland USA:

For the UK”s Foodtribe, We’ve cherry-picked the best of Door County for you.
Review of Hillside Inn, in Ephraim.

About Elkhart Lake, a resort town with a Dirty Dancing feel:

Review of The Osthoff Resort.
For Working Mother, Romantic getaways in Wisconsin: Fall in love in the cheese capital, featuring not only Elkhart Lake and Madison, but Door County and Green Bay too.
United States vacations for seniors for USA Today’s Travel Tips (though this advice works for everyone outside of the party crowd). Traditional options are cruises (including river cruises with stops in places like Memphis and St. Louis) and Branson, Missouri. Less traditional options are Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and Lexington in Virginia.
The best places to go for vacation in October, for USA Today, including the fall harvest in Madison and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; plus college and culinary city Ann Arbor, Michigan; golfing in Panama at the Santa Maria in Panama City or at the Buenaventura south of the city; under and on the water in La Paz, Mexico, and the South Pacific paradise of Tahiti.

And about the most Canadian of US cities, Madison:

Madison, Wisconsin, season by season, for USA Today’s 10Best.
For Bon Voyage Travel, Educational adventures disguised as fun: including Ann Arbor and Madison plus Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Cambodia.
Review of The Edgewater (for Luxury and Boutique Hotels).
Two of my fave hotels from 2017 are included in this roundup, Top five hotels from a year of travel, the Edgewater in Madison, Wisconsin and Udaya Residence, in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
For Working Mother, Romantic getaways in Wisconsin: Fall in love in the cheese capital, featuring not only Elkhart Lake and Madison, but Door County and Green Bay too.
US vacations in February, for USA Today’s Travel Tips, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
For RUBY Magazine, Fall harvest: Foliage and foodie stops across the country, about five great U.S. towns for culinary travel: Madison, Lexington, Virginia, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lodi in California, and Seattle.
The best places to go for vacation in October, for USA Today, including the fall harvest in Madison and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; plus college and culinary city Ann Arbor, Michigan; golfing in Panama at the Santa Maria in Panama City or at the Buenaventura south of the city; under and on the water in La Paz, Mexico, and the South Pacific paradise of Tahiti.

Cruises from the US (for USA Today)

And some generic stuff

Make air travel easier: TSA Pre-Check, for Working Mother.

Note: Several of my trips were hosted press trips, but all views are my own and no one other than the editor of the applicable publication reviewed or approved my articles.