Hemingway House

Key West is a special little island. It’s the kind of place where presidents, movie stars and writers can exist in relative peace, away from the prying eyes of the mainland. It’s one of many reasons that Ernest Hemingway made a life here in the 1930s.

Hemingway, known for his books A Farewell to Arms, The Sun Also Rises and The Old Man and the Sea, settled into this house with Pauline Pfeiffer, his onetime mistress. She bought a notoriously expensive swimming pool and he wrote To Have and Have Not in the adjoining pool house.

This abode is known most, however, for the “Hemingway cats,” 50 or so polydactl cats living on the estate. The five or more-toed felines, tabbies, calicos and everything in between, make their home all over the house and grounds. It’s enough to turn anyone into a cat lady (or man).

As a man with four wives and even more mistresses, these cats seem to have been his most loyal companions. The many-toed cats are said to bring good luck, but whether this was true for him remains to be seen. While he had commercial success with his work, especially since they are still required reading in every school in the country, but he committed suicide at age 61.

It’s easy to picture Hemingway here, despite the fact that most of the furnishings, apart from his typewriter and iron frame bed, were placed here by the museum, which opened in 1964, three years after his death. Even the Hemingway cats’ authenticity is debatable. It’s been said that he got his first polydactl cat from a boat captain in Key West, but no one knows whether the present-day cats are related.

But that doesn’t make them any less beloved. Old Ernest wasn’t one for traditional cats names, either. Instead, they bore the names of famous actors and performers like Frank Sinatra, Errol Flynn, Edgar Allan Poe and John Wayne.  They are all buried on the grounds in the cat cemetery, pictured above.

One of the house’s most unusual features is this water trough for the cats, which was a urinal at the infamous Sloppy Joe’s bar in a former life. It was also at Sloppy Joe’s where Hemingway met Martha Gelhorn, a foreign correspondent whom he later married.

Getting There

The Hemingway House is located at 907 Whitehead Street in historic Key West, Florida. You can visit daily 365 days per year from 9 am to 5 pm. Tours last 30 minutes but you can also wander the property on your own. Admission is $13 for adults, $8 for children and free for 5 and under, but you may also purchase combination tickets with other area attractions.

The post Photo Essay: Cats of the Hemingway House appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

Owner Cheryl Baker and I

When given the chance to try something new, I typically take it. But if it requires any sort of athleticism, I take a second thought. I’m not ashamed to admit that I am clumsy and out of shape. However, the Ultimate Florida Road Trip was all about experiencing the best activities the state had to offer and I couldn’t turn down stand up paddleboarding with manatees in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

I was in good hands for my first time, as East Coast Paddle is not only one of the most highly rated tour operators on Florida’s Space Coast, but they also make their own boards. Owners Cheryl and Tim Baker live in the area and are passionate about showing others around the Canaveral National Seashore.

I found my way to JB’s Fish Camp, the meeting spot, at 10 am. I was kitted out in my swimsuit, Tevas and GoPro but forgot one important thing: sunscreen. Bad move. Two couples and I piled into the boat that led us out into the Indian River. One couple had experience paddleboarding but the other were newbies like me. We were shown around an oyster shell island and nature reserve before getting into the water.

Manatee sighting

As I mentioned earlier, I’m the opposite of athletic, so I was a bit worried about keeping my balance on the board. After all, I had my ass kicked by the ocean when I learned to surf back in Australia. But somehow, this is different. I felt comfortable sitting on my knees, but when it came time to stand up, would I fall?

Natural Talent

Cheryl recommended gaining some momentum before trying to get on my feet. I arose with no spills into the water and paddled like I would in a kayak or canoe. She told me I was a natural and I’ve never been a natural at anything. I will definitely say that I only included photos that I looked good in and left out the ones where I was struggling to keep balanced or fiddling with my camera. But I’m still a natural..

During the two hour tour, I got to see manatees, dolphins and ospreys in the wild. It’s the best workout I’ve had in a long time, working my core and especially my legs. East Coast Paddle also offers paddleboard yoga classes if you’re looking to get even more of a workout. I even went kayaking that evening, which I immediately regretted the next morning when my arms and legs were aching to no end.

What I loved about East Coast Paddle is that they take photos for you. While I came prepared with my GoPro, I didn’t need to, as Tim and Cheryl both were shooting from their GoPros, DSLRs and iPhones the whole time. A few days later they sent me a zip file of all the footage from the day! What more could a blogger ask for? They also provide water during the tour, but you can also bring your own food and drinks.

Resting My Legs

My paddleboard eco-tour was sponsored by East Coast Paddle and arranged by Wellons Communications. All photos except for the second and last are property of East Coast Paddle and used with permission. 

The post Paddleboarding with Manatees appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

Alan Shepard. John Glenn. Sally Ride. Neil Armstrong.

If you grew up in the United States in the last 50 years, these names mean something to you. They mean exploration and adventure. They were our lifetime’s Christopher Columbus and Captain Cook. They’re an elite group that share a bond none of us will ever understand.

My visit to KSC as a child

When I was growing up, kids wanted to become firefighters or football players or astronauts. Scout troupes went to to Space Camp every summer, living like astronauts. It was something we dreamed about, all part of our national consciousness. In 1998, my 5th grade class watched as John Glenn became the oldest man in space at age 77.

But the program hasn’t been without tragedies. The crew of the Apollo 1 mission were killed fire during a training exercise in 1967. In 1986, two years before I was born, my mother, a fellow schoolteacher, watched as the Challenger exploded, killing Christa McAuliffe and the other crew members. And as recently as 2003, the crew of the Columbia died during their descent back into the Earth’s atmosphere.

While there are other important locations to the NASA space program, namely Houston, Texas, where astronauts train, and Huntsville, Alabama, where many of the spacecrafts are constructed, Cape Canaveral, Florida is where the magic happens. It’s where the crew, all suited up, board the small silver bus to the launch site and changed history forever. It’s where families sat on picnic blankets and watched the shuttles disappear into the sky.

I visited Cape Canaveral as a child, back when the Shuttle Program was still thriving. I couldn’t have known then what the program would be like today and I’m not sure I quite understood the importance of space. But as I returned to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex this month, it, for lack of better words, blew my mind. I couldn’t fathom the idea of being in space, seeing Earth as a small, peaceful planet rather than the chaotic place we know it as.

Astronaut John McBride and I

I explored the Kennedy complex on my own, experiencing the Shuttle Launch Experience simulator, remembering those lost at the Astronaut Memorial and admiring the work in the Rocket Garden. But my favorite experience from my visit was the Lunch with an Astronaut program, where I got to meet John McBride, a retired astronaut and pilot of the maiden voyage of Columbia. If you get a chance to do this, I highly recommend it as a way to further understand what it means to be an astronaut.

As you may know by now, in July 2011, the United States ended its thirty year-long NASA space shuttle program. The Atlantis was its last mission for the foreseeable future in a costly program which some Americans didn’t see the benefits of. We’re no longer competing with Russia for progress but rather working side by side with them. And who cares about Mars when the economy on Earth is so bad?

Neil Armstrong’s Space Suit

But space is important. It’s where we’ve developed some of our greatest technologies and where we could find new sources of fuel or even signs of life. Anything is possible. While NASA no longer employs the shuttle staff, the Kennedy Space Center is still going strong. They’re getting new generations of astronauts excited with attractions like the Angry Birds Space Encounter. Tours of the launch pad are also available for a limited time and rocket launches still occur every few weeks. And the Atlantis will find a new home this summer, where visitors will be able to see the inside, a rare opportunity.

While each shuttle flight cost over one billion dollars, the private space industry is booming, as the development of Virgin Galactic‘s New Mexico spaceport shows. Nearly 1,000 everyday (wealthy) citizens have already booked a seat on these space flights, at around $200,000 per ticket. We’re no longer in the time of elite scientists and pilots being the only ones to experience space. It’s possible that during my lifetime, I will get a chance to travel to space. In the words of the signage advertising the new complex for the Atlantis, “The adventure has only begun.”

I received complimentary passes to the Kennedy Space Center from Visit Space Coast, but all opinions are my own. For more on the United States Space Program, I recommend the miniseries From the Earth to the Moonabout the Apollo missions.

The post Space Travel: The Final Frontier appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

As an unabashed street art fan, I was excited to see what Miami had to offer. I had seen images of the famous Wynwood Arts District and immediately added it to my Ultimate Florida Road Trip itinerary. And while you can spot street art all around town, this is where the most famous works are, like the Shepard Fairey wall above, who created the “Obey Giant” and “Obama Change” posters.

So what is Wynwood exactly? It’s a former warehouse district that has become a sanctioned arts district full of art galleries, restaurants and shops, not to mention nightlife to complete with Miami’s famous nightclubs. Their Second Saturday Art Walks bring in both locals and tourists alike.

I had originally planned to explore the area as a part of a tour, but that didn’t exactly pan out. Instead, I ended up taking 2 buses from my hostel in Miami Beach to the downtown warehouse district. Despite the hike, it’s worth the journey.

The clouds were already ominous-looking, ready to burst with rain at any moment. When I was walking around looking for the Wynwood Walls, a few men yelled out their windows at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have done this alone. But I found it just as it began to drizzle.

I quickly tucked into Panther Coffee shop with dozens of other people who were caught without an umbrella. I did my best to wait it out, but eventually I got hungry and had to venture out again into the cold.

I ended up with a massive blackened chicken panini at Jimmy’z Kitchen, a place also known for its mofongo, a plantain dish. I read an issue of the New Times and settled in for an hour.

After checking out street art all over the world, including Sydney, Melbourne, Porto, Charleston and Berlin, I can say I’m very impressed at the caliber of work here in Miami.

Getting there from Miami Beach, where most of the hostels and snazzy hotels are located, can be annoying if you don’t have a car, but it will keep you from having to find parking. The ride will take 45 minutes and cost you $2 per ride. Take bus 119 from Indian Creek Drive at 27th Street to downtown Miami. Get off at the Omni Terminal at Biscayne Boulevard to switch to the 32 bus. Get off at NW 20th Street and NW 1st Court and walk the remaining 4 blocks.

Have you seen Miami street art?

The post Photo Essay: Miami Street Art appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Australia is expensive. Sydney is certainly no exception and is likely more expensive than any other city in the country. While the US dollar is nearly even with the Australian dollar, it will take you much more of those dollars to buy the same items. But with that said, there is so much to do in the city that you can’t even help yourself. Thankfully there are ways to see Sydney without blowing your budget.

The Free

The Outdoors

Hyde Park’s War Memorial

What Sydney has over the rest of Australia’s cities is their beaches. A visit to these beaches is the best way to see the area and is, best of all, completely free! While Bondi is the most popular, I’m also a fan of Coogee and Manly.

The Bondi to Coogee Walk, also known as the Eastern Beaches Coastal Walk, is one of the most beautiful sights in the city. You can start on either end, but be prepared for plenty of steps along the way.

Hyde Park is Sydney’s version of its London namesake, nestled into the CBD within walking distance of Town Hall. It’s a great place to sit and read a book and is stunning at night when the Anzac Memorial is lit up. There are dozens of other stunning parks in the city, but my favorites are Camperdown Park in Newtown, Observatory Hill and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Other Sights

Art Gallery of NSW

Wandering around neighborhoods like The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest part of town, or watching the buskers in Circular Quay and Darling Harbour won’t cost you a cent. The stunning Customs House Library is a nice alternative to Starbucks and you don’t have to feel obligated to buy a drink just to use the WiFi. Pub trivia nights are another activity that won’t cost you anything, apart from beers and food. And of course, if you want to walk across the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can do so for free. To see more from above, the Pylon Lookout only costs $7.

The city is always putting on free events and festivals, so be sure to check out their website for details. Walking Tours are another way to get to know a city and it just so happens that Sydney offers a free tour, which leaves from Town Hall daily.

For art lovers, you can see works by world renowned artists as well as nationally recognized names at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Entry is free for both museums, but you may have to pay for special exhibits.

The Cheap

Museums

Sydney Observatory

Sydney’s museums shouldn’t cost you more than $15 admission, but if you have a student ID card, try to get a concession ticket for cheaper. Museum of Sydney has an extensive collection of artifacts documenting the history of the city, while the Australian Museum focuses on the nation’s culture including the convict colony and Aboriginals. The Sydney Observatory allows visitors to see the stars from the Southern Hemisphere, with both day and night visits available. The Powerhouse Museum is another science-focused museum.

Sights and Activities

Sydney Opera House

You’ll spend a fair amount of money on most of the city’s top attractions, particularly Taronga Zoo ($44), Bridge Climb ($200+) and Sydney Tower ($25+). But a handful of quintessential Sydney experiences can be done on a budget.

First up is the iconic Sydney Opera House, which you can tour for around $30, a steal when compared to ticket prices to see a show there. To cure your shopping bug, seek out the markets in Glebe, The Rocks and Bondi. Sports fans will enjoy a Sydney Swans AFL match for $30.

Accommodation

I’ve talked about before the best and worst of Australian hostels. I never stayed in any in Sydney since I was living there, but have heard good things about the YHA in the Rocks as well as Wake Up near Central Station. Expect to pay $25-30 AUD per night for a 6-8 bed dorm. Alternatively, there are a handful of budget hotels as well as the cheapest option, CouchSurfing.

Public Transportation

Sydney Trains

Sydney has no shortage of public transportation options, from buses to trains to light rail to ferries. A MultiPass is the most efficient way to travel as a tourist, which allows you a certain amount of travel on all forms of transportation.

The trains stop running around midnight but buses continue for every hour. Taxis will cost you a lot of money, so split one or take public transportation when possible. Many parts of the city aren’t bike-friendly, but it’s fairly walkable, particularly in the CBD.

Eating and Drinking

Quesadilla, rice and margarita from Guzman y Gomez

When possible, cook your own meals from the grocery stores Coles or Woolworth’s. A shared dinner of spaghetti bolognese or a barbecue with friends can cut costs dramatically. But when you do want to eat out, you can either go with pub specials, typically a steak or schnitzel with chips and salad for $10-15, or eat your bigger meal for lunch. Areas like Chinatown are known for budget meals. My favorite budget eats in Sydney are burritos from Guzman y Gomez, meat pies from Harry’s Cafe de Wheels and a bahn mi from Marrickville Pork Roll, all under $10.

Drinking is what will really kill your budget, as a standard beer can cost you at least $7. Track down happy hours and backpacker bars like The Scary Canary and ScuBar for the cheapest drinks. Or BYO to restaurants rather than buying a bottle there.

Flights

Finding flights to Australia is brutal, so you’re going to have to bite the bullet and shell out at least $1,300 USD. Once you’re within Australia, you can find a few cheap flights on airlines like JetStar, Tiger or Virgin Australia. I also recommend Greyhound Australia as a substitute for flights.

This post was bought to you by Jasons, where you can find and book Rotorua Hotels online for your stay in New Zealand.

Do you have any other tips for free and cheap things to do in Sydney?

The post Best Free and Cheap Things to Do in Sydney appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

If you saw the last few editions of Travel Writing Round Up, welcome back! There are a lot of great opportunities this month, so I hope you will take full advantage of them. A lot are repeats from last month as well, but new posts are denoted with stars. I have checked all the links to ensure that they are still valid, but please let me know if I have missed one. Feel free to shoot me an email at caroline@carolineinthecityblog.com. I’ve also created an open Google Document where you can add writing opportunities if you see them throughout the month, or take down ones you know have expired.

Paying Markets

Web

• Matador Network: As one of the top travel magazines on the web, they’re always looking for content, but they’re pretty picky. If they are interested in your article, you will be compensated with $25.
• BootsNAll Travel Network: BootsNAll offers writers the chance to get their writing published, even if they don’t get paid, through the Traveler Article program. For features, essays and expert traveler articles, you can be paid between $20-50 for your work.
• Do It While You’re Young: This blog is everything a girl needs to know about travel. They are looking for posts in the following areas: Destination Details, Reader Perspective, Hotel Aficionado, Six Months Out and Trip Review. You will be generously compensated with a $5 Amazon gift card per article.
• Go Nomad: The website needs features and destination guides about places in the United States and South America. They pay $25 for 1500-1700 word articles and pays on publication. They accept reprints. You can check out their writer’s guidelines for more details.
• Lost Girls World: The girls’ website has exploded since the release of their book and now is as good a time as ever to write for them. Contributions must be between 500-1,500 words and apply to the mostly female audience of the site. Their posts often get picked up for the Huffington Post and in-flight magazines. They now pay $12 for specific Destination Guides and “How to Pitch To…” series.
• Unanchor: This new website is seeking people to create itineraries for various cities across the country and will pay you according to sales of your itinerary. They are now selling the itineraries on Amazon.
• GoMad NoMad Magazine: This online magazine is looking to pay $25 for articles on lesser-known destinations, posts from the road and practical travel advice.
• Galavanting: Kim Mance and her crew are looking for features and blogs on girlfriend getaways and female travel, from 200-1000 words. Payment is $15-50.
• World Hum: Easily the best website for quality travel writing, World Hum closed its submissions for a while when they were dealing with the Travel Channel buyout, but are now looking for new content. See your name next to the likes of Rick Steves, Don George and Rolf Potts.
• In the Know Traveler: This website pays $10 for features and $3 for blog posts on almost any travel topic.
• Perceptive Travel: Editor Tim Leffel runs a tight ship over on this webzine, which only accepts work from published book authors. This probably applies to a small percentage, but if your story is accepted, payment is $100.
• World Nomads: As one of the most recognized travel insurance brands, World Nomads has a strong following on its Ask a Nomad app as well as its blogs. Their posts are 650-1200 words and pay $60 AUD. Content should be about travel tips, off the beaten path destinations, responsible travel and working holidays.
• The Traveler’s Way: This new travel website is looking for frequent contributors who can commit to 2-3 articles per month on inspirational and informative travel articles for the Baby Boomer travelers. Articles should be 800-1,200 words in length for features with at least one photo. Payment is $30 via PayPal. Contact maryjo@thetravelersway.com if interested.
• Tripbase: This popular industry blog is looking for writers on the topics of family, fun, history and food. Articles should be 800-1,000 words in length and pay $30, but must include photos. Apply through their website and submit a trial article before being accepted.
• Transitions Abroad: This long-time resource for those moving abroad is looking for articles on long-term travel, teaching English abroad and cultural immersion and pays $50-150 via PayPal.
• The Expeditioner: This travel website wants first-person travel narratives and tips for its growing website, between 1,000 and 1,300 words. Writers will be compensated $30 or according to experience. Past writers have been featured in their book.
• Wild Junket Magazine: Nellie’s blog has now led to an online travel magazine, which is looking for contributors. Payment ranges depending on the department, but is between $50-150 per article.
• Overnight Buses Magazine: This new iPad version magazine is seeking writers to publish travel narratives, 1000 words or more, with rates between $250-325.
• Vagabundo Magazine: Brendan Van Son of Brendan’s Adventures is hiring contributors for his quarterly magazine and blog. Payment varies, depending on length.
• The Culture-ist: This website is looking for food and travel narratives between 800-1,200 words to be compensated $30.
• Epicure & Culture: Jessica Festa runs this food-driven travel blog and pays $15 for articles.
• Girls Getaway: Writers needed for travel articles on girlfriend getaways. Payment is $20 via PayPal.

Print

• Westjet Up! Magazine: Canadian airline Westjet has a great in-flight magazine that focuses on destinations in North America and the Caribbean. Payment ranges from $150 and up, depending on length. Check out the contributor guidelines for complete details.
• Delta Sky Magazine: They’re looking for travel and lifestyle & business features ranging from 600-2,000 words. Note that there is a four month lead time for this publication.
• Go Magazine: AirTran’s in-flight magazine seeks destination-lead features, 1,200-1,400 words, which highlights a destination that AirTran flies to. They also accept pitches for On the Town, 400-900 word stories about a destination, celebrity cover stories and business stories.
• EnRoute Magazine: Air Canada’s in-flight magazine has a variety of sections that freelancers can cover from 500-1500 words. See the website for descriptions of each section. Payment is $1 Canadian per word, with payment upon acceptance.
• The Australian Way: Qantas’ in-flight magazine is looking for features on their destinations, ranging in length between 500-1500 words
• Get Lost: This Australian glossy travel magazine features some great photos and is always on the lookout for writers.
• Verge Magazine: This new Canadian magazine focuses on volunteering and travel with a purpose. Rates for first-time contributors start at $0.10 CAD per word. Shorter pieces should be around 800 words while features range between 200-2500 words.
• Outside Magazine: While their focus is outdoors and sports, Outside also publishes travel pieces. They don’t accept contributors for some sections.
• Nevada Magazine: This publication is focused on Nevada tourism and pays 40-50 cents per word, with most articles ranging in length from 500 to 1,000 words. Web stories are paid a $200 flat rate.
• Aruba Nights Magazine: A Caribbean island publication is seeking stories on activities, dining, shopping, history and culture of the islands of Aruba, St. Maarten and Curacao. Pays $100-250 for 300-750 words on acceptance.
• Business Jet Traveler: ”BtoB magazine featuring objective, authoritative service copy aimed at passengers on and owners of business jets. Goal is ‘maximizing your investment in private air transport.’ Articles cover buying and selling jets; reviews of new and used jets; tax and financing issues; cabin refurbishment; flying charter; and more. Also offer some lifestyle content, including luxury car reviews, travel articles and interviews with celebrities and others who fly privately.”
• Harbors Magazine: This publication from Kenmore Air, a small airline operating in the Pacific Northwest, is seeking freelance writers to contribute articles on destinations, lodging, wine, culinary, fishing and boating angles. Send queries or LOAs to Bobbie Hasselbring, Editor, hasselbring@bctonline.com or query@harborsmagazine.com.
• The Local Palate: “ We represent the food culture of the South, ranging from Maryland down to Florida and as far West as Texas. We collect personal stories about chefs, farmers, and vendors as well as tell the history of certain culinary traditions and oral histories of the South. We include recipes and how-to versions of dishes and drinks. Our departments include: Key Ingredient, Season’s Eatings, Toast of the Town, EATymology, Interview, Test Kitchen, Culinary Class, and Oh Pair.” Pays $250-$750 for 500-2000 words 60 days after submitted invoice. Publishes two months after acceptance.

Unpaid Guest Post Opportunities

• Art of Backpacking: I love doing guest posts for Art of Backpacking because I feel like they “get me.” They are looking for posts that follow their philosophy of covering all aspects of backpacking, from relationships to gear reviews to that song you can’t get out of your head from your hostel. Posts must be at least 400 words. *Some features are paid currently.
• *Her Packing List: Female travelers can submit posts about the things they must have when they travel, book reviews, destination packing lists and gear reviews. *His Packing List, the new male gear site is also looking for guest bloggers!
• Indie Travel Podcast: Craig and Linda Martin, the couple behind this award-winning podcast and website, are looking for people to do destination-related posts. Check out their website for more details.
• 48 Hour Adventure: Justin spends a weekend in a city and writes about how much you can see in 48 hours, but he can’t be everywhere, so if you have tips to contribute, send him an email.
• Hostelbookers.com: One of the top hostel booking websites wants travel bloggers to pitch topics ranging in length from 600-1000 words.
• Eco Traveller Guide: This green travel guide is looking for guest posts on sustainable restaurants, accommodation and travel in general.
• Travel Hong Kong & Macau: Nicole of Bitten by the Travel Bug also runs this Asian blog and is looking for posts relating to attractions and information on Hong Kong and Macau.
• My Gay Travel Guide: Adam of Travels with Adam also runs this site about gay travels, which is always accepting guest posts.
• Too Many Adapters: “Calling all travelling geeks! We’re looking for guest posts (both one-off and ongoing) on Too Many Adapters, the travel technology site that Dustin and I run. If you have a travel tech story to tell, advice to share or gear to review, we’d love to hear from you. Strong opinions welcome! If it sounds like something you’d be interested in, leave your details and I’ll send you a mail with guidelines etc.”
• Jessie on a Journey: This site is always looking for guest posts, specifically insightful travel narratives, although she’s open to other suggestions especially on places not yet covered on her site.
• Gear Up and Play: This site is looking for posts on adventure travel, backpacking, outdoor adventures and destination guides.
• Santa Fe Travelers: Share your own travel tales on this blog about Santa Fe and beyond.
• Fathom: This smart travel website wants posts between 300-1000 words in length.
• A Chinese Nomad: This blog is written by Julia, who has just returned from traveling in Asia. She’s looking for posts on backpacking advice, food stories and couples travel.
• There and Back Again Travel: This site rounds up posts on specific cities like Paris or London. Bloggers with relevant content should contact via website.
• Four Jandals: My Kiwi friends are looking for contributors to their Adventure City Guides section. Contact cole@fourjandals.com for specifics.

Non-Paying Markets

Web

• Vagabondish: This offbeat travel zine is looking for writers to cover three sections of the publication: features, which covers how-tos, social commentary, reviews of about 1,000 words; news + sidelines, covering current issues in 200-300 words; and dispatches, focusing on the travel narrative.
• Wanderlust and Lipstick: This well-known women’s travel website is looking for wander tales written by females.
• The Taste of Travel: Cailin and Candice, two of my favorite bloggers, teamed up with friends to create a travel blog about food. If you’ve got a great meal story, recipe or video, contact Cailin at CailinONeil@TravelYourself.ca.
• Travelettes: Backpacking in Heels: This female travel blog is looking for new travel stories. Send your ideas to contribute@travelettes.net.
• The Travel Word: The group behind Intrepid’s Urban Adventures is always looking for guest posts according to their editorial calendar.
• Afar Highlights: Afar magazine is looking for Local Experts for many regions in the world. Make a list of the best places in your hometown and you could be featured on the website!
• Backpacking Mojo: Create your own travel itinerary and get it published with this backpacking community site.
• *This Is My South: My newest website is a travel guide to the Southern United States. I’m looking for guest bloggers for different series and interviews, specifically Southern Stays, Visiting Attractions and This Is My South interviews. Posts are unpaid but could potentially lead to press trips and other opportunities. Email me at caroline@carolineinthecityblog.com if you’re interested.
• *World Travel Buzz– “We want Edgy and awesome travel writing. Young and in your face. We aren’t going to get anywhere by writing the same old stuff that’s already all over the web – we need an edge. And the content is where we’ll find our edge. (And that’s where you come in!)” Posts should be 500-700 words.

Print

• S.E.A. Backpacker: This magazine is for backpackers and by backpackers and loves everything about Southeast Asia. You can find copies in hostels throughout Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Bucket-loving writers should submit ideas about destination reviews, backpacker advice, recommended things to do and other topics related to backpacking in Southeast Asia and travel in general. Compensation is not currently being offered. Contact nikki@southeastasiabackpacker.com for more details.

Jobs, Contests and Internships

• *The Little Big Project– Tourism Thailand is offering you the chance for voluntourism in a variety of fields all over the country. The deadline for submissions is May 20 so apply now!
• *Web Producer, Conde Nast Traveler– “Seeking freelance web producer to collaborate with Conde Nast Traveler’s web team on creation of original web content and presentation of print magazine content online.”
• *Travel Editor, Sunset Magazine– “Contribute to planning, assigning, and editing Sunset’s travel content, print and digital.”
• *Managing Editor, Feast Magazine– “As managing editor of this award-winning monthly magazine, this person has responsibility for all aspects of the quality and accuracy of our published material.”
• *Assistant Editor, Time Out Los Angeles– “The ideal candidate will have at least one year experience at a fast-paced online publication, the ability to work under tight deadlines and be extremely detail oriented. Knowledge of Los Angeles arts, culture, entertainment and bar and restaurant scenes is key, and familiarity with city events, venues and trends is essential.”

Inspiration

• Citizens of the World: A Manifesto, Flora the Explorer– Flora reacts to a snooty local at an Ecuadorian coffee shop and thinks about what it means to be a traveler.
  
• The Only Honest Man in Kinshasa, Brendan’s Adventures– Africa seems to be a place with plenty of people who want to scam you, but Brendan finds an honest man who is looking out for him.
• Road Trip in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Rear View Mirror– Andrea posts some beautiful photos from her time in Eastern Europe, an area I’d love to explore.
• Color Bombed at India’s Holi Festival, Connvoyage– Connie shares photos from an item at the top of my bucket list!
• What’s It Like Sleeping in a Tent When It’s -20 C?, A Pair of Boots and a Backpack– Kristin talks about her experience in icy Finland.
• How to Be a Travel Writer in 2013, Huffington Post– Where do you start becoming a travel writer? This article maps it out for you.

Helpful Links

This is where I take most of my job and freelance listings from, so feel free to check them out.

Now get writing.

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The post Travel Writing Round Up [May 2013] appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

I haven’t been very diligent when it comes to getting posts out while I’m traveling, but I promise to do better in the future. A few weeks ago, I was spending 2 days on Florida’s Space Coast as a part of my Ultimate Florida Road Trip.

I knew I was going to visit the Kennedy Space Center, but I was excited when I found out I was going on a sunset kayaking tour with A Day Away Tours on Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, I was excited at the prospect of seeing Florida’s wildlife.

Merritt Island is a unique place in that has been part of the Kennedy Space Center since its inception in 1963, which allows these natural species of plants and animals to live relatively undisturbed.

It took almost an hour to reach the boat dock, despite parts of the island being only 15 minutes from Cocoa Beach. We paddled through the mangrove forest and it wasn’t long before we spotted some manatees. They swam under my kayak, but thankfully I didn’t have a “Manatee Carwash,” the term locals use for when the creatures flip your boats.

I was glad to have my GoPro as we got closer to The Rookery, home to thousands of birds, and as the sun set on the coast. Unfortunately, I barely missed their bioluminescence tours that run in July and August when you can see the sea creatures light up the ocean.

I’m not much of a nature girl, but I was so glad to get to see this sunset.

A Day Away Kayaking, TJM Communications and Visit Florida’s Space Coast sponsored my tour, but all opinions are my own. 

The post Sunset Kayaking on Merritt Island appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

I’d only been to Milledgeville, Georgia once before, but I knew it was known for three things: Georgia College and State University, the penitentiary and the abandoned mental institution known as Central State Hospital.

And while I have an affinity for all things abandoned, this place was indescribably eerie, even in daylight hours. I can only imagine what it’s like at night. The hospital opened in 1842 as a “lunatic, idiot and epileptic asylum,” a term you would never hear these days. The standard of care is also nothing close to what we would experience today as back then little was known about mental illnesses.

In the 1800s the facility was ahead of its times as people with mental disorders were typically abandoned by their families or held in hospitals with physical restraints, but Central did not tie down patients. After the Civil War, the hospital was flooded with patients including soldiers, former slaves and others experiencing post-traumatic stress and a variety of other conditions.

A switch to medication and alternative treatments in 1960s led to a smaller population at the hospital and it has continually dwindled since then.

In recent years, the facility has been marred with over 100 suspicious deaths. There is also a graveyard on the property with over 20,000 unmarked graves from patients who died at the hospital, some of natural and unnatural causes.

The buildings are in a circle around a big field where you can often see college students playing Frisbee, unfazed by their surroundings. Many windows on the buildings are broken or boarded up and signs alert you to the danger of even stepping within ten feet of the buildings. I haven’t seen the interior, but this post from Kingston Lounge to gives an idea of what the inside looks like.

As of the date of publication, the hospital is still functioning as a residential and short stay mental care facility, in newer buildings of course, but there is talk about shutting it down for good. After I left, I learned that I knew of someone who was a patient here.

Getting There

From downtown Milledgeville, turn right on South Elbert Street/GA-112 S for approximately 2 miles. From there, turn right on Broad Street. Turn left to stay on Broad Street, where, on the left, you will see a sign welcoming you to Central State Hospital, a non-smoking facility.

The post Exploring an Abandoned Mental Institution appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

In case you have had trouble tracking where I was, I started out in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, followed quickly by a visit with my sister Rachel in Athens before starting the Antebellum Trail and the Ultimate Florida Road Trip.

During my two nights in the Classic City I did a whole lot of eating and touring old houses, but I also ended up here after a big brunch at Mama’s Boy. What is it, you ask? If you follow me on Instagram or if you’re a fan of the band R.E.M., you might have guessed it: the railroad trestle from the cover of the album “Murmur.”

While I’m not a huge R.E.M. fan, I heard about the trestle long ago on a forum of Roadside America. Despite a few trips to Athens, this was the first time I experienced it and it was really by chance. Rachel mentioned that she saw it during one of her class visits.

Before it became a part of musical history, the trestle was a part of the Georgia Railroad line. Clarke County has threatened to tear it down a few times, but voted to save it in 2000. But last year, they deemed it unsafe and said they couldn’t afford to keep it. Either way, the trestle still stands.

Don’t Try This At Home

We may or may not have gone off the beaten path (literally) to get a better view of the trestle. Should you be so inclined, follow the dirt path up the hill where others have gone before you. I don’t recommend going out on the trestle as my sister did above because it could collapse at any moment.

If you walk down the hill from Mama’s Boy into the North Oconee River Greenway, Athens’ bike and walking path, you will come upon a small bridge. Continue past it and you will see the trestle on your right. I recommend bringing your bike to ride around the surrounding area.

The post Photo Friday: Athens, Georgia appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.

Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.– Forrest Gump

For this part of the world, shrimp really is the fruit of the sea. Georgia Wild Shrimp is sought out all over the United States, but here, in the state’s Golden Isles, it’s as easy to find as chicken. But when you order a plate of shrimp and grits, do you really think about where it comes from? I know I never did. The farm-to-table movement is taking hold throughout the country, but what about ocean-to-table?

Shrimp Nets

With this in mind, I joined the crew of the Lady Jane for a shrimping cruise based out of Brunswick harbor. We were greeted by Phil, a marine biologist formerly with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. As we drifted away from land, the seagulls and pelicans were already keeping close watch on the boat, having learned that where the boats are, the food is.

Today’s Catch

Not long after the nets had been released, the captain called over the intercom for them to be pulled up. Phil pulled on the knot, releasing a bounty of sea life, most of which I didn’t recognize. But thankfully our guide was there to point out the blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, shrimp and other creatures.

Boiled Shrimp

We also got to sample boiled shrimp that had been caught that day. For some, the experience of seeing their food while it was still alive is off-putting, but I enjoyed it. The entire process from net to plate takes less than one hour. What other restaurants could boast such speedy delivery?

Everything except for the shrimp was tossed back into the ocean and the majority was quickly snatched up by lurking pelicans and seagulls looking for an easy meal. We even caught a baby sea turtle, pictured below, which had to be measured and documented, since it’s an endangered species, before being put back into the water.

Against all odds and other amazing experiences, the Lady Jane shrimp boat tour turned out to be my favorite activity of my four days in St. Simon’s Island and possibly in all the years I’ve visited prior. If you’re looking to see how the seafood industry functions while learning about Georgia ecology, I can’t recommend this tour enough.

My Turtle Friend

Tours cost $39.95 for adults and $25 for children under 6. The company also runs dolphin sighting and pirate boat tours.

I received a complimentary tour as a part of a press trip with Leigh Cort Publicity, but all opinions are my own.

The post Adventures on a Shrimp Boat appeared first on Caroline in the City Travel Blog.