Lonely Planet

August's highlight? The Olympics! Sure, the sports were thrilling, but for me, the most moving scenes were competitors embracing each other after a game. Moments like boxer Yang Liu from China beaming with pride when her opponent, Algeria's Imane Khelif, won gold, or the men’s javelin competitors grinning in awe as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record. Sob! Sentimental much? Yes! But these moments felt like the world coming together to celebrate human achievement and connection. It's reassuring in the era of AI to know that we're still fascinated by all the cool things other humans can do. We still crave real experiences and the shared stories that come from them. That's what travel is about, too. Connecting us to the world through the stories we gather and share. Rather than AI-generated lists, we seek tips from locals excited to share their corner of the world with us and travelers who get a kick out of letting us in on their cool finds, itineraries and advice. My teammates are still buzzing from their amazing travel experiences in August. And you know what? Summer ain’t over yet. We still have the Paralympics to look forward to. And so much more. – Sasha Brady, Digital Editor

Collaborating with our network of talented global creators is one of the best parts of my job. Working with tourism orgs to tell the stories of their incredible destinations is another 🤝 What a privilege! Grateful to this team and to the Spain Tourism board for their ongoing partnership. cc Lonely Planet

Is there a specific destination you keep returning to in your mind? Like when you feel stressed, that's the place you mentally escape to. For me, that place is Inis Mór in Ireland, my favorite island in Europe, all weather-beaten with tangy sea breezes, untamed beaches and thatched pubs. I dream about Greece a lot too, a place that's perennially high on my wishlist. You'll see from this newsletter that my colleagues have been to all sorts of similarly dreamy spots in June. The kinda places that would occupy your mind long after you’ve unpacked and cleared the sand from your suitcase. – Sasha Brady, Digital Editor

Finding incredible writers is hard. Building a team of *dozens* of expert writers, across North America and beyond, is harder 🌎 But it's enormously satisfying when it all comes together! Even more so when you can hold the results of so much research, commissioning, editing — and hundreds upon hundreds of email threads — in your hands 🙌 Content folks who straddle the digital and print publishing worlds, you know exactly what I mean ;) Introducing Lonely Planet's Offbeat North America — with dozens of experts championing the path less trodden across the United States, Canada, and beyond. Three cheers to Rebecca Hunt for the great partnership as well as the entire dream team of writers (high-five Jessica Wynne Lockhart, Kevin Raub, Lauren Keith, Joshua Samuel Brown, and so many more). This was a joy to commission, and it's so delightful to see it hit the shelves. You can get a copy here: https://lnkd.in/gE2Q2X-e

I haven't spent a lot of time in the US, but as my American colleagues chat about their Memorial Day vacation plans, I realize how much more I need to explore! Some are excitedly sharing the (truly) bizarre attractions they'll see on their road trips, while others contemplate easy, breezy car-free escapes. Those who aren’t traveling (and plan to relax at home with a good book) are dreamily discussing their US summer vacations or (chill) music festival possibilities instead. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back and see where our travels have taken us since last month… Enjoy! – Sasha Brady, Digital Editor

I'm extremely grateful to be among the contributors to Lonely Planet's newest book release, "Offbeat North America." I researched about, day-tripped to and wrote the entry for New York City's Staten Island, which has been often overlooked in visitation. This borough has a lot of green space, sites linked to the American Revolutionary War and LGBTQ history, and fantastic Sri Lankan restaurants.

On every corner of the island, adventure awaits. Read my latest for Lonely Planet on the best places to visit in #Jamaica 🇯🇲

Happy birthday to me!🎉🎂 I’m officially in PRINT! When Anita Isalska first contacted me about writing for Lonely Planet, I was flattered and flabbergasted. Surely there was someone else she meant to email, right? Thankfully, I didn’t let imposter syndrome get the best of me, and now I can see my hard work in PRINT!😍 Not to mention my section pays love to my home state, which it doesn’t get enough of, in my opinion.😉

I don't often write about food, but when I do, I have a lot of fun doing it. Here's my latest for Lonely Planet on my hometown's culinary scene. I included a mix of new additions that have won my heart and classic spots that embody the Old-Portland vibe.