Featured image: Sunset at Balandra Beach, La Paz, Baja California Sur| Photo by Plan B Viajero via Shutterstock

Our travel writers stay true to their passions all year round

by JourneyWoman staff

For JourneyWoman’s writing team, 2024 was a busy travel year, which you can see reflected in the pages of this website. In all, our 18 writers travelled to more than 30 countries, from Bonaire to Switzerland and many places in between.

In a year that saw tourism return to pre-pandemic levels, our goal has been to find, research, photograph and write about lesser-known places and experiences with our readers. We travelled to Chihuahua, Mexico when the country’s first female president was elected, hiked the Nakasendo Trail in Japan, and volunteered at a turtle conservation project in the small village of Punta Banco, Costa Rica. Not only do we want to inspire future travels, we aspire to do so in a way that encourages women to choose the less-travelled path, step out of their comfort zone and experience deep connections with people and communities.

But where do travel writers spend their holidays, you might wonder? This year, we invited our talented travel writers to share the special places where they are spending their holidays. The truth is, when you are curious about the world, almost every place holds the promise of learning and adventure, whether it’s close to home or on another continent. As you can see, our writers stay true to their passions and interests, making their stories all the more authentic.

1. Essaouira, Morocco: Diana Eden, Our Women Over 80 Writer

Read Diana’s articles here

I’m back to Morocco right after Christmas. I’ll be spending the entire week in the small coastal town of Essaouira (a wonderful alternative to Casablanca) with my sister from Toronto and JourneyWoman reader (and former solo travel writer) Sue Janzen from the south of France. We are staying in a riad in the heart of the medina and plan to walk, read, attend a cooking class, eat well, and stargaze on New Year’s Eve.

I spent the holidays in Morocco in December 2022 for the Real Food Adventure Tour with Intrepid Travel, where I saw couscous prepared from scratch in a small family kitchen, pastilla being made in a grand Moroccan villa, taste prickly pears, hariri soup and chebakia pastries on the street, bread in a wood burning stove in a High Atlas Mountain gite, and a variety of Moroccan salads in a Marrakesh cooking school. (Read more here.)

Editor’s note: If you’re looking for an adventure, Morocco’s Sahara Desert is a once-in-a-lifetime stay for New Year’s Eve, but dress warmly! Read more here.

2. Nairobi, Kenya: Rupi Mangat, our Women in Conservation Writer (based in Kenya)

Read Rupi’s articles here

Holiday time at home in Nairobi is great because the otherwise-busy Kenyan capital is quieter. With groups like Nature Kenya and Kenya Women Birders, there’s always something on the calendar to explore the city’s neighbouring forests, prehistoric sites, lakes of the Great Rift Valley and the Nairobi National Park where its generations of black rhinos, lions and all are the original inhabitants of the city.

In her article “Why Women Should Visit Nairobi”, Rupi writes: “Nairobi is a foodie’s city from the local ‘nyama choma’ (roasted meat) to fine dining and fast food.  Walk your 10,000 steps in the heart of the city forests – Karura and Sigiria – safe for women to walk on their own. City Park forest (take a guide for safety) near the Nairobi Museum has a sculptor garden in Murumbi Peace Memorial Garden with masterpieces by some of the first generation of independent African artists. The Nairobi Arboretum showcases many indigenous species including the African baobab, Africa’s oldest living monument.”

3. Meaford, Ontario: Kathy Buckworth, our Multi-Generational travel writer

Read Kathy’s articles here

After a year of travel that took me to Cancun, the Bahamas, The Wild Atlantic Way, Northern Ireland, London (England), a two week Mediterranean Cruise with stops in Italy, Spain and France, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Bahamas (again), Chihuahua (Mexico), Jamaica, and Punta Cana, you might think my holiday plans would be pretty exotic.

If watching a five-year-old pour his own juice, a three-year-old pick his own nose, and an 18-month-old put on her own boots (backwards), seems exotic to you, then you’re right. I’ve carved out the time over the Christmas break to spend it with my grandchildren at one of my favourite locales – my cottage near Meaford, Ontario (population 8,000). This is my reprieve – I’m like Norm on Cheers at the local library when I go there – “Hey Kathy!” – and the shop owners and restaurants know me “from somewhere”. 

The furthest I plan to travel between December 22 and January 4 is to the floor to play with the kids, out to the ski hill with the whole family, and to a mini-bar I might stash in my bedroom.

4. Strasbourg and Paris, France:  Maureen Littlejohn, our Culinary Travel writer

Read Maureen’s articles here

At the beginning of December, I’ll be on a Sweet Christmas Culinary Tour with Tour With Absolutely from December 9 to 16.  The group will be travelling with New York Times best-selling author Steena Holmes to all sorts of delicious places including three Christmas markets in Paris and one in the charming town of Strasbourg, France.

I can’t wait to sip mulled wine, indulge in freshly made crepes, and suss out sugary treats. Plus we’ll be taking a hands-on dessert cooking workshop in Montmartre and learning how to host a French dinner party in the dining hall of a chateau. As if that’s not enough, I’m really looking forward to watching a sizzling performance at the Moulin Rouge cabaret. This tour will certainly make my holidays happy!

Editor’s note: I recently visited Strasbourg, part of the Grand Est region of eastern France, and discoverd some of its Michelin-star restaurants, including Chez Yvonne and 1741. If you go, a boat ride on the canal is a must! 

5. La Paz, Mexico: Carolyn Ray, Editor

Read Carolyn’s articles here

Three years ago, I spent the holiday months in Merida and had already planned to return to Mexico for this year’s holiday season. Then, quite by surprise, I was invited by the La Paz Tourism Board to visit La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, a coastal paradise nestled between the Sea of Cortez and the desert landscape. The warm weather will be most welcome after our JourneyWoman 30th anniversary Northern Lights cruise in Norway.

It’s no surprise that La Paz means ‘peace’ and after a year travelling to more than 15 countries, I need some! My out of office will be on as I spend a first week with the tourism board, experiencing different activities like sand surfing, snorkeling with whale sharks, whale watching, kayaking, sailing, sandboarding and maybe even surfing.

Then, my family will join me for a month, including my daughter who is flying in from London, UK. I have to be honest – just seeing the photographs of the whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez is what compelled me to visit. La Paz is a lesser-known town in Mexico, not at all like touristy Cabo San Lucas. It has breathtaking marine landscapes, pristine beaches, and a commitment to sustainable tourism. It’s also a diving and snorkeling paradise, with the renowned Isla Espíritu Santo. There are direct flights to Los Cabos from major Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal, through airlines such as Air Canada, WestJet, and Sunwing. There are also direct flights into La Paz from Alaskan Airlines. (Find flights here). 

6. New York City, New York: Karen Gershowitz, our Quirky Places writer

Read Karen’s articles here

By the 2024 holiday season, I will have traveled to seven other countries, 11 states and taken five local road trips to places like Eastern Louisiana, San Sebastién, Spain and Ixtapan de la Sal, Tecometepec, Taxco, Toluca and Metepec, near Mexico City. 

It’s time to stay home. Living in New York City, remaining here is a joy. Plus, I’ll be having family and friends visit. I’m looking forward to showing them the well-known holiday sites; the Rockefeller Christmas tree and skating rink, Fifth Avenue window decorations, origami decorated tree at the Museum of Natural History, the holiday markets at Union Square, Central Park, Grand Central Station and Bryant Park.

Then I have a few surprises. We’ll take a drive to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. Homeowners there go all out and the neighborhood is festive and totally over the top. The Museum of the City of New York is a must see for their Great Borough Gingerbread Bake-off. I personally love the Train Show at the NY Botanical Gardens. It’s got model trains, but for me the attraction is the replicas of NYC landmarks created from all natural materials. If there’s any time left, we may go to Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockettes. (Get tickets for the Rockettes here).

7: Dakar, Senegal: Dawn Booker, our Transformational Travel writer

Read Dawn’s articles here

I’ll be spending the holidays hosting a group of women with my company Pack Light Global in Senegal. We’ll start in Dakar, the capital and largest city of Senegal, often regarded as the cultural and commercial center of French-speaking West Africa.  I lead trips to Africa every year at this time between Christmas and New Year to celebrate the Festive Season on the Continent.  In Senegal, The festive season is a vibrant blend of cultural traditions, religious observances, and communal celebrations that reflect the country’s diversity and unity. 

We will spend New Year’s eve in Dakar, there will be fireworks, music performances, and lively street parties. Families and friends gather for large meals, and traditional Senegalese music, as well as contemporary Afrobeat, sets the tone for dancing into the night.

8. Northern Ontario, Canada: Jules Torti, our Adventure Travel writer

Read Jules’ articles here

We’ll be close to home this year and maybe at home if we get bombarded with snow. Here on the Northern Bruce Peninsula the main artery (Highway 6) is often closed in sections–sometimes for days.

For the past five years I’ve participated in the November National Novel Writing Month competition. It’s been a successful commitment as I’ve published three books from the drafts created during the steel wool days of this month. However, this year I was a bit bagged from three weeks in Madagascar and digesting all that we experienced to focus on my next book. So, over the holidays I’ll be revisiting my journals from the Camino Portuguese and Croatia’s Camino Krk to get kickstarted on my newest memoir. In between, I have a stack of books I want to tend to. Most of them are about pilgrimages.

I’ve already farmed out a few suggested recipes to my mom (in particular, a savoury French onion shortbread sandwich cookie). My wife Kim and I will have our traditional Christmas eve celebration of charcuterie, prosecco and annual boo-hoo watching Love Actually. We’ll head south to Walkerton to my parents’ home which will be overtaken by my brother’s one-year-old sheepadoodle, Rocco. As minimalists, we can fit our Christmas decor in one shoebox (really)—my parents’ house is the opposite and true holiday-palooza of nutcrackers (over 70), nibbles and nostalgia.

I’ll also be using this KitKat break from work to plot our next trip—maybe the Philippines in February? Kim and I have already begun wading into the potential of Siargao, El Nido and Palawan. This kind of research makes me feel exceptionally festive!

9. Toronto, Canada:  Jennifer Reynolds, Our Nature and Garden writer

Read Jennifer’s articles here

The most unforgettable Christmas I’ve ever had was on a beach in Myanmar, swimming in the Indian Ocean along the Bay of Bengal. 

After recently strolling the gardens and forests of Martinque, I’m staying home in Toronto, and I couldn’t be more excited. Just as I would if I were travelling to another city, I’ve curated a list of must-do experiences — candlelight concerts, Christmas markets, festive pop-up bars, and indulgent brunches. Being home for the holidays, surrounded by family, friends, and festive celebrations, is its own kind of joy. My calendar is brimming with holiday magic!

More Holiday Destinations