Last updated on March 15th, 2023
inspiring solo travel for almost 30 years
Regular Contributors
JourneyWoman is an accredited member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), and the North American Travel Journalists Association. We are an inaugural media member of Travel Unity, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, The Wellness Tourism Association, and The Transformational Travel Council. All of our regular contributors are accomplished and experienced travel writers and authors.
Carolyn Ray
Editor + CEO
Toronto, Canada
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”
– Unknown
Bio: Carolyn grew up in Florida surrounded by sea and surf. She started her career in publishing and held leadership positions in brand consulting and PR firms, most recently as the CEO of Interbrand Canada. In 2012 she was ranked among the top 100 Female Entrepreneurs in Canada; she’s also a Co-Active Life Coach and single mom. Carolyn sits on the board of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and is a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada and the North America Travel Journalists Association.
Passions: My daughter Alyx, history, anything literary/books, margaritas, beaches, latin music, writing, kickass women
Places I want to return to: Spain, Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua, Key West, Morocco, New York, Mexico and Kenya
More on LinkedIn
Diana Eden
Contributor, Travel Over 80
Las Vegas, Nevada
“Life doesn’t end at 80, neither should travel.”
Bio: Diana started her career as a dancer and actress, transitioning into costume design for TV and film. After retiring she wrote a memoir about her experiences called “Stars in Their Underwear” and continues to write, travel, and teach costume design at UNLV.
Passions: Travel, dance, sewing, swimming in turquoise water, warm weather, writing, dining out with friends
Places I want to return to: Tahiti, Spain, France, Greek Islands
More on her website
Karen Gershowitz
Contributor, Quirky Places
New York City, New York
“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”
—Ibn Battuta
Bio: Karen has been traveling solo since age seventeen and has traveled to over ninety countries and has visited all fifty states — many of them multiple times.
In her career as a marketing strategist she traveled the world conducting thousands of meetings, focus groups and interviews. Karen’s first book of travel stories, Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust, explores the confluence of travel and life events, and how travel has changed her beliefs and life direction.
Passions: Writing, photography, live performances of dance, music and theater, collecting outsider art, and mentoring emerging entrepreneurs.
Places I want to return to: Crete, South Korea, New Zealand
More on her website
Leyla Alyanak
Offbeat Places in France
Le Bugey, France
“Just say yes!”
Bio: Leyla Alyanak is a former foreign correspondent and development worker who has visited 99 countries and speaks 5 languages fluently. She is a senior solo travel expert and launched her latest blog, offbeatfrance.com, at the age of 67. She now lives in rural eastern France.
Passions: Outstanding food, flamenco, French history, writing, nostalgia, my dogs and cats
Places I want to visit: Australia, Azerbaijan, Argentina. Strange how they all begin with A…
More on her website
Rosemary Neave
Contributor, Travel Over 70 + LGBTQ+
Christchurch, New Zealand
“Travel lightly on the planet.
Read Rosemary’s articles here.
Bio: Passionate networker in the area of women and travel, developed womentravel.info as a comprehensive listing of over 600 tours for women around the world. Married to Cynthia who also pioneered with women’s travel business Bushwise Women. Also writes at womentravelblog.com and womentavelnz.com.
Passions: New Zealand /Cycling in New Zealand, East coast of Australia, LGBTQ+ travel
Rupi Mangat
Sustainable Travel + Women in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya
“The world is my oyster”
Bio: Rupi is the editor of Komba, a wildlife conservation magazine for Kenyan youth. Based in Nairobi, she writes about sustainable travel, solo women’s travel, wellness travel; wildlife safaris and safaris for the physically challenged.
Passions: Meeting people. I’ve learned so much from people who many a time l had no clue who they were and suddenly realized … wow…they have turned out to be researchers, environmental activists, artists, writers, novelists..and I’ve had the opportunity to write about them in the national newspapers and magazines.
Places I want to visit: Bwindi National Park in Uganda – home of the Mountain gorillas and the hub of Conservation Through Public Health started by the amazing Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
More on her website
To be announced
Accessible Solo Travel
To be announced
Indigenous Solo Travel
To be announced
Black Solo Travel
Sandra Phinney
Contributor, Tales from Atlantic Canada
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”—Miriam Beard
Bio: Sandra lives off-grid in the forest on the edge of the Tusket River in Nova Scotia, Canada. The septuagenarian has had a few former lives including teaching, social work and farming. At age 55 she reinvented herself as a writer. Since then, she’s penned four books, contributed to several travel guides, and her articles have appeared in over 70 publications. Although Sandra has journeyed around the world (and written about her travels) she’s just plain nutty about travelling in Atlantic Canada—four provinces she considers her home turf. She’s excited to be a JourneyWoman contributor, sharing stories from her beloved region.
Passions: Canoeing, Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing), photography, and alone-time with grandkids.
Places I want to return to: The Innu and Inuit communities of Labrador; the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland; Thousand Wild Islands in Nova Scotia; “Down East” Prince Edward Island; and Miscou, New Brunswick.
More on her website
Tina Hartas
Founder, TripFiction
Quote to come
Bio: Tina is the founder of TripFiction, where armchair and actual travellers can find novels and books that will bring their chosen location to life. In addition to being our partner in the Journeywoman Book Club, Tina regularly provides articles about books with a strong sense of place.
Passions: To come.
Places I want to return to: To come
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