Featured image: Evelyn Hannon, the world’s first female solo travel writer, who told us ‘you can do it!’

The world’s first female solo travel writer — and the power of an idea

by Carolyn Ray

Ideas have power.  And powerful ideas have the potential to inspire and motivate people to take action. They can also shape beliefs, influence behavior, and create change. When Evelyn Hannon started JourneyWoman 30 years ago as the world’s first solo travel publication for women, she had a simple yet powerful idea: that we, as women, can support each other in the journey of life, with travel as a unifying experience.

While Evelyn is recognized as the world’s first female solo travel blogger and JourneyWoman as the first solo travel website for women, those who have been a part of JourneyWoman for decades know that it is much more than that. JourneyWoman is both a publication and a community, a safe place where women can express their hopes and fears, share experiences that shape our world and discover new qualities within themselves.

That idea is what compelled me to continue JourneyWoman when I was invited to do so just before Evelyn embarked on her biggest solo adventure into the unknown, following a three-year battle with cancer.  I will never forget being in the hospital with her days before she passed away. Together, with her daughters Erica and Leslie, I sat with Evelyn, held her hands and told her about my plans for JourneyWoman. I’d like to think that that gave her comfort, to know that someone would be carrying on her legacy. She knew then, what I have learned — is that JourneyWoman is unique and special. There is nothing else like it in the world.

To JourneyWomen around the world, Evelyn was a sage guide and trusted resource.  She was a woman ahead of her time, and a trailblazer whose confidence and courage for solo travel inspired thousands of women around the world to take the first step. She inspired not only travel adventures but also journeys of healing and self-discovery. Over the past four years, I’ve come to understand the qualities that make JourneyWoman so beloved, while understanding the ways in which travel – and our world – is changing. These changes require that we, as travel’s most important decision makers, use our influence to help advocate for a more responsible future for generations to come.

Memorable moments over the past four years

Celebrating Evelyn

Erica and Leslie were incredibly generous, allowing me to choose items from Evelyn’s enormous book collection, photographs and travel memorabilia. Erica also gave me her mother’s iconic red boots, cape, yellow Antarctica jacket, scarves, her beret and many other items. I spent hours at Evelyn’s apartment, listening to stories, looking through photographs, books and travel knick knacks.

I also spent time with two of Evelyn’s childhood friends, Marilyn Lightstone and Sunny Holtzman. The three were friends from grade school in Montreal and often travelled together. I am so appreciative of their overwhelming support and kindness, despite the irreplaceable loss of their lifelong friend.

Announcing the transition in August 2019

When we announced that I would be taking over JourneyWoman, Erica and I spent all day together, taking calls and answering emails. We received at least 800 emails the first day alone and thousands after that. It took me weeks, but I personally responded to every one of them. I started doing community calls, which allowed me to meet hundreds of JourneyWoman readers virtually. It was then that I realized there was more to JourneyWoman — it really was the sisterhood of women I had heard about.

In our announcement email, Erica wrote: “When our mother started JourneyWoman over 25 years ago, she unknowingly became the world’s first female travel blogger and built a sisterhood of women travellers. Not only does Carolyn share many of our mother’s values, we believe her passion for travel and her strategic mindset will enhance Journeywoman’s brand as a trusted source for women. We can’t imagine anyone better suited to extend our mother’s legacy.”

Evelyn’s Boots in the Bata Shoe Museum

In 2021, the Bata Shoe Museum accepted Evelyn’s iconic red boots into its permanent collection. As one of the world’s most renowned museums, the Bata Shoe Museum holds over 14,000 shoes and shoe-related artefacts in its collection.

Evelyn’s boots are a powerful symbol of female empowerment, First, they are red – which was Evelyn’s trademark colour. She wanted to stand out as a woman. They are well-worn (from travelling to (almost) every country in the world). Perhaps, most importantly, the boots are about following your passion, reminding us that when we find the courage to take a first step forward, amazing things can happen. Today, women are the primary influencers in travel, and the JourneyWoman community represents some of the most well-travelled, experienced women in the world.

“We appreciate the story of Evelyn’s boots and how they manifest one woman’s dream to inspire and empower women,“ said Nishi Bassi, Manager of Exhibitions and Assistant Curator, the Bata Shoe Museum. “We strive to showcase footwear that is unique, memorable and leaves its mark on the world, and we are excited about this donation.”

We’re planning something special in 2024 at the Bata Shoe Museum. Get your own boots here in our JourneyWoman store! 

The symbols of JourneyWoman

Some of Evelyn’s Iconic Articles