In this special edition of Food, Wine, Travel Magazine our writers address how the coronavirus is affecting them and you during this world-wide emergency. 

Omaha, Nebraska: I learned from living in the Midwest that you need to grab spring quickly when it comes. The weather goes from winter to summer with but a brief interlude called spring. This makes Omaha the perfect place to visit right now. 

 Lauritzen Gardens in the springtime. Photo courtesy of Lauritzen Gardens 

Flagstaff, Arizona: I was awestruck at all there is to see and do in Flagstaff. I think readers of this blog will be intrigued to learn about all the fun things there are to see and do in Flagstaff and the surrounding area as well—the Grand Canyon is just 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff, and Phoenix is a little over 2 hours south.

Greece offers more than blue water beach vacations or ancient sites and museums chock full of antiquities. IFWTWA travel writers bring you in depth reviews and insights from their journey to help you decide where to focus your attention when visiting all that is modern and ancient Greece. 

Opening in 1973, the Baros Maldives was only the third island destination resort in the Maldives. It’s gorgeous beauty and proximity to Male were among the primary reasons for it’s opening. Even though such history is fairly recent – things were significantly different back then. There were no banks on Male, fishing was still the primary income source for the country, the population was less than a 1/3 of what it is today and on Baros the original accommodation was thatched roof huts framed with coral walls – and no air conditioning. 

It’s human nature to want to feel a part of something. That’s one of the main reasons people join clubs and organizations. When I made the transition from full-time nursing to full-time freelance travel writing, I realized that as exciting as my new life was, I wasn’t part of a team like I had been at the hospital. Much of the work I was producing was now being done in my home office, practically in solitude.

The Tri-Valley is home to nearly 60 wineries, a craft beer trail with 23 stops, the first ice cream trail, California’s largest premium outlet shopping center, a world-class mall, one-of-a-kind boutique shops, hiking and incredible restaurants. From beer & wine tastings, to Dim Sum brunch, regional lunch and dinners, and a tour of the Blackhawk Museum, our media trip participants came away with an inspiring, hands-on experience and stories to share with their readers.

IFWTWA is the acronym for the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association. Our members make up a global network of storytelling content creators: writers, bloggers, travel journalists, photojournalists, podcasters, videographers, radio and television hosts, who report on the travel and hospitality industry. Many specialize solely in one area of food, wine, or travel reporting. Others pursue niches publishing on communications, historical, cultural or other specialty topical areas of interest to the public. Industry professionals join with us to promote their venues. They run hotels, public relations firms, theme attractions, convention and visitors bureaus, destination management organizations, and tourism boards. They contribute the regional and local area knowledge and expertise so vital to fulfilling the mission of our Association. 

When you are a guest in someone’s home, you try to be respectful. When you’re in the distinguished James Beard’s House, you are very respectful. It was nearly 7 p.m. and we were led into a plain brownstone with a simple plaque at the entrance stating it was the James Beard House.

Vermont is best known for maple syrup, skiing, fall foliage, and Ben & Jerry’s. But, in the past decade agriculture and food as well as the craft beer movement have positioned Vermont as best in class for foodies and beer connoisseurs, with travelers from across the globe coming to Vermont to taste our award-winning double IPAs, cheeses, ice cream, and, well… just about everything is great in Vermont!  #ExploreVTFood

Rest and relaxation aren’t the only things you get from vacation. If you aren’t careful, you could end up with a lot of debt. A recent survey by LearnVest of vacation-going Americans found 74% went into debt to bankroll their getaway, spending $1,108 on average for a single trip. Of those surveyed, most spent about 10% of their annual income on one trip, and most of them did not budget for the trip in advance.

"The wine world has its share of eponymous regions; so famous, that just the mere murmur of their name evokes a sense of wonder.  Chateauneuf-du-Pape is one of those regions. The rich, bold and sensuous red wines that are created from this parcel of land in the south of France have been renowned for hundreds of years. For those of us who love wine Chateauneuf-du-Pape is practically a place of pilgrimage.

"For whiskey enthusiasts, a visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a premier trip to make. For bourbon fans, it’s Mecca. Ninety-five percent of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky where the limestone encrusted spring-fed waters contribute to the flavors of these delicious whiskeys."  ...Nancy Zaffaro

"If the Middle East is on your bucket list, Qatar is a country you won’t want to miss. Aside from being one of the wealthiest economies and the country with the highest per capita income in the world, you’ll find this destination teeming with culture, uber-luxurious hotels and some pretty amazing food."  —Beth Graham