Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · May 15

In my latests for @gardenandgun.com, I recommend you stash the passport, grab your weekender, and explore these Southern destination dupes gardenandgun.com/articles/sev...

Seven Beautiful Places in the South That Feel Much Farther Flung

These stateside “destination dupes” feel a world away

gardenandgun.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Apr 13

File under: Cutest Story I've Written this Year.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Apr 13

Photographer Leslie Ryann McKellar set off for Florence in January 2022, ready to indulge her lifelong wanderlust.

The secret to sustaining it? A dog. Or, well, dogs.

Must love dogs: An American trades pet-sitting for places to stay in Europe

She has made lots of cute dog friends and learned valuable international lessons about canine culture in several European countries.

www.washingtonpost.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Apr 11

For your Friday morning reading: My second piece for @smithsonianmag.bsky.social on Farm to Batteau, a James River dinner cruise that will float you back in time. www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/two-c...

Two Centuries Ago, Batteaumen on Virginia's James River Ended Long Work Days With a Taste of Freedom

The James River Batteau Company, an outdoor recreation-meets-historical tour business, has designed a dinner cruise that honors the resilience and culinary ingenuity of enslaved boatmen

www.smithsonianmag.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Apr 5

Are we shifting away from the minimalist aesthetic? Mary Randolph Carter tells me she thinks so in my latest for @gardenandgun.com gardenandgun.com/feature/clut...

Clutter Is a Sign of a Life Well Lived, Says This Virginia-Born Collector

In her new book, Ralph Lauren creative director Mary Randolph Carter advocates for cozy homes full of treasures and stories

gardenandgun.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Apr 4

We're getting a bit loosey goosey with the term camino. Next thing ya know, we'll have a Chicken Strip Camino, a harrowing walk through Charlottesville's famous Route 29 Raising Cane's, Popeye's, KFC corridor.

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Apr 3

And finally #3, I went off the rails a bit to get this quirky story on Merle Haggard's California Zephyr train car now in service for Virginia Scenic Railway gardenandgun.com/articles/wai...

Waitin’ for a Train: Now You Can Actually Ride in Merle Haggard’s Personal Dome Car

In Virginia, one writer went a little off the rails to get the wild backstory

gardenandgun.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Apr 3

#2 Botanical breaks are booming. But what’s behind our love of traveling to gardens? I traced the trend to ancient Egypt to find out for @nextavenue.bsky.social www.nextavenue.org/botanical-br...

Botanical Breaks

Why garden tourism is blooming in 2025 and where you should visit

www.nextavenue.org

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Apr 3

Been a busy week with three new stories. First up, where to thrill-ride in the South gardenandgun.com/articles/sev...

Seven Southern Mountain Coasters that Promise Scenery-Soaked Thrills

Let gravity do the work on these alpine-inspired rides

gardenandgun.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Mar 26

My D.C. travel hack? Stay at The Wharf www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Famil...

A Family Travel Guide to Washington, D.C.

Families can take an electric boat out on the Potomac, catch a concert and museum hop with ease in the nation’s capital

www.travelagewest.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Mar 25

Call me crazy, but I think good manners are a positive good. My latest for @businessinsider.com www.businessinsider.com/sent-son-chi...

I sent my 9-year-old son to an etiquette camp. It might sound old-fashioned, but it taught him confidence and kindness.

I sent my son to a 3-day etiquette camp. The goal wasn't to turn him into a miniature aristocrat, but to help him learn confidence and protocol.

www.businessinsider.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Mar 24

Travel publicists, send me your quirky stories. Luxury amenities are great, but the stories I'm interested in have some eccentric detail, offbeat element, or peculiar provenance.

Reposted by Kinsey Gidick

Garden & Gun @gardenandgun.com · Jan 6

Squeeze the day: Two revitalizing juice recipes to jump-start the new year. https://buff.ly/4h6vrDT

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Mar 13

Looking for luxury hotel brands that still carry hard copy daily newspapers for guests.

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Mar 3

How can you turn 4th grade state history lessons into a great spring break family trip? Here's my Washington state itinerary for ParentMap www.parentmap.com/article/fami...

Bring Washington State History to Life With a Family Vacation

Transform textbook learning into real-world knowledge with a trip to a historic destination

www.parentmap.com

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Feb 28

My anecdotal look at the filthiest places on a plane www.fodors.com/news/airline...

The Dirtiest Places on an Airplane, Ranked

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Feb 25

Proud to accept this DEI recognition from the @natjaorg.bsky.social

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Feb 18

Excellent reporting. Thank you!

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Feb 11

In other news, here's my hot tip for Turks & Caicos www.roadtripsforfamilies.com/turks-caicos...

Turks & Caicos Turks Clear Boat Experience — Turtle-y Worth It!

If you do one thing with your family in Turks & Caicos, make it the Turks Clear Boat Experience. It's "turtle-y" worth it!

www.roadtripsforfamilies.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Feb 11

It's me, hi. I'm the problem, it's me. www.fodors.com/news/travel-...

Don’t Make the Same Mistake I Did With Your Airline Meal Voucher

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Feb 5

Love a bodice ripper? Then head to the South. gardenandgun.com/articles/ste...

Steamy Tales: Why the South Is Hot for Romance Bookstores

Savvy booksellers are stepping up to satisfy readers’ cravings for spicy stories

gardenandgun.com

Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Feb 5

Source Request: I'm looking to speak to flight attendants and flight utility crews about the filthiest places on planes for Fodor's. DM open.

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Jan 21

In honor of Jane Austen's 250th, I interviewed Austen experts on all the best ways to celebrate one of English literature's greatest writers for BBC. www.bbc.com/travel/artic...

How to celebrate Jane Austen on her 250th birthday

As travellers flock to the English countryside to celebrate the renowned novelist, we asked experts to weigh in on the best Austen-themed festivals, reenactments and balls of the year.

www.bbc.com

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Jan 20

Even better.

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Jan 20

What I’m trying to say is, you heard a funny rhyming book while I took “Oh the Places You’ll Go” as an edict.

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Kinsey Gidick @kinsey-gidick.bsky.social · Jan 17

Pretty wild