Ep. 43: On The Road Again, with Katherine Parker-Magyar
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Five people sent me the screenshot so I guess it’s official: the CDC has announced that fully vaccinated people can engage in outdoor activities without a mask, including exercise, small outdoor activities with other vaxed people, and dining outdoors with multiple households. It’s the equivalent of that moment when I was probably five, and my parents pulled off my training wheels. I went flying down the street like a wrecking ball. I’m curious to see how this all plays out, but I’m hoping for the best.
As hotel people, as travel people—we need travel to open up. We’ve been waiting for the CDC to swing this way—to tell us what we can do, instead of what we can’t, when it comes to being outside and socializing.
There are many more updates from around the world, and I have a special guest joining me today to talk through what’s ahead, as we get back on the road again and into the friendly skies.
Katherine Parker-Magyar is a NYC-based freelance culture and travel writer. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and Business Insider. She has traveled to 63 countries and all 50 states. Katherine earned her master’s degree with honors in literature from the New School. Her writing has been translated into French and Arabic and she's been profiled in the Huffington Post, and other international publications.
Even in this past year, she was able to travel closer to home. I’ve been swooning over her winter in Jackson, Wyoming, hanging out with cowboys in Big Sky, Montana, and what looked to be an amazing girls’ trip in Sedona. Suffice to say—we can travel now, and there’s no one better than Katherine to inspire anyone that’s still a bit hesitant, that it’s time to plan that trip.
Katherine is joining me today to share her story, and recent history, and then we’re going to get into this present moment: travel finally opening up again, airline prices, mystery flights, and so much more.
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Katherine brought an interesting perspective as a travel writer who’s been around the world and brings her personal, first-hand experiences making friends and exploring cultures, traditions, and history through travel.
My key takeaways were:
1. When it comes to travel in the short term, I’m with Katherine that it’s time to get out there. It’s our civic duty—particularly once we’re vaccinated—to get out there responsibly and travel again.
2. As far as eco-tourism goes, Katherine spoke to the nuance of eco-tourism going hand in hand with a new level of luxury travel, and the mounting expectation led by millennials to expect more from hotels and destinations when it comes to sustainability.
3. Finally, when it comes to the intersection of travel and inclusivity, we know that travel is an incredible bridge to seeing the world through another person’s eyes. Katherine points out, that one of the greatest things we can do, is to be active listeners. Learn the history, hear the stories, and do our part to pass them on. Whether learning about native culture in Ketchikan, Alaska, or Garfuna culture in Belize, the simple act of storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to keep culture and history alive.
As always, keep sharing your stories.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Katherine Parkey-Magyar website.
@katherineparkermagyar on Instagram.
@kpm1231 on Twitter.
