New Mexico-based journalist Ellen Barone has been covering leisure travel since 1998. Inspired by a Fulbright teaching exchange to Scotland in the early nineties, the freelance writer-photographer has traveled to more than 60 countries for travel-related assignments. Whether she’s sailing across the Atlantic, crossing the Sahara on camel, surfing Maui’s swells, dog sledding the Alaskan tundra, cycling the Sicilian coastline, eating scorpion in Singapore or hanging out in the tango bars of Buenos Aires, she strives for honest storytelling and vivid photography that inspires travelers to pack their bags and experience our blue planet for themselves. In addition, she’s a gifted workshop teacher, radio host, photo tour leader, speaker and author of several online columns offering practical advice and information for travelers. Together with travel journalist, Judith Fein, Ellen publishes the group travel blog, YourLifeIsATrip.com and co-authors the adventure travel column, The Wild Pair.  Her website, EllenBarone.com, is one-stop shopping for expert advice, vacation tips, gear and gadget reviews, photo galleries and travel articles.