Laura Kiniry

Contributing Writer, Via
Photo of AAA Via Magazine Contributor Laura Kiniry

Laura Kiniry is a professional freelance journalist and content creator with more than 15 years of experience. She is based in San Francisco (for more than 25 years!), and her work specializes in the SF Bay Area, travel, food and culture, wellness, cultural sustainability, and outdoor adventure. She has also served on a variety of panels as both a travel writer and culinary judge, and occasionally mentors college students looking to pursue a career in travel journalism. Her public speaking topics include everything from how to break into writing to the ins-and-outs-of RVing.

Featured Publications

Her writing has appeared in dozens of national, regional, and online publications, including O, The Oprah Magazine, BBC Travel, AtlasObscura.com, CNN.com, Smithsonianmag.com, National Geographic Traveler, AllRecipes.com, TravelandLeisure.com, Budget Travel, AARP, Popular Mechanics, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Frommers.com. She is also the author of three guidebooks on the Garden State (where she's originally from): Moon Handbooks New Jersey, 1st and 2nd editions, and Moon Spotlight: The Jersey Shore.

Education

Articles by Laura Kiniry

A woman walks through the airport with her white rolling luggage.

Travel like a pro with these insights from the experts.

Row boats waiting for passengers at sunrise at Hoa Lu Tam Coc, Hoi An Ancient Town in Vietnam.

Put the bucket list aside, and try one of these off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Andreotti Family Farm pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay, California.

See gargantuan pumpkins, walk Halloweentown streets, and more.

Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks on the rails in Utah.

All aboard, train lovers and skeptics—there’s a route for you.

A full rotisserie chicken and sides on a table at RT Rotisserie in Hayes Valley, San Francisco

For a fresh twist on a meal out, follow the locals to the city’s liveliest inexpensive dining spots.

Clouds over Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Southern Nevada.

From Arizona to California, these wildlands offer history and space to spread out.

a creek runs through the trees with a mountain in the background

Central California Sierra’s magic mountain loop: Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks.

A family hike on a trail in Grand Teton National Park.

Enjoy the best of the West with these family-friendly summer activities.

A couple truck camping in Kaibab National Forest.

Get off the beaten track and enjoy some serenity.

Fourth of July fireworks over the water in South Lake Tahoe, California

From Las Vegas to Anchorage, there's an Independence Day fireworks display in the sky near you.

Gentle waves crash onto Cayucos State Beach on the waterfront of Cayucos on the Central Coast of California.

Seek ocean breezes and quiet at these laid-back spots.

A hotel housekeeper straightens a made bed

From coffee in Italy to a haircut back home, here's how much you should tip no matter where you are.

The sign outside of Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary.

Take in world-class art, hike across glacially shaped mountains, and soak in the small town charm.

A vendor pours a glass of wine for a visitor at the Monterey Wine Festival in California.

Taste some of the best foods across the West at these fests.

Athena Photography / Downtown Missoula Partnership

Discover the best food and wild history in these towns and cities.