News & Opinion

The Travelers’ Tales editors and this year’s returning judge Scott Dominic Carpenter announced the winners of the Twentieth Annual Solas Awards for Best Travel Story of the Year on March 2. Grand Prize winner Stephen Carr Hampton collected $1000 and the gold award for “Going to Water,” his moving account as a Cherokee man returning to his ancestral home in Tennessee. Gary Singh won the silver award and $750 for “Truth Is the Timeless One,” a reflective essay on the intergenerational effects of immigration. Paulette Perhach took the bronze award and $500 for “Boob Deck,” her hilarious tale of taking charge while under the leering gaze of men.

Scores of entries in 20 categories kept the judges busy. As usual, not every story that deserved an award received one. Here’s the complete list of winners. Winning stories will be posted as Editors’ Choice stories on TravelersTales.com, and may appear in future Travelers’ Tales books.

Note: Participants often wonder about how to make their writing better, and for the first time, our guest judge is willing to provide feedback on your submission. (There’s a small fee to cover his time.) For more information, go to: sdcarpenter.com.

TT Executive Editor Larry Habegger will teach morning sessions in nonfiction at the O'ahu Writers Retreat on O'ahu's north shore April 20–26. He's taught there twice before and is eager to return because he finds the experience so inspiring.

At this annual retreat, two dozen writers gather at a beachfront sanctuary for six days of daily workshops, private coaching, evening readings, and writing in the shade of ironwood trees. The instructors are all acclaimed writers and teachers, with deep experience in the world of books. In addition to Larry, you'll find Faith Adiele, Zoe FitzGerald Carter, Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes, Constance Hale, and Tamara Leiokanoe Moan. Other special faculty includes poets, novelists, and artists from Hawai‘i.

See another side of Polynesia through appearances by star musicians, kumu, (cultural masters), and excursions to sacred sites. Swimming, beachcombing, hiking, turtle watching, lazing and reflecting, and unforgettable sunsets are all part of the experience. For more information and to register (early bird pricing is good through January 31), visit oahuwritersretreat.com.

TT contributor and adventurer Christina Ammon has a workshop scheduled for November in Morocco along with Maud Powell. TT Executive Editor Larry Habegger taught on a Deep Travel Morocco trip a few years ago and has vivid memories of the experiences he and the group had in the ancient city of Fez and the Middle Atlas city of Moulay Idriss. You'll meet Moroccan storytellers, musicians, artists, and scholars, and explore your creative craft in writing sessions and daily wanderings. And, of course, you'll eat your fill of exquisite local cuisine. For more information, see the trips page on DeepTravelWorkshops.com.

The Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference, a.k.a. Summer Camp for Travel Writers, takes place August 14–17. In its 33rd year, the conference provides deep instruction, valuable networking, and a whole lot of fun. If you're on the fence about attending, take the leap and go. There's a reason people return year after year. They've made contacts that have boosted their careers and found friends who have changed their lives. TT Executive Editor Larry Habegger will run a workshop on personal travel writing, among the many other courses and panel discussions involving two dozen faculty members. For more information and to sign up, visit the conference page on BookPassage.com.

The Travelers’ Tales editors and this year’s returning judge Scott Dominic Carpenter announced the winners of the Nineteenth Annual Solas Awards for Best Travel Story of the Year on March 1, 2025. Grand Prize winner Katrina Woznicki collected $1000 and the gold award for “It Can Be Beautiful for Everyone,” her moving and lyrical tribute to the majestic messiness of Los Angeles. Stephanie Knapp won the silver award and $750 for “The Donation,” her account of being a mother at the end of her rope in “Nowheresville,” France. Charish Badzinski took the bronze award and $500 for “Everything Is Great on the Bosphorus Strait,” her kaleidoscopic tale of discovery in the broad Middle East. Scores of entries in 21 categories kept the judges busy. As usual, not every story that deserved an award received one. Here's the complete list of winners. Winning stories will be posted as Editors' Choice stories on TravelersTales.com, and may appear in future Travelers' Tales books.