Manya Kaczkowski

You could call it a mid-life crisis: I was 40-ish, and bored out of my mind, dressing up and heading off to work each morning for another day behind a desk. I craved knowledge...adventure...fun.

So now I'm a freelance travel writer. Of course, there were a few steps in between: an English degree from UW-Milwaukee, an internship at Wisconsin Trails, and a stint as editor of Milwaukee Home and Fine Living. And I still spend a fair amount of time behind a desk. But I'm also doing what I love best, discovering unique life experiences and sharing them with others through writing and photography.

I've done features on everything from tornado hunting to zip lining to fly fishing, and have met some interesting folks along the way. Whether I'm writing about an artist who spends his life carving violins in northern Wisconsin, or dishing on the best restaurants in San Antonio, or documenting a trip on a historic steam train through the Rockies, you can be sure that something unique will be revealed—and you'll want to experience it for yourself.