2 minute read
Letter from the Director
As a child, I always had my nose in a book. It was almost to a fault—especially when I would get in trouble for reading instead of paying attention in class. I was (and still am) taken with how the written word is capable of transferring someone from one place to another; sometimes from one world to another.
My innate curiosity for stories grew and evolved, which led me to pursue journalism at Texas Tech University (sorry Austinites—I’m a Red Raider), to continue my passion and learn how to become a proper storyteller.
Like many other Austinites, I am an explorer at heart—through reading, writing and experiencing adventure. It was through Tech that I discovered my love for exploration. I had never really traveled beyond the United States until I, along with 23 other students, journeyed to Scotland to study photography and media tourism. Over the course of a month, we traveled to ten different cities (and a few others in between) and ventured into Northern Ireland for a time. Whether it was hiking or relocating or quickly setting our bags down to explore a quaint town—we were constantly on the move.
I loved every second of it. From seeing the vast, magnificent countryside in Scotland to walking along the cliffs in Northern Ireland, my eyes were opened to the world’s beauty. During one leg of the trip, we were hiking almost everyday (one day even held two hikes) and I can still recall my Canon Rebel, hanging from my neck, bouncing with every step as we trudged up and down (many) hills to get the best shot. Our days consisted of learning and shooting, and at night we would head to a pub to meet the locals. I learned each destination had a rich history and a unique story to tell.
Typically during the summer, we like to include a Travel issue showcasing enticing runcations and beautiful destinations. However, with the present circumstances, we decided to shift this issue and encourage you to turn that desire inward to our city and explore all of the wonderful, outdoor adventures and unique stories Austin has to offer.
As humans, we’re built to explore; we’re built to share our stories with one another and experience the world around us, so these travel limitations we are dealing with at the moment can be incredibly difficult for those itching to get out of town and experience new adventures—trust me, I’m right there with you.
Since it is best to stay near the city limits for the time being, our hope with this issue and through these stories is to take you to the top of Mount Everest with Gary Guller, through Texas trails on horseback with Cindy Present, around the metroplex with Eric Champ, and to encourage you to visit the corners of Austin you may have never been before.
Keep Exploring—and most importantly—Keep Austin Fit,
Emily Effren
