“Jill – Your story is terrific – exactly what I was looking for – and the photos turned out great as well. Thanks for everything.”
–Matt Kelsey, GateHouse Magazine
Travel writer: Jill Dutton is a travel writer who seeks out locally celebrated foods, outdoor activities, and liquor trends. She’s passionate about telling the stories of those she meets on her travels, and is working on a syndicated column A Sense of Place: Food and culture through storytelling. Jill is a Kansas City expert as well as a train travel expert. Readers of her stories have come to expect an intimate look at authentic travel experiences.
Local Foods

Roadtrippers Magazine
Plus:
- Everything You Want to Know About Pecans — USA Today 10Best
- Chi Em Eats — Emporia Living Magazine
- Quick Bites Along KC Streetcar — Matador Network
- Get Pickled in Ann Arbor — Evolving Magazine
- Boozy Ice Cream Flights at Steamboat Bay — Chilled Magazine
Travel Awaits:
- Finding the Best Tacos in Kansas City, Kansas
- The Ultimate Foodie Road Trip Through Missouri
- Eating Local in Lake Tahoe
- The Best Food In DeKalb County, Georgia
- Best Places To Eat In San Francisco’s Chinatown
- The 15 Best Stops Along The Cajun Boudin Trail
- 4 Ways To Experience Basque Culture In Northern Nevada
- The Best Food in La Paz
- 7 Best Places To Savor Seafood In Ketchikan, Alaska
- 5 Amazing Arizona Chefs And The Ways They’re Using Mesquite
- Everything You Need to Know About Tennessee Pawpaw
- 8 Amazing Virginia Foods
- Dining in Downtown Woodstock, Georgia
- Kansas City Barbecue
- Why You Need To Try A Chicago Hot Dog
- 7 Can’t-Miss Restaurants In Lawrence, Kansas
- How To Spend A Perfect Day In Historic Lafayette, Louisiana
- 11 Amazing Outdoor Restaurants And Rooftop Bars In Phoenix
Train Expert
Plus:
- Wisconsin by Train – American Essence
- Celebrating Amtrak’s 50th: 8 Incredible Small Town Stops
- 5 Reasons I Like To Visit Tuscaloosa Instead Of Atlanta By Train
- 4 Reasons To Travel By Train
- 5 Things You Should Bring On A Long-Distance Train Trip
- 8 Beautiful Colorado Train Rides You Must Experience
- Scenic Train Rides for Traveling Through Virginia
- Stops Along The Coast Starlight Route
- 9 Things to do on a Layover at Chicago’s Union Station
- Virginia by Train
Outdoors

Yellowstone National Park Stagecoach Tours
Roadtrippers Magazine

Lessons I Learned From My First Fly Fishing Experience
Travel Awaits

Born of American Grit
Pennsylvania Magazine (May/June 2022)
Plus:
- Female Pioneer Pro Bass Angler, Jen Duff — American Essence
- A Historian of the Wild West — American Essence
- Interview with Roland Welker, Winner of ALONE Season 7 — Field & Stream
- It’s a Bivalve World — American Essence
- The Last Frontiersman — American Essence
- 2021 Best Year to Book Fishing Trip — Field & Stream
- The Top 12 Things to Do in La Paz, Mexico — TripSavvy
- The 8 Best Things to Do in Kansas City — AFAR Travel Guide
- A Day Trip Back in Time — American Essence
Travel Awaits:
- Our 8 Favorite Places For Stargazing
- 9 Incredible Reasons to Visit Tulum, Mexico in the Winter.
- 8 Reasons To Book A Women’s Sport Fishing Trip
- Alaska Adventure: My First Trip Since Coronavirus
- 11 Unique Fall Camping Destinations In The U.S.
- 10 Fantastic Glamping Destinations In Northern Virginia
- 7 Thrilling Outdoor Adventures Around The World
- 10 Thrilling Outdoor Adventures In The U.S.
- Lessons I Learned From My First Fly Fishing Experience
- The Best Things To Do In Adorable Canon City, Colorado
- Road Trip from Cabo San Lucas to La Paz
- Best U.S. Ski Destinations Even If You Don’t Ski
- 8 Stunning Must-See Waterfalls In Tennessee
- How To Spend 3 Days In La Paz
- 10 Relaxing Wellness Retreats For Women
- 7 Great Day Trips From Reno, Nevada
- Incredible Places for Snowbirds this Winter
- How To Spend A Long Weekend In Scenic Pensacola, Florida
- 4 Fabulous Women’s Winter Escapes In The U.S.
- 3 Bucket-List National Parks To Visit This Winter
- 11 Incredible Things To Do In Winter Park, Colorado During Summer
- 7 Excellent Outdoor Adventures in Mesa, Arizona
Bass Angler Magazine (print edition):



Wine/Spirits/Liquor Trends

Chilled Magazine
Contributor Pages:
Plus:
- Crafting Cocktails from the Well — Chilled Magazine (print)
- On Location: Arctic Bar, Ketchikan, Alaska — Chilled Magazine (digital)
- Brews for All — Shawnee Magazine
- Best Wine Podcasts of 2021 — Liquor.com
- The Natural Wine Movement — Old Liquors Magazine
- Liquor Trends: Interview with a Liquor Broker — Old Liquors Magazine
- 10 Unique Bars in Phoenix — Travel Awaits
- Best Whiskey Subscriptions — Liquor.com
- The 7 Best Craft Beer Clubs — Liquor.com
- 9 Things To Know About The North Lake Tahoe Ale Trail —Travel Awaits
- Crafting Cocktails: Drastic Measures in Shawnee, Kansas—Shawnee Magazine (print)
- Booze And Brothels: 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Ketchikan, Alaska — Travel Awaits
- Best Asheville Breweries — Travel Awaits
- Wine and Cheese Pairings | Interview with Jaclyn Stuart — Chilled Magazine (digital)
- Damiana Liqueur: Herbal Aphrodisiac or Urban Legend? — Chilled Magazine (digital)
- The Best Online Sommelier Classes of 2020 — The Spruce Eats
- The Best Online Spirits Classes of 2020 — The Spruce Eats
- The Best Tequila Subscriptions of 2020 — The Spruce Eats
- The Best Champagne Delivery Service of 2020 — The Spruce Eats
- The Speakeasy Makes a Comeback — Old Liquors Magazine
- Go Back in Time for the Drinking Hour — Old Liquors Magazine
- From Grains to Glass — Old Liquors Magazine
- Get Your History on Tap — Old Liquors Magazine
“Having outsourced numerous projects, Jill is one of the most professional and enthusiastic writers and editors I have ever worked with. I am very impressed with her prompt response, active engagement to come up with creative solutions and ability to manage projects without supervision. She has effective communication skills and always seeks to clarify instructions. Jill even volunteered to work over the weekend in order to meet my launch date. I am looking forward to working with Jill on future projects and recommend her whole-heartedly.”
__Lei Wang, Pay No Advertising Campaign
Interviews/News/Essays
- Emporia Living Magazine: Sign of the Times
- The Checkup (reported essay): Controlling the Uncontrollable: OCD during a pandemic
- Shawnee Magazine: Shawnee and Her Sister Cities
- Pitch Weekly: Debora Green Back in Court
- Branded Content: Tips and Tricks for Grilling Sausages
- Evolving Magazine: Calm During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Shawnee Magazine: Crafting Cocktails
- Business Insider: Unemployed States of America
- Business Insider: Unemployment Diary
- Travel Awaits: Traveling Solo Over 50
- Huffpost Personal (essay) Grandma at 35
- Travel Awaits (essay): A Lesson Learned on the Southwest Chief Train
- Shawnee Magazine: A Journey Toward Excellence
Erickson Senior Living Tribune:
- Pickleball Craze at Eagle’s Trace
- Your Dream Retirement Awaits
- More than Just a Stylish Home at Maris Grove


- Freelance writer: More than 20 years of experience writing for magazines and agencies creating content for print and online. Regular Contributor to Kansas City Star “Simplify Your Life” department for two years. Heavy focus on interviews/profiles, news, wellness, liquor trends, travel, and food writing.
- Content creation includes venues for a travel app, feature articles, interviews, and blog posts for several agencies. Worked with Morning Star Communications, WDS Marketing, and most recently, BigWing, Matcha, and Porter & Sail.
- Jill’s writing has appeared most recently in AFAR, Business Insider, Wine Enthusiast, USA Today, Business Jet Traveler, Chilled Magazine, Shawnee Magazine, Old Liquors Magazine, Evolving Magazine, Bass Angler Magazine, and at HuffPost Personal, Matador Network, Travel Awaits, TripSavvy, Outbound Collective, Real Food Traveler, and Women Who Explore. Previous credits include Kansas City Star, Kansas City Business Journal, Osawatomie Graphic, GateHouse Magazine, and numerous others. Jill is currently writing the first of 12 train travel guides: “Ride the Southwest Chief.”
- News experience includes reporting for Business Insider, Kansas City Star, Shawnee Magazine, Disaster News Network, Dos Mundos, and Osawatomie Graphic, Pitch Weekly, Kansas City Business Journal, and sports writing for The Gardner News and Kansas City Sports Calendar.
“Jill is meticulous at meeting deadlines and producing jaw-dropping results. She has an amazing integrity that is reflected in her manner, her work, and her communication with others. Although I have worked with Jill on multiple projects, her multi-talented nature comes through in all capacities. She can as easily apply creative reasoning as she can detailed follow-through. I recommend her highly. Always.”
–Trace Shapiro, Thriving in the Heartland
Additional Travel Stories
- 7 Gorgeous Secluded Getaways in Colorado
- 6 ‘Ratched’ Filming Locations You Can Visit In Real Life
- How To Spend An Amazing Weekend Getaway In Woodstock, Georgia
- Weekend Getaway to Janesville, Wisconsin
- Take a Tour of Wine Road 290 in Fredericksburg, Texas
- Get Your Spirits Lifted in Kansas City
- 9 Great Things to Do In Phoenix In The Fall
- 10 Fantastic Things To Do Outdoors In Mobile, Alabama
- 8 Reasons To Make Tuscaloosa, Alabama Your Next Weekend Getaway
- Traveling Solo Over 50: 7 Tips From The Experts
- The Best Things To Do In Door County In The Winter
- 8 Reasons To Put Hampton, Virginia On Your Bucket List
- 8 Reasons To Visit Lewisburg, West Virginia
- The Best Time to Visit Albuquerque
- 7 Reasons to Retire in Gainesville, Georgia
- The Best Things to See and Do in Fredericksburg, Texas
- San Francisco’s Chinatown: 12 Things To Know Before You Go
- 9 Things To Do In Charlottesville, VA
- Why Emerald Isle For A Beach Getaway
- Carolinas Road Trip: Asheville to Myrtle Beach
- 10 Quaint Texas Towns To Visit
- Alaska Adventure: My First Trip Since Coronavirus
- How To Spend An Incredible Weekend In Charming Annapolis
- 14 Best Things To Do In Exhilarating Charlotte, NC
- The Best Things to See and Do in Lubbock, Texas
- Fantastic Experiences in Historic Sacramento, California
“Jill contributed several stories to GateHouse magazine as a freelancer and served as an expert for topics in both Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties. She is capable, dedicated and timely, and she produces clean, engaging copy that adds to the overall editorial voice of a publication. I plan to work with her more, and would certainly recommend her for a variety of freelance projects.”
–Katy Schamberger, editor
Social Networks
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jill.dutton
Facebook USA by Rail: https://www.facebook.com/wanderlust.usa.by.rail
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usabyrail
Twitter: https://twitter.com/evolvingmag
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/jilldutton
Blog: www.USAbyRail.blog
Contact Jill
Jill Dutton
P.O. Box 3735, Shawnee, KS 66203
913-944-1298
jill.usabyrail@gmail.com