Bryan Shelmon

Bryan Shelmon is a travel writer with bylines in Lonely Planet, Midwest Living, and Wanderlust, known for immersive storytelling shaped by long-term travel across 25+ countries. He combines a background in business with nearly a decade of freelance experience, collaborating with tourism boards and capturing culture through art, language, and local exploration.

Build flexibility into your itinerary. Back-to-back plans might seem efficient, but letting your trip flow naturally reduces stress and gives you space to linger at places you love—or adapt if things don’t go as planned.

Bryan Shelmon is a seasoned travel writer with nearly a decade of experience crafting compelling narratives for top-tier publications, including Lonely Planet, Midwest Living, Wanderlust, and numerous regional and niche travel magazines. His writing blends first-hand exploration with thoughtful cultural insight, offering readers a deeper connection to the destinations he covers.

Bryan has lived in and traveled to more than 25 countries across the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Southeast Asia. His immersive, nomadic approach to travel allows him to spend extended time in each location, often uncovering local perspectives and lesser-known experiences that enrich his storytelling. He has worked alongside tourism boards and partnered with travel influencers to spotlight destinations in a way that’s both authentic and accessible to today’s travelers.

With a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Pittsburgh, Bryan brings a strategic, entrepreneurial mindset to his freelance career. This foundation has helped him successfully navigate the evolving landscape of digital media, build long-standing relationships with editors, and maintain a steady flow of published work across print and online platforms.

A typical day in Bryan’s world might start in a trendy café, sipping a Chai latte while writing his next article, and end at a local museum, neighborhood market, or street performance, fully immersed in the culture of wherever he happens to be. He’s passionate about the arts, language learning, and finding beauty in the small details that make each destination unique.