In January 2019, after a strike of late-night inspiration at an Elko, Nevada Denny’s, I launched The Statesider with Pam Mandel (author of The Same River Twice), and we were joined shortly thereafter by Doug Mack (author of The Not-Quite States of America and Europe on Five Wrong Turns a Day).

The Statesider — and I’m sorry to state this in the past tense — was a website and newsletter that curated the most interesting stories about US travel, American experiences, and regional cuisines all in one place.

The premise is still a solid one. Even as the US media landscape has consolidated and contracted, there is still a lot of great writing out there on American travel, places, foods, cultures, traditions, festivals, and more. But it’s hard to find, even in supposed travel publications. A magazine that thinks you need a $620 Gucci travel wallet is probably not where to go for thoughtful storytelling on the varied American experience. It’s out there, though, scattered across the internet and print periodicals in places most people aren’t looking. Wouldn’t it be nice to have all of that pulled together in a handy roundup?

The Statesider was a labor of love. After four years, our work situations had changed, and the world had changed after a global pandemic, and we made the hard decision to wrap it up — but the stories, including (some that were printed or short-listed for the Best American series, and more that should’ve been in our opinion), are still there for you to read and enjoy.  Head right this way.