Good travel writing has a way of transporting you to the destination described by the author. The best passages can fill your imagination with visions of sun, white sand, crystal clear water, majestic palms, strange dishes and friendly new people, possibly causing you to plan your next vacation on the spur of the moment. The following travel writing blogs are composed by dedicated travelers who are living the dream and documenting their experiences online. Can you believe that some of these people get paid for their "work?"

General Travel Writing Blogs

The niche of travel writing has produced a bounty of capable writers. These blogs happen to be the home of several of them.

1. Brave New Traveler: Brave New Traveler is about more than just "where to go" and "what to do:" it delves deeper, recognizing that travel can change your life for the better. Its writers explore different cultures and the aspects that make them most interesting. Their mission is not to simply observe, but to experience new ways of living, thinking and believing.
2. The Travelers Notebook: The Travelers Notebook features first-hand accounts -- many of which resemble journal entries -- from writers embarking on once-in-a-lifetime adventures. When you're finished reading, say, "Notes on the Magical Existence of Mountain Top Lady Bugs," you can peruse the destination guides, practical tips and even job opportunities.
3. Travel Blog Exchange: Travel writers gather and share their experiences on the Travel Blog Exchange. Current tops posts include the humorous "How to Delay a Flight with a Granola Bar" and insightful "Are You Living the Life You Want?" -- the latter of which helps readers determine if a life of travel is right for them.
4. Gadling: Gadling is the home to a diverse group of travel writers who author a wide range of blogs useful for people who love to explore the world. The site is divided into different sections tailored to different interests, including Adventure Travel, Budget Travel, Travel Tech and Travel Tips. You can find posts pertaining to eight different world regions by clicking on the interactive map.

Independent Travel Writing Blogs

These ambitious travel writers have their own blogs to reflect on their experiences abroad.

5. Abandon the Cube: Lauren and Mike invite you to vicariously live through them as they travel the world. Despite no longer having to endure the mundane routines that came with their nine-to-fives, they remain quite productive, posting destination guides, and travel recommendations and tips. They even provide maps that display their routes -- helpful for when they explore those lesser-known places.
6. Notes from the Road: Notes from the Road has been praised by Forbes Magazine for its appearance, and the Boston Globe said it's a "rich reward to arrive at this unexpected frontier of the travel blogosphere." Author Erik Gauger writes about a variety of subjects that arise during his journeys, but his main focus is the unique people he encounters who each have their own story to tell.
7. Vagabonding: Vagabonding is composed by accomplished writer Rolf Potts, whose work has been published by New York Times Magazine, National Geographic Traveler and The Guardian. He has traversed six continents, accumulating a lifetime of stories to share with his readers, like the one when he piloted "a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong."
8. Everything Everywhere: It has been an eventful last three-to-four years for Gary Arndt, who has been traveling the world and blogging about his experiences. His story is an interesting one; as a Wisconsinite, he had never seen salt water until the age of 21. During his first trip beyond North America, he spanned the globe in just three weeks. Now, traveling is his life and his readers get a front row seat.
9. Almost Fearless: Christine Gilbert is a former manager at a Fortune 500 company who decided to pursue her real passion, traveling to 17 countries and more than 25 cities around the world. The recent addition of a new baby boy isn't slowing her down, as she and her hubby now bring him along for the journey.
10. The Tranquilo Traveler: Joshua Berman, The Tranquilo Traveler, is a guidebook author, volunteer and Spanish teacher who has traveled around the world (in one trip) but has a particular interest in Central America. His blog is an excellent read for anyone who desires to visit the region, which possesses numerous must-see destinations despite its relatively small size.
11. Frugal Traveler: Frugal Traveler is published in the The New York Times and authored by Seth Kugel, who travels both near and far on minimal amounts of money. His big plans are never compromised, however, as evidenced by his summer plan to return home to New York City from Sao Paolo on fewer than $500 per week.
12. Rick Steves: Rick Steves isn't afraid to write about his observations on politics and other controversial subject matters, setting his blog apart from the others listed. The basis for his opinions comes from years of traveling, so he isn't your regular bloviating blowhard with a blog.
13. En Route: "Pinoy Backpacker and Adventure Traveler" Ferdinand Decena chronicles his experiences as he travels the Philippines and the world, providing stories and pictures that have garnered him praise and awards. His blog has been in operation since 2003, so he's a seasoned veteran of the blogosphere.
14. Matt Gibson: For six years since he graduated from college, Matt Gibson has lived abroad and become a skilled travel writer. He founded Xpat Magazine in Taiwan and is currently an editor at National Cheng Kung University, but still finds time to update his blog with interesting travel stories -- many of which are accompanied with beautiful photos.
15. A Girl in Asia: Liz Ledden, a girl in Asia, discusses "cafe crushes, shoptalk, favourite eats, travel tales and a look 'behind the blog' of fellow food, travel & lifestyle lovers." Additionally, she corresponds with other travel writers living in Asia, giving readers the opportunity to blog hop and learn more about the Far East.
16. O'Sullivans Abroad: Two American educators have taken the opportunity to teach abroad and explore new places in the meantime. O'Sullivans Abroad is a journal of their trek, which began in Taichung, Taiwan, and has brought them to Singapore. Along the way, they've experimented with food, endured a typhoon, played badminton, coached volleyball and met interesting new people.
17. Contemporary Nomad: Full-time global travelers Tony and Thomas document their nomadic lives on Contemporary Nomad. Their blog includes descriptions of everything from barhopping to their visit to the royal tomb of Tu Doc during a torrential downpour. Of course, traveling is nothing without a hefty sampling of regional food, so there's a generous helping of cuisine-related posts.

Blogs for Aspiring Travel Writers

Has reading about other people's life-changing travel experiences inspired you to make your own? Venture over to these blogs if you want to embark on your own travel writing journey.

18. Travel Writing 2.0: Tim Leffel, author of the book Travel Writing 2.0 and an overall accomplished travel writer, composes the blog of the same name, which features interviews with other travel writers -- like Gary Arndt and Joshua Berman -- who supply their wisdom for newcomers in the field. The blog also features resources geared toward helping travel writers hone their skills and find work.
19. Write to Travel: A travel writer from New Zealand shares her knowledge on the subject, highlighting books, websites and other blogs that are useful for her peers who want to become better at their craft. Also provided are links to sites that are in need of talented travel writers.
20. Travel Writers Exchange: Travel Writers Exchange is an online community for both seasoned and novice travel writers to "exchange tools, tips, and resources." Read posts such as "Capture a Moment in Time with a Travel Essay" and "Why I Fired a Travel Writer" to learn how to get the most out of your writing and career.