What do you get when you mix an unconventional life with years of restaurant work, expat experience, a lifelong battle against a deadly genetic disease, and a passion for words? The multi-faceted portfolio of Zanny Merullo Steffgen. Keep scrolling to check out her recent work, or visit the CV page to learn about her background.

Based in Colorado.

ZANNY MERULLO STEFFGEN

Disabled Travel Journalist

Contemplative Essayist

Copywriter

Covering:

- Adventure travel (often with an accessibility angle, focus on hiking and scuba diving)

- Stories that humanize and bridge cultural differences

- Businesses, tours, movements, and organizations that make a positive impact

- Food and beverage (with a focus on wine)

- Other lifestyle topics

Destination Expertise:

Southwest US, New England, Cambodia, Italy, Germany

Recent trips to Central and South America

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TRAVEL WRITING

IAN CALLEN ON SUPPORTED TRAVEL, OUTTHERE

March, 2025

ZANNY MERULLO STEFFGEN

TRAVEL WRITING

IAN CALLEN ON SUPPORTED TRAVEL, OUTTHERE

GERMANY'S CAMINO TREK RIVALS SPAIN'S FAMOUS PILGRIMAGE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

VISITING DENVER FOR THE FIRST TIME, VIATOR

TOP HISTORIC BREWERIES IN GERMANY, VIATOR

I DID THE TREK OF A LIFETIME IN PERU, TORONTO STAR

7 THINGS EVERY TOURIST MUST DO WHEN THEY VISIT DENVER, BUSINESS INSDER

THE BEST HOTELS IN SOUTH AMERICA, FODOR'S

A FIRST-TIME GUIDE TO TELLURIDE, COLORADO, LONELY PLANET

THE FUTURE OF LUXURY CRUISING, OUTTHERE

Q&A WITH SOPHIE GALVAGNON, OUTTHERE

CONSERVATION TOUR OPERATOR TO HOST RARE ACCESS CONSERVATION TRIP, OUTTHERE

AN ART LOVER'S GUIDE TO MUNICH,

VIATOR

WHAT TO DO IN AREQUIPA, TRAVEL AGE WEST

KIHA LAUNCHES IMPACT-POSITIVE HOSPITALITY PROGRAM, OUTTHERE

CLINIC LES ALPES, OUTTHERE

QUINTESSENTIALLY GERMAN DISHES AND WHERE TO EAT THEM IN MUNICH, VIATOR

PRIDE AND PISCO, CLUB OENOLOGIQUE

VISITING MUNICH FOR THE FIRST TIME, VIATOR

SHINTA MANI FOUNDATION: POWER RANGES, OUTTHERE

WHY THE FATE OF INDIGENOUS TRADITIONS IS LINKED TO TOURISM IN PERU, TTG

DO WE OWE IT TO DESTINATIONS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR TROUBLED PAST?, ROADBOOK

DIVERSE VOICES IN TRAVEL, SOUL OF TRAVEL

COMPETITION OR CAMARADERIE? ADVENTURE.COM

10 REASONS THE CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED CARD IS WORTH IT, THE FRUGAL EXPAT

7 THINGS I LEARNED AFTER HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY ABROAD, MATADOR NETWORK

BEST THING TO DO IN DENVER, BUSINESS INSIDER

TRAVEL CAN GUIDE YOU TO YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE, SOUL OF TRAVEL

DIVING IN PERU'S FINAL FRONTIER,

SCUBA DIVING MAGAZINE

CLEANING UP CAMBODIA, BLUEDOT LIVING

WHERE TO GO IN 2024, GOING

9 AUDUBON GOLF COURSES THAT PROVE GOLF CAN BE SUSTAINABLE, MATADOR NETWORK

THE PROS AND CONS OF AIRLINE CO-BRANDED CREDIT CARDS, GOING

HOW DID THE DÖNER KEBAB BECOME GERMANY'S MOST POPULAR SNACK? ADVENTURE.COM

DÖNER KEBAB: THE TURKISH DISH BELOVED ACROSS GERMANY, GOING

NIGHT DIVE WITH REEF MANTA RAY, GOING

JOURNALISM

CAN GOLF MAINTAIN ITS REPUTATION? COMMON GOOD MAGAZINE

LOCALS USE INSTAGRAM TO FIGHT HOUSING CRISIS, DAILY DOT

THE FUTURE OF GOLF IN A WORLD OF CLIMATE CHANGE, FANSIDED

WHAT'S BEHIND THE PICKLEBALL BOOM?

HOW A HOTEL IS EMPOWERING LOCALS IN CAMBODIA, REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

SUSTAINABLE MEASURES IN COLORADO'S CRAFT BREWING CAPITAL, BLUEDOT LIVING

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE OLYMPICS, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

WHAT DID WE LOSE WHEN WE LOST LANDLINES?, COMMON GOOD MAGAZINE

A SMALL BUT MIGHTY FISHING COOPERATIVE, BLUEDOT LIVING

PERSONAL ESSAYS

I'M 27 BUT TAKE ZUMBA WITH SENIOR CITIZENS, TODAY

GOLF TAUGHT ME EMOTIONAL REGULATION, BUSINESS INSIDER

HOW I'M TREATED AS A WOMAN ON THE GOLF COURSE, BUSINESS INSIDER

MY SUDDEN SYMPTOMS LEFT DOCTORS STUMPED, NEWSWEEK

LIVING IN THE IN-BETWEEN, CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION

AFTER BEING LONELY FOR THREE YEARS, I FINALLY FOUND MY PEOPLE, SHONDALAND

A SCUBA DIVING HONEYMOON WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS, SCUBA DIVING MAGAZINE

THE AMERICAN WORSHIP OF STUFF, THE BELLA DONNA

I QUIT MY CUSTOMER SERVICE JOB TO BECOME A FREELANCER, BUSINESS INSIDER

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PLAY SCUBA POKER, SCUBA DIVING MAGAZINE

WRITING ABOUT TOUGH TIMES, AUTHOR MAGAZINE

SEO BLOGS

SEO BLOGS FOR LUXURY ITALIAN TOURS

SEO BLOGS FOR ADVENTURES IN GOOD COMPANY

SEO ARTICLES FOR AN ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

REGULAR ARTICLES FOR BLU ATLAS SKINCARE

BOSTON WEDDING VENUES, MIND ON PHOTOGRAPHY

REGULAR ARTICLES FOR VISIT FORT COLLINS

OTHER PROJECTS

Documentary Script Writing

MEDIA APPEARANCES

Symone Sanders speaks to Zanny and three other guests with hospitality experience to figure out the future of the industry amid a staffing crisis.

Award Nominations

Zanny is a guest on the Limitless Living podcast to talk about how taking a gap year changed her life.

Zanny is interviewed by former classmate Kevin Zhen about choosing not to go to college.

LESS RECENT WORK

Smartmouth Newsletter

CONNECT WITH ZANNY

A FIRST-TIME GUIDE TO TELLURIDE, COLORADO,
LONELY PLANET

QUINTESSENTIALLY GERMAN DISHES
AND WHERE TO EAT THEM IN MUNICH,
VIATOR

TRAVEL CAN GUIDE YOU TO YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE,
SOUL OF TRAVEL

HOW DID THE DÖNER KEBAB BECOME GERMANY'S MOST POPULAR SNACK?
ADVENTURE.COM

CAN GOLF MAINTAIN ITS REPUTATION?
COMMON GOOD MAGAZINE

HOW A HOTEL IS EMPOWERING LOCALS
IN CAMBODIA, REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES
AT THE OLYMPICS, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

A SMALL BUT MIGHTY FISHING COOPERATIVE,
BLUEDOT LIVING