Travel Journalist Sherry Spitsnaugle [INTERVIEW]

It was October 2019 during the SATW annual conference in El Paso, Texas, that I officially met Sherry Spitsnaugle. We just happen to be sitting next to each other at the conference. At the time, I was living in Denver and had reached out to her a few months prior, to see if she wanted to get together for coffee.  We were unable to coordinate our schedules prior to the conference, so our Denver coffee rendezvous didn’t happen until February of 2020. And it was worth the wait. Sherry and I hit it off and we had a lovely chat. During our conversation, I mentioned that my then fiancé and I were going to elope on February 29, 2020 at Denver Union Station and she graciously offered to take photos and video! It turned out to be a lovely day and was so special having Sherry be a part of it. 

Sherry has been writing for Luxe Beat since 2020 and her work is amazing! She has a way of crafting a story that pulls you in, holds your attention and entertains along the way. She was kind enough to give us an interview and share her story. 

Who is Sherry Spitnaugle?

Sherry Spitsnaugle is a Denver-based travel journalist, whose work appears in regional and national publications. She is the author of four editions of Quick Escapes Denver – Weekend Getaway Trips in and around the Mile-High City. Most recently, she has written about learning to make tamales at a private home in San Miguel de Allende, off-roading the Hatfield and McCoy trails in West Virginia, and touring Seiffen, Germany, the birthplace of the beloved nutcracker. Sherry has also written about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and backpacking solo through Asia for six months. She has won numerous awards for her writing and photography and is a member of Society of American Travel Writers.

How did you discover your love of travel?

A couple of years after I graduated from college, I took off with a friend and a backpack, for three months in Europe. We had little money, no itinerary, and loved every minute. We stayed on the small Greek Island of Halki for three weeks, hiked the hut-to-hut trail system in southwest Germany, and camped out at a friend’s flat in London for ten days. We came home broke but rich with experiences. I haven’t stopped traveling since. I am in forever debt to writer/photographer, husband/wife team, Doris and Gary Kennedy who got me into the business of writing about my travels, and have mentored me for decades.

Are you more passionate about writing or photography?

I lean slightly more toward photography, but also love the writing process. Especially when it’s finished!

Writing…doesn’t come easy for her.

Writing doesn’t come easy for me. On some days, I pack up my laptop and head for Starbucks where I settle in with an Americano and tune out the commotion. While some writers love total silence, I do not. In my home office, I have music or television on in the background. Anything but quiet.

When you get the chance to pick your travel destination, where do you go?

While I loved my most recent trip to Fairbanks, where temps fell well below zero, tropical destinations tend to top my list. Even though I live in Denver, I prefer sand to snow. Still, I have such wanderlust that my favorite destination is wherever I’m headed next.

If you could be anyone else, who would it be?

I love my life and can’t honestly think of anyone else I would want to be. Even for a day. Unless maybe it would be my 14-year-old self when I boarded my first flight from the tiny airport in Hays, Kansas, bound for San Francisco. I dressed up for the big adventure and could hardly contain my excitement.

What motivates you to be a luxury journalist?

Sharing with readers about restaurants, hotels, and experiences, motivates me. Most recently, I was in Fairbanks, Alaska, photographing the Northern Lights. I posted photos from Aurora Pointe, a location near town that’s perfect for viewing. Temperatures dip to -30 degrees in this part of the world. One person wrote, “I love following you on your adventures.” The next person replied to that comment, “It’s like being there, but with warm feet.”

Her recent favorite travel experience…Fairbanks, Alaska. 

One of my favorite experiences is the most recent, in Fairbanks, where I walked with reindeer with Running Reindeer Ranch. Owner Jane is practically a reindeer whisperer. The tour is rated as one of the top attractions in Alaska. We strolled through the forest for an hour, side-by-side the gentle reindeer that have names like Daisy, Donut, and Toby. Fairbanks is as a fantastic travel destination – especially in winter, prime time to see the Northern Lights.

I also loved a trip to Saxony, Germany, last October, where I fell hard for the cities of Dresden, Leipzig and Seiffen. Elegant Dresden is the home of Christmas Stollen; Leipzig can boast Bach; and Seiffen is the Christmas capital of Germany, where locals create the beloved nutcracker.

You can read more about my experiences in these articles: 

It’s Christmas Every Day in Seiffen Germany

Dresden Germany, Christmas Stollen Bread and so much more

Do you have a favorite dish or chef? 

Okay, this doesn’t answer the exact question, but when my husband and I celebrate, our favorite dinner is Wagyu beef from Morgan Ranch in Nebraska. We order online and grill the steaks at home. It’s not a budget dinner (think car payment) but I’ve never eaten a more tender, savory ribeye.

One of my favorite meals at a restaurant was dinner at Fidelio, at Schloss Elmau in Bavaria, which features Asian cuisine. Sashimi and edamame in red chili sauce, followed by a beautiful miso salmon and Wagyu gyoza, are enough reason to plan a return trip to Bavaria! 

Sherry shared her Schloss Elmau experience with Luxe Beat in her piece, Bavaria’s Schloss Elmau: Luxury Dine, Stay and Spa Retreat.

How do you enjoy spending your free time? 

I love spending time with my husband, Don, and our shih-tzu, Alfie. On lazy summer evenings, we get together with neighbors and their dogs for yappy hour. I also spend much of the day writing about my last trip and planning the next one. I have family who live in Denver, Scottsdale, Vail, WaKeeney, Kansas, and College Station, Texas, and spend time with them any chance I get. I adore doing anything with my 13-year-old great-niece, Sammy. We had the best time cruising with Carnival in February 2020, and can’t wait to go again.

The business of luxury is always changing. Where do you see it going?

To me, luxury travel today includes giving back. I will travel in April to the Sea of Cortes with UnCruise Adventures, a small ship company that gives back to the community by talking and working with the locals; they give passengers the opportunity to do the same. Local fishermen influence cuisine served on board. I am really looking forward to sailing and adventuring with this company – the ship has only 66 passengers and 30 crew!

If you were stranded on an island, name one person and three items you would bring.

Well, the person would, of course, be my husband. The three things are tough to narrow down, but I would want a pocketknife, fishing line, and a satellite phone. Full disclosure: I asked my husband on this one.

What are some of the things you recommend to do when visiting Denver?

Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) brings Broadway to Denver – think Hamilton and The Lion King—as well as smaller productions. I recently saw “Rattlesnake Kate,” a musical about a woman in Greeley, Colorado, who fought off 140 rattlesnakes a century ago. The play was in the Wolf Theatre, one of several smaller theatres within the complex. Performances, costuming, and the script mesmerized the audience.

Meow Wolf, the four-story immersion art exhibition, opened in Denver in September 2021, and has caused a splash, in its weird, wonderful way. Impossible to describe in words, you really just have to see it!

The historic Brown Palace, downtown Denver, is our go-to place. My husband and I love dine at Ship Tavern on their famous prime rib. In January, the National Western Stock Show is the place to see rodeo at its best. The Grand Champion steer takes center stage in the lobby of the Brown Palace, the same place where guests gather for high tea. This tradition has been going strong for 75 years.

Items she will not travel without…

In addition to the obvious things like my cell phone, I never travel without my Rick Steves daypack, a $100 bill in my wallet, and Pepto Bismol tablets.

What does Luxe Beat Magazine mean to you?

LuxeBeat is the best source of the kind of information I love: cuisine, style, trends, travel. Where else would I read about Espresso Martini Day or a guide to pairing Spanish red wine with cuisine. I love the writing, the images, and the energy of LuxeBeat.

To read Sherry’s work visit clippings.me/sherryspitsnaugle.