I always get sentimental in August. Summer is my favorite season, and this month usually makes it seem like the end of the fun. Every year for as long as I can remember, this time is made sweeter with the promise of seeing my extended family in Ohio.
Though we are scattered across the globe, we always seem to make it back to each other in August … this year for a wedding!
This issue’s photo highlights my favorite excursion taken with my older brother during a trip to Australia. What is your favorite vacation you have taken with family or friends? Share your story with us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com.
My brother and I are proudly our family’s representation of Gen Z among our cousins. Being 2.5 years apart has allowed us to remain close through childhood and as we emerged into adulthood. He has been on Sint Eustatius since April, and our communication has been reduced to phone calls and social media mentions.
Thankfully, he’ll come home this month for the wedding of one of his best friends from high school. He will head back to the Caribbean before my parents and I depart for my cousin’s wedding in Ohio, and the time I get to spend with him is less than I would prefer. Seeing him and my mom’s side of the family gives me a lot to look forward to this month.
With that, I welcome you to our Trazee Travel and WhereverFamily special edition. We’ve highlighted the winners of The Trazees, Wherever Awards and Industry Leader Awards, as well as the recipient of our Joey Fecci Award for Culinary Excellence. Later this month we will host The Trazees and Wherever Awards at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Gen Z, millennials and families will find a lot to celebrate within these pages: fairy-tale castles, coffee festivals around the world (a must for the most enthusiastic coffee lovers) and where you can score a seat to see the best fireworks. We also take a look at how millennials are changing the cruising industry, and sports fans get their piece of the action with a few NFL player interviews.
As for personal travel, I have nothing significant planned through the end of the year, but I will look to this issue’s 2026 hotel openings article for inspiration for future trips.
Fiona Stewart, account executive
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Oct 2, 2026Living Up to Its Halloween Stereotype: Salem, Massachusetts
For the entire month of October, the historic port of Salem, Massachusetts, becomes Halloween Central. Unlike Salem’s 17th-century history, today witches are celebrated, admired and at the heart of a festival called Salem Haunted Happenings.
Sponsored Content
Celebrating 25 Years of The Peninsula Chicago
June marked The Peninsula Chicago’s 25th anniversary, commemorating a quarter century for the hotel as a pillar of luxury on North Michigan Avenue.
Destinations / North America
Oct 2, 2026Other Spooky Attractions to Visit in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio, has a rich haunted history, and family travelers will find no shortage of Halloween experiences this season.
Travel Tips
Oct 1, 2026Look to the Stars for Your Ideal Travel Destination
You've searched social media travel sites, sought the advice of travel providers, surveyed your friends for destination recommendations. But have you considered one important element ... your zodiac sign?
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Destinations / North America
Oct 1, 2026Six Flags Prestige Pass: All-Access Ticket to Knott’s Berry Farm, More
Family travelers can unlock more ways to enjoy Buena Park, California, and the greater SoCal region, with the Six Flags Prestige Pass, offering unlimited visits, premium perks and access across the Six Flags network, which includes Knott’s Berry Farm, California’s first theme park.
ShareThis