Allison Bates

Travel-obsessed writer, editor, and content creator.

  


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    Travel Writing

    Matador Network •

    Cactus Tacos, Drag Shows, and Legendary Blues: Why Lexington, KY, Should Be Your Next Long Weekend

    Lexington is home to more than 100 independently owned non-chain restaurants serving everything from traditional Southern fare, to authentic global cuisine, to the aforementioned fresh seafood — an anomaly made possible by the city’s proximity to UPS’s international hub in Louisville, where fish arrives from all over the world within hours of being caught. At Tortilleria y Taqueria Ramirez, two generations of the Ramírez family have been dishing out genuine Guadalajaran flavors since 1996. In...
    Matador Network •

    Almost Heaven, Indeed: Where to Go in West Virginia By Traveler Type

    The New River Gorge region — located about an hour south of Charleston, the state capital — is a sure bet for nature and adrenaline lovers alike. Its namesake national park and preserve encompasses more than 70,000 acres of dense hardwood forest and 53 miles of river, presenting visitors with ample opportunity for rafting, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and more — all set against the backdrop of a stunning natural landscape. My visit finds me clad in a wetsuit, bumbling down a mountain road...