I am Cindy Barks, a travel writer/journalist based in Arizona, who focuses on finding the outdoor gems in communities large and small.

Regardless of the destination – bustling city centers, quirky small towns, or scenic national parks – travelers are on the hunt for authenticity and variety. My focus is combining iconic outdoor adventures with the unique luxuries that a community has to offer.

For instance: Think San Francisco is all about city sights, the arts, and dining? Well yes, but there’s much more. On recent trips to the City by the Bay, I have combined some of the traditional SF delights (Swan Oyster Depot, dim sum, a nighttime ride on a cable car, and a play at the American Conservatory Theater) with a series of hikes along the San Francisco Bay Trail. Best of all worlds, I say.

I wrote about and photographed my hiking adventures for the Rails to Trails Conservancy Magazine:

http://magazine.railstotrails.org/resources/magflipbooks/2017_winter/index.html#16

I have also written about the Peavine Trail, the historic and picturesque rails-to-trails route in Prescott, Arizona:

http://magazine.railstotrails.org/resources/magflipbooks/2016_fall/index.html#26

As a longtime reporter for a daily newspaper in Arizona, I have a proven record of finding interesting story angles and producing accurate and compelling stories on deadline.

In my spare time, I travel extensively, and since 2015, I have chronicled my adventures in a travel-and-hiking blog, https://nearandfaraz.com/. You can read more about my past travels and interests at: https://nearandfaraz.com/about/.

I am looking to connect with publications and companies to write about and provide photos on emerging hiking networks, urban walks, unique city centers, community tours, and dining/cocktail scenes.

You can reach me online or by telephone at: cindy.barks@gmail.com; or 928-308-1458. More of my contact and social media information is available at: https://nearandfaraz.com/17-2/.