Kelsy Chauvin
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(She/Her)
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I write about amazing U.S. and international destinations through a variety of angles: hotels, dining, wine, travel gear, cannabis tourism, LGBTQ+ travel, cruises, and culture.
Writer: Fodor’s NYC Guides, hotels, dining, culture, travel, LGBTQ+, cannabis. @NYTravelWriters president emeritus. Instagram: @kelsycc (Inactive on X-Twitter)
Articles by Kelsy Chauvin
All Weather Shoes by Astral Loyak
2 Get a good grip wherever you’re walking with Astral Loyak All Weather shoes. Every pair combines a waterproof, recycled polyester canvas with durable soles and wider toe box, making them lightweight, versatile, and ready to wear all day long. Headquartered in Seattle, Astral is an award-winning, founder-owned company leading the industry in both footwear design, sustainable manufacturing, and environmental partnerships.
Get Rolling With Peak Design
1 If you could design your own perfect suitcase, this might be it. The Peak Design Roller Pro Carry-On has rethought practical-luggage needs to deliver features like a fully weatherproof shell and zippers, an anodized aluminum handle and quick-deploy button, “cord-hook” straps inside to keep your goods in place, and secret AirTag and stash pockets. It’s all inside the super thin, durable carbon-fiber body that rolls on four wheels, maximizing packing space in a slim, easy-grab suitcase.
Vegan Hydration For Your Skin With The Ordinary
3 The Ordinary’s straightforward, high-performance skincare solutions are a great option for travelers seeking reliable, affordable formulations. Along with its sunscreens, serums, cleansers, and more, the brand’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is one of the best to take on every trip, working as an effective moisturizer designed to mimic the composition of your skin’s natural hydration system.
Stay Connected with MEE Audio
2 Here’s a tech gadget that may redefine your airplane experience. The MEE Audio Connect Air Pro turns a headphone jack into a wireless Bluetooth connection for headphones or speakers. Just plug the Connect Air Pro into any standard 3.5mm headphone jack—like the ones on in-flight entertainment systems and older phones, tablets, and gaming consoles—and link your headphones to the device.
Sustainable Smiles with Kaylaan
2 Kaylaan asks, “Why does something as simple as brushing our teeth create so much waste?” In response, the company launched the Kaylaan Bamboo Electric Toothbrush, made with plant-based bristles (made from cornstarch and castor oil), sustainably grown bamboo brush heads, and a recycled-material handle. The result is a biodegradable, compostable, and plastic-free electric toothbrush with five brushing modes, powerful sonic cleaning, and a 45-day battery life per charge.
A Speaker for Every Trip by Ultimate Ears
4 Premium sound can be hard to find in a portable speaker, but the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is mighty audio in a convenient travel size. Weighing in at less than a pound and sized at just 4×4 inches, the Wonderboom delivers 360-degree sound with an “outdoor boost” audio option that’s specially tuned for the great outdoors. It also features a podcast mode for crisp, clear vocals, and the option to pair two speakers for double clarity.
Shine Naturally with NOTO Safe Sun Serum
2 Switch up your skincare routine with invisible SPF 30 protection. NOTO Skincare Safe Sun is a clean, botanic serum that delivers the benefits of familiar sunscreen creams in a clear, light formula. Like all skincare products crafted by founder and beauty expert Gloria Noto, Safe Sun is gender-inclusive, vegan, packaged sustainably, and a charitable contribution is made with every purchase. It’s perfectly travel-sized and protects against damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Victorinox Concept One Solar Watch
4 From the company known for its high-performance, durable Swiss Army Knives comes an equally innovative timepiece. The Victorinox Concept One Solar is the brand’s first-ever solar watch. It charges via sunlight or indoor light for an eight-month power reserve and a two-year dark power reserve, all with an overall eight-year battery life.
Town Hall Hotel, London
7 Join us as we explore the Town Hall Hotel, a luxurious stay blending heritage architecture with modern design in the heart of Bethnal Green. On the narrow lane called Patriot Square, I passed through the stately entrance of Town Hall Hotel (townhallhotel.com) in East London. I stood on the lobby floor’s inlaid marble starburst, gazing up at an imperial staircase.
Švýcarský St. Moritz kousek od New Yorku? Objevte alpský klenot ukrytý v Americe
Lake Placid září kouzlem evropské alpské vesnice. Leží na úpatí pohoří Adirondack v severovýchodní části státu New York a je prosáklé historií zimních olympijských her. Svým půvabem se vyrovná kterékoli švýcarské vesnici. Městečko Lake Placid leží u stejnojmenného jezera a je oblíbeným východiskem k objevování pohoří Adirondack. K jeho lákadlům patří jezero Mirror Lake s malebnou pěší stezkou kolem dokola a olympijské muzeum, které vypráví příběh o tom, jak se oblast stala dějištěm zimních her.
Luggage for a Lifetime by Briggs & Riley
2 Innovative designs, quality materials, sustainable manufacturing—these are a few reasons why Briggs & Riley continues to earn awards for its luggage. The brand’s new Essential 22” Front Pocket Carry-On Expandable Spinner adds to the company’s three decades of success, delivering a sleek silhouette that expands for 25 percent more packing space before compressing back down.
Yeti Rambler Water Bottles
4 Bid farewell to single-use plastic bottles and fill your beverage needs with the YETI Rambler water bottles. Sold in eight different sizes (that fit most backpack sleeves) and an array of colors, the Rambler’s stainless steel insulated bottles are designed for sturdy portability. Choose from leakproof tops that work for everything from commuting and beach days to hiking, boating, and traveling. All are dishwasher safe and BPA-free.
This upstate New York village feels straight out of Switzerland
1 hour ago Heading to the airport? This Anker charger is the reliable, TSA-friendly pick you’ll want in your carry-on. Between stricter airport security checks and growing safety concerns over cheap, low-quality batteries, finding the right portable power bank can feel like a gamble. Yet, leaving it behind …
Why Lake Placid is an Adirondack alternative to Switzerland
Lake Placid sparkles with the charm of a European alpine village. Set against the Adirondack Mountains in northeastern New York and steeped in winter Olympics history, Lake Placid's appeal stacks up against any Swiss village—minus the transatlantic flight. Located near its namesake lake, the village of Lake Placid is a popular base for exploring the Adirondack Mountains.
This upstate New York village feels straight out of Switzerland Original
Lake Placid sparkles with the charm of a European alpine village. Set against the Adirondack Mountains in northeastern New York and steeped in winter Olympics history, Lake Placid’s appeal stacks up against any Swiss village—minus the transatlantic flight. Located near its namesake lake, the village of Lake Placid is a popular base for exploring the Adirondack Mountains.
Just In Case from Otterbox
3 The no. 1 most trusted smartphone-case brand, Otterbox, has been keeping tech tight for 25 years, and it also protects other apple, samsung, and Google gear like smartwatches, tablets, and earbuds. Most products are wireless-charging compatible, like Otterbox AirPods LifeProof Eco-friendly cases. The cases are compact and perfect for every trip.
A Taste of Pride with Wing Wine
3 Fruity, refreshing, and bursting with notes of berries and citrus, Wing Wine Company is making delicious sparkling wine for all seasons. The California-based winery is LGBTQ-owned and driven to create effervescent white and rosé wines that are versatile, tasty, and easily paired. for Pride season, Wing’s Wine 3-Bottle Bundle is a delightful addition to any celebration, supporting the company’s love is love approach to wine and LGBTQ+ culture. $65.
Make Love Sparkle with Ben Garelick
1 Romance shines bright with Ben Garelick LGBTQ+ wedding and engagement rings. Making unique jewelry from its Buffalo, New York studio since 1942, the company designs unique rings and bands for every style, including chic masculine bands like the Bleu Royale Two-Tone Carbon Fiber Diamond Eternity Wedding Band. It’s available in 14 or 18 karat of white, yellow or rose gold, or platinum, accentuated with 0.68 carats of round-cut white diamonds.
Firehouse Chic by Elvis & Kresse
2 Stunning bags made from retired fire hoses and other “rescued” materials—it’s as uncommon as it is brilliant. and Elvis & Kresse is pulling it off with marvelous style. along with wallets, belts, tech cases, and other travel-ready products, the Elvis & Kresse Fire & Hide Gladstone Bag is made from decommissioned fire hoses, rescued leather, and reclaimed Burberry lining material.
The Wonders of The Emerald City
4 Visit Seattle’s Emerald City to experience delicious food and unique shops in the historic Pike Place Market and let PASSPORT Magazine lead you to 3 Great Seattle side trips. Row after row of fresh flowers, ripe vegetables, and bright delicious berries—I had forgotten how nature’s luminous colors sparkle at Pike Place Market. Since 1907, farmers have brought their bounties from the fields directly to this downtown market for Seattleites’ seasonal pleasures.
Unistellar Smart Binoculars
3 Calling all wildlife and dark-sky enthusiasts: The advanced technology of Unistellar’s Smart Telescopes is now launching in travel friendly binoculars. ENVISION Smart Binoculars by Unistellar combine cutting-edge optics with an orientation system that shares earthly and astronomical info while you view.
Soothe Yourself With Marin
2 Keeping your skin healthy every day can be challenging, and especially when traveling, but one Maine-based skincare company is ready to help. Marin Soothing Hydration Cream is powered by rich marine glycoproteins to hydrate, soften, and repair dry and damaged skin. The silky formula is scientifically enriched partly with proteins found in lobsters, which are sustainably collected with local partners.
Take A Memo(Bottle)
3 At last, the space-saving memobottle has arrived to fit better in your bag, pocket, and hand. Inspired by shapes of books, lap tops, portfolios, and other non-round objects we pack every day, memobottles fit right into place, Tetris-style. The original 15-ounce memobottle comes in stainless steel; or in lightweight, BPA-free plastic, with optional thermal sleeves in 10 different colors. Or choose from a variety of larger or smaller sizes, each backed by a two-year warranty.
Warby Parker Throws Good Shade
2 Warby Parker Sunglasses are so handsome, the hardest part is choosing. All of them are made with premium materials that are custom cut and polished, with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings. Every pair comes with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Tidy Up Your Essentials with Thule
1 Through the twists and turns of travel, there’s something comforting about keeping your personal goods in order. That’s what makes the thoughtfully designed Crossover 2 Toiletry Bag by Thule so special. This lightweight bag is perfectly sized to easily access all your daily essentials, with interior mesh pockets and two water-resistant pockets designed to keep important items clean. The big main compartment opens wide, its flap doubling as a snap-on towel-bar hanger.
Fantastic Day Trips From Barcelona
3 Explore the best day trips from Barcelona, including the surreal Salvador Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. It’s raining inside the Cadillac. This is not an ordinary sight, though few things are within the Salvador Dalí Theatre-Museum. The large, labyrinthine complex is an experience, one that Salvador Dalí personally designed to be “a great surrealist object,” he said.
Cruising Down The Danube
4 Embark on a luxury cruise along the Danube River from Vienna to Budapest and discover a world of elegance and adventure for solo travelers. A fabulous luxury river cruise can feel a little more sumptuous when traveling solo. This dreamy discovery unfolded for me while cruising along the Danube River aboard the Riverside Mozart (riverside-cruises.com).
Escape Plan - Palm Springs, California
2 Escape to Palm Springs and discover how it became a sanctuary for Hollywood icons and an LGBTQ+ haven with a rich cultural heritage. Floating in a crystal-blue swimming pool under the palm trees, ensconced in all things Trixie. This was the start of my Palm Springs getaway. The city that’s famous for mid-century modern style, martinis, and celebrity hobnobbing is also home to the Trixie Motel (trixiemotel.com), the first real drag-built lodging.
High Top Style with NiK Kacy
6 Glow up your style with designer footwear and gear from NiK Kacy, the west hollywood–based, trans- and BiPoC-owned fashion brand. Kacy is an innovative leader reclaiming luxury couture for all gender and identities, including the label’s chic High-Top Sneakers. Designed in L.A. and handmade in italy with premium italian leather, these high-tops sport timeless design with flair, along with supreme comfort for all-day wear everyplace you travel.
Shoot Video Like A Pro With Sony
2 Content creators and videographers, your camera is here. The Sony ZV-1 II is the compact, portable camera designed for premier vlogging and all-around great videography. Built with a versatile wide-angle zoom lens, 1.0-type image sensor, and intelligent microphone, the ZV-1 II captures sharp, colorful images with super-clear audio recording. Better still, it’s built with settings to adapt to ambient lighting and automatically adjust for solo or group selfies.
The Smart SmartWatch by Garmin
4 Yesterday’s watches only told time, how adorable. Today they are tiny supercomputers that can monitor your health, location, calendar, workouts and more—all part of Garmin’s Vivoactive Smartwatch features. This sleek watch line is waterproof, easy to connect and program, and serves specific activities like swimming, running, cycling, wellness, and sleeping. With a single charge that lasts up to 11 days, it’s perfect for travel, keeping tabs on your fitness and your relaxation all along the way.
First-Class Baggage with Halfday Travel
4 It’s clever, compact, and convenient for a dapper getaway. the Halfday Premium Duffel is a two-in-one bag that’s carry-on friendly, durable, and made with water-resistant fabric. Perfect for a few days away for a destination wedding, business trip, or long weekend, this crafty duffel is designed to hold hanging clothes in a protected, flat compartment. roll it up to add folded clothes and pack shoes in a dedicated interior pocket.
All Inclusive Style with Sticky Sweet Bears
2 For folks who are so over the endless boxy-cut khaki and navy mainstream garb, Sticky Sweet Bears is fit to dazzle. The BIPOCand LGBTQ-owned apparel brand designs inclusive sizing with panache across a range of clothing, bags, and other gear.
Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik
3 Uncover the beauty of Dubrovnik from Hotel Excelsior, where stunning views and rich history meet luxurious comfort. When I stepped onto my balcony at the Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik (adriaticluxuryhotels.com), the Adriatic Sea seemed to stretch out forever. I soaked in the view from my primo perch, feeling suspended over the crystal-blue bay. To the right, the historic Old City stood as an ancient fortress capped by red roofs, its marina dotted with sailboats and yachts.
We'll Drink To That with Second Sip Gin
13 Hey gin lovers, there’s a delicious new way to safely savor twice the martinis, negronis, and gimlets. Launched in 2025, New York–based Second Sip Gin is distilling the small-batch spirit with 50 percent less alcohol—and it’s delicious. Inspired by classic London Dry gin, Second Sip is crafted with 10 botanicals and natural flavors, elevating your favorite libations with less potential for dreaded hangovers.
Electric Persuasion - Lexus RZ
18 Eager to dazzle your beloved with an unforgettable ride this holiday season? The 2026 Lexus RZ is ready to rock the road. The new all-electric RZ features more power, greater range, and an overall experience designed around the driver. Enjoy boosted horsepower with all three models—FWD, AWD, and Sport AWD—with faster charging, and improved traction and driving stability.
Sounds Good To Me with Technics
18 Reduce the ruckus of travel with Technics Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones. Built with the brand’s legendary sound quality, these EAH-A800 wireless headphones feature true high-fidelity audio and crystal-clear call clarity thanks to their eight mics, JustMyVoice amplification, and Technics’ wind- and noise-reduction technology.
Invest in Equality with Outright
15 This holiday season, stand with an organization that’s doing everything possible to advocate for, amplify, and celebrate diverse LGBTQ+ communities around the world. Since 1990, Outright International has advocated for human rights, inclusion, and equality with active programs globally.
Carry On In Style with Quince
15 Breeze through your journey with a spacious carry-on that’s designed to maximize your packing capacity. The Quince Front Pocket Carry-On Suitcase is a hard shell, 360-degree spinner that’s lightweight, expandable, and water resistant, plus it comes with a secure front pocket that fits a 16-inch laptop. Like all Quince products, this luggage is made sustainably with recycled materials by responsible manufacturing partners.
Rainbow Bling from Taylor Custom Rings
13 Don your holiday season pride with unique style and expression. The Rainbow Pride Ring is finely crafted by california-based Taylor Custom Rings to support the LGBTQ+ community—with 25 percent of sales donated to the Trans Lifeline, a peer-support hotline and non-profit community resource. each ring flies the colors of love and courage using lab-grown gemstones that are identical to earth-grown diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and other gems, but are more sustainable and affordable.
You Can Quote Us Anytime
18 Holiday spice is mostly nice (and sometimes sassy) with The Gay Icon’s Guide to Life. Written and illustrated by Michael Joosten and Peter Emmerich, the book features fun, insightful, and relatable quotes from 70 different LGBTQ+ luminaries and allies. Find inspiration from Dolly Parton, style tips from Boy George and Grace Jones, goal-setting from Billy Porter, and wisdom for overcoming adversity from Oscar Wilde, Lil Nas X, and Alan Cumming.
Polyglot Potential says Duolingo
7 With gentle reminders, social sharing, animations, and hot tips, Duolingo is a bright way to learn a new language. And it’s easy to spark your friend’s lingual aspirations this holiday season by gifting a full year of Super Duolingo. There are 40 different languages available, lessons are tailored to each student’s level, and it’s all laid out in bite-sized sessions that make daily practice easy.
Step Up To The Bar with Snowfox
921 Ditch the coasters and sip in style with Snowfox’s elegant barware collections. This woman-owned brand designs insulated stainless-steel bar essentials that look and feel like classic glassware. Unlike other insulated glasses, Snowfox uses light, thin rimmed stainless-steel to make the most of your beverage, keeping it cold longer without affecting flavor.
Flame On Queer Candle
12 Travelers longing for California’s forest air can enjoy the redwoods at home thanks to Queer Candle Co. The Philadelphia-based enterprise has crafted small-batch soy candles in seductive scents since 2018. Made with authentic, non-toxic fragrances, these candles conjure nature settings, different seasons, and uniquely fresh flavors from orange grove and tomato leaf, to ginger tea, teak, leather, and many more.
Enchanting & Exhilarating Wales
8 Explore exhilarating, enchanting Wales with us, where stunning nature meets vibrant culture and rich LGBTQ+ history. Ivy-draped castles, sweeping coastlines, sheep-dotted pastures, ancient stone ruins—Wales has its own visuals, its own language, its own distinct culture. It’s also decidedly modern, embracing progress and sustainability along with a dose of cheeky irreverence.
A first-timer's guide to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Roaming bison, prairie-dog metropolises, painted canyons, bizarre rock formations – all sights that enraptured a young Theodore Roosevelt. Before he became the 26th US President in 1901, Roosevelt spent years living in this southwest corner of North Dakota, escaping his native New York for the serenity of America’s windswept Badlands. Today, Theodore Roosevelt National Park visitors can experience the same natural grandeur, and sense his legacy at every turn.
10 of the best cafes to drink coffee in Seattle
If there's one thing people know about Seattle, it’s that the city has long been a coffee lover's paradise. But the coffee scene doesn't stop at Seattle’s Best Coffee, a brand founded in Puget Sound circa 1969, or Starbucks, the brand that turned fancy coffee into a global phenomenon, and which is still headquartered here, operating the original 1971 Pike Place Market shop. Visiting Seattle offers a chance to enjoy coffee crafted by connoisseurs who, some might say, are obsessed.
We'll Drink To That With Snowpeak
30 Simply beautiful and smartly practical, Snowpeak outdoor designs are as sensible as they are stunning. The Japanese apparel and outdoor-gear brand has helped travelers better enjoy nature since 1958. Among its standout cookware and portable-kitchen goods is the Round Titanium Flask, holding five ounces of liquor (or other beverage) in pocket-sized sleekness. Snowpeak designed this flask with titanium, a chemically inert metal, to preserve pure taste in a lightweight container.
Hold This! by Skyborne
12 The Skyborne iTravel MINI is a multi-functional, slimline travel holder with anti-theft RFID protection built in, and a tiny pouch to hold your GPS tracker (such as the brand’s Sky-Tag Tracker or Apple AirTag). This durable holder is TSA approved and comes with a micro pen, card slots, magnetic easy-access pull tab, and pockets that fit a passport and boarding pass. Pack it in your pocket or use the detachable leather necklace for hands-free travel. $124.
Bespoke Post Offers Quality with Wren Scope
15 Stargazers, birdwatchers, and curious travelers, watch the world come closer with the Wren Compact Scope. It’s a high-quality monocular that’s ergonomic, grippy, and compact enough to fit in your pocket. The scope serves clear 6x18mm zoom magnification with a bright, sharp view, powered by superior optical glass, and comes with a handy travel case and wrist lanyard.
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