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Erica Zazo on Muck Rack

Erica Zazo

Verified
Chicago
As seen in: CNN, CNN International, CNN Underscored, MSN Singapore, Yahoo Life, MSN Malaysia, Aol, Chicago Tribune, Substack, Flipboard and
Covers:  Gear reviews, women in the outdoors, hiking, camping, backpacking, local travel, midwest travel, exploring small towns, international travel, breweries, beer, and untold stories about the outdoors.
Outdoor Writer 🏳️‍🌈 | Words: @backpackermag @theoutbound @cnnunderscored @blockclubchi @popmech + more |📍Midwest | 🗣️ erica dot zazo @ gmail

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Erica Zazo’s Biography

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Erica is a freelance outdoor + travel writer based in Chicago. She's passionate about exploring lesser-knowing hiking and camping destinations, specifically throughout the Midwest. She is a frequent contributor to Backpacker Magazine and Group Tour Magazine, and you can also find her work in alternative-outdoor publications, including RANGE and SISU.

Erica Zazo’s Journalist Portfolio

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Trails by transit: Let trains, buses and the 'L' get you to these 4 nearby escapes into nature - ...

Trails by transit: Let trains, buses and the 'L' get you to these 4 nearby escapes into nature - ...

Escaping downtown Chicago to get to the great outdoors doesn't require an expensive plane ticket - or even a …

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Chicago's Top 6 Dayhikes

Chicago's Top 6 Dayhikes

Hot dogs. Lake Michigan. Da Bears. And excellent trails? Absolutely: The Windy City's greater stomping ground…

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Found Her: The search for female founders at Outdoor Retailer | Misadventures

Found Her: The search for female founders at Outdoor Retailer | Misadventures

I was, however, on a mission to introduce myself to as many retailers, brands and organizations as I could at…

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Shredding Water in Winter: For the Love of the Great Lakes - RANGE Mag

Shredding Water in Winter: For the Love of the Great Lakes - RANGE Mag

Tags: Beth Price, Environmentalism, Erica Zazo, Great Lakes, RANGE, RANGE Magazine, RANGE Magazine Issue 10, …

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Group Tour Magazine and Student Group Tour

Group Tour Magazine and Student Group Tour

A monthly resource for professional group travel planners, Group Tour Magazine offers industry news, articles…

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Epic Trails, Excellent Beer: How to Hike the Triple Crown in Virginia (and Where to Drink Afterwa...

Epic Trails, Excellent Beer: How to Hike the Triple Crown in Virginia (and Where to Drink Afterwa...

Did you know that three of the most famed peaks along the 2,100+ mile Appalachian Trail sit within just a 10-…

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Articles

Meet The Amtrak Route That Makes an Incredible Cross-Country Hiking Trip

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By Erica Zazo Verified
| Backpacker Magazine Verified
Train travel’s having a moment across America. In 2025, a record 34.5 million people rode an Amtrak train, a 5.1 percent jump from the previous year. It’s easy to understand why: no fussing with TSA lines, no hunting for parking, and a more relaxed experience overall. While most folks ride the train to arrive at a final destination, fewer take the train as a means to hop off and adventure along the journey. No route makes the case for it better than The Empire Builder.
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The Best New Gear Launching in Spring 2027

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By Jakob Schiller, Erica Zazo Verified
| Outside Magazine Verified
New Orleans is known for great music and amazing food. In the middle of June, it was also host to the Switchback gear show, where brands from around the world gathered to show off all the new gear they’re launching in the coming year. For two days, we paced the floor of the NOLA convention center to find the most innovative, most exciting new gear releases. Here are eight innovative outdoor gear products you need to check out.
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17 Things To Do Outside In Chicago This July

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By Erica Zazo Verified
| Block Club Chicago Verified
CHICAGO — It’s peak season for getting outside in Chicago, y’all (if you can handle the heat!). And our July outdoor events roundup gives you plenty of reasons to make adventure part of your weekly routine. Lace up, saddle up or grab a paddle and explore the city’s wild side with local meet-up groups, clubs and community organizations dedicated to exploring urban nature.
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