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Cortney Fries

Family Travel, Outdoor Adventure & Wellness

Family Travel, Outdoor Adventure & Wellness

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Whitewater rafting at New River Gorge, America’s newest national park

I’d never been whitewater rafting before, but I wanted our visit to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia to be the pinnacle of our recent family vacation, so I chose a trip with Adventures on the Gorge in hopes that my 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son would have a great summer vacation memory to look back on when school arrived in the fall.

Accomplishments

My AAA Explorer story "Breaking the Grass Ceiling" won a 2024 Mark Twain Travel Journalist Award.

My AAA Explorer story "Birds of a Feather" won a 2023 1st Place Mark Twain Travel Journalist Award.

I won a 2022 Society of American Travel Writers Central States Writing Contest award in the category of Best Magazine Travel Article on an International Destination.

I won 1st place in the 2022 Mark Twain Journalist Contest Awards in the Midwest category.

I won a national Parenting Media Association award for service feature.

I am a proud member of the following organizations:

Cortney Fries

cortneyfries

Chicago-based #travelwriter
#familytravel #outdooradventures
📧 cortneyfries@yahoo.com
My National Geographic story:

Who doesn’t love a hotel dog? 🐶 We stayed at Who doesn’t love a hotel dog? 🐶 We stayed at the recently renovated Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, which is super close to the slopes. Views from the rooftop hot tub made it feel like we were next to the mountains 🏔️ Spa was superb as well 🧖🏻‍♀️ 
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#jacksonhole #tetonvillage #wyoming #jacksonholewyoming #jacksonholewy #travel #travelwriter @tetonlodge
She loved e-biking Teton Village so much this teen She loved e-biking Teton Village so much this teen actually woke up early to do it again. 
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#jacksonhole #ebike #mountains #bike #bicycle #ebikeadventures #wyoming #outdooradventure #travel #travelwriter @tetonlodge
Sunset wildlife tour of the Grand Tetons with Jack Sunset wildlife tour of the Grand Tetons with Jackson Hole Eco Tour Adventures. We spotted a mama moose 🫎 with twins, a mama 🐻 and cub, elk, 🦬, pelicans, a 🦫. More wildlife than I’ve ever seen in-person and our tour side, Sarah, was bursting with knowledge and joy for seeing them. 
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#wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifeonearth #wildlife_captures #bear #moose #elk #bison #beaver #pelican #grandtetonnationalpark #grandtetons #tetons #travel #adventure #wildlifetour #travelwriter #jacksonhole #wyoming @tetonlodge
Mother daughter trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Mother daughter trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and my girl wanted to go whitewater rafting. The water 💦 was chilly🥶 but she jumped in first (on purpose) and was the last one to be pulled out. Our badass female guide from Jackson Hole Whitewater navigated our small raft with a dad and his four sons. Snake River bubbled, swirled and surrounded us with verdant trees and the epic Tetons. Fresh mountain air, adrenaline and laughter. I can’t think of a better way to spend the afternoon. So grateful for this time with my girl. 
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#whitewater #jacksonhole #wyoming #whitewaterrafting #snakeriver #travel #motherdaughter #summertravel #travelwriter @jackson_hole_whitewater @tetonlodge
My first article for @natgeotravel is live, on rom My first article for @natgeotravel is live, on romantic @quebeccite 
Link in bio. I hope you’ll give it a read and share it. 
A huge thank you to all who contributed!
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#travel #canada #quebec #québec #quebeccity #paris #romantictravel #destinationdupes #travelwriter #vacation
Weekend getaway to Galena, Illinois 🐐 Goat tre Weekend getaway to Galena, Illinois 
🐐 Goat trek with @hoofitgalena 
🏠 Modern & memorable Ulysses Suites right on Main Street
🍝 Pasta on the patio at Vinny Vinucci’s
🌳 Arrowhead Treehouse in the scenic countryside 
🥾 Apple River Canyon State Park
📕 Tour Ulysses S. Grant’s Home
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#travel #galenaillinois #weekendgetaways #midwesttravel #illinois #travelgram #ulyssessuites @enjoyillinois
We dined at The Landing and drank in the 360-degre We dined at The Landing and drank in the 360-degree views 🏔️ 

#bigsky #montana #mountains #skivacation #ski @oneandonlybigsky #visitbigsky #travel #travelwriter
We swam with 🐖 on Treasure Island. What’s be We swam with 🐖 on Treasure Island. 
What’s been your favorite cruise excursion?
What a pleasure to be aboard the brand new @norweg What a pleasure to be aboard the brand new @norwegiancruiseline Aqua. Such an elegant ship 🚢 
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#cruise #cruiseship #cruiselife #cruisetravel #cruisevacation #norwegiancruiseline #norwegianaqua #cruisenorwegian #cruisegram #vacation #travelwriter
Lots of fresh air, mountain coasters, banana puddi Lots of fresh air, mountain coasters, banana pudding and bonding time with the teens. We stayed and played at Sanctuary Treehouse Resort in Sevierville, rode coasters at Dollywood and slept at HeartSong Lodge, then enjoyed a streamside cabin at Roamstead. The Smoky Mountains and sunshine were good to us. 🏔️ 🍌 ☀️ 🎢 🥾
Stayed out past my bedtime last night Stayed out past my bedtime last night
Birthday weekend shenanigans included pickleball, Birthday weekend shenanigans included pickleball, axe throwing, and a staycation at @sheratongrandchicago with the biggest crème brûlée 🍮 I’ve ever seen. Thank you, friends and family, for all the love ❤️
Weekend in NYC recap: 🖼️ The Met was crowded Weekend in NYC recap:
🖼️ The Met was crowded but packed with more than we could possibly explore in one visit.
🎭 The Outsiders and Hadestown are both fantastic. We preferred The Outsiders for its youthful energy and multi sensory experiences.
🥘 Pastrami Queen, Russian Tea Room, Becco, Keen’s Steakhouse and Lillian’s Victorian Establishment all served memorable dishes in elaborate surroundings.
🍹Sipped the best and worst NA cocktails I’ve ever had at a speakeasy by the subway, Nothing Really Matters.
What are some of your favorite NYC experiences?
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#nyc #newyork #broadway #weekendgetaway #newyorkcity #travel #nyctrip #foodie #travelwriter
Beautiful bathrooms, cute cafes and good girl time Beautiful bathrooms, cute cafes and good girl time. 

#motherdaughter #weekendgetaway #kohlerwisconsin #kohler #wisconsintravel #wisconsin #midwesttravel #travel @kohlerwi
Great bonding time with my girl at Kohler for Froz Great bonding time with my girl at Kohler for Frozen Fairways 
Ice skating ⛸️ 
Chocolate 🍫 
Curling 🥌 
Live music 🎶 
Swimming 🏊‍♀️ 
Excellent food 🥘 
Love ❤️ 

@kohlerwi #girltime #motherdaughter #wisconsin #familytravel #frozenfairways #kohler #winterfun #wintervacation #midwesttravel #travel

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