travel article

About this sample

I wrote this bylined article, “Venice: A Day in the Floating City,” for the Spring 2011 issue of Latter-Day Woman magazine.

The assignment: A 500–1,000 word article for the Postcard section of the magazine.

The editor requested that the article lead the reader on a tour of an area of my choice (instead of providing travel recommendations). I was to assume that the reader may never actually travel to the location.

I helped edit article submissions for this issue and was listed as one of the associate editors on the issue masthead. I also compiled the quotes for a New Year’s inspiration article.

After our initial acquaintance with the city, we’re ready to embark on our first adventure: getting aboard the vaporetto (waterbus), Venice’s main mode of transportation. We spot a swaying vaporetto station several meters away, and within 30 minutes, we’ve purchased our passes, squeezed into the crowd onboard, and steadied our legs as the boat maneuvers its way down the center of the Grand Canal.

The Grand Canal meanders through the middle of Venice and features some of the best city views, so we decide to ride the vaporetto to the end of the line. After a few stops, we nab prime seats in the boat’s bow and take in some of the city’s most impressive landmarks, including the 400-year-old Rialto Bridge, the Doge’s Palace in St. Mark’s Square, and the Salute Basilica.

As the vaporetto speeds along, we also get a feel for the city’s uber-condensed layout. Every few meters, packed buildings make way for narrow canals, providing a glimpse straight down into the heart of the city. Just as quickly, the view is gone.

Click the image below to open the article (PDF).