Meet Karen Gershowitz

We recently connected with Karen Gershowitz and have shared our conversation below.

Karen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I started traveling solo when I was seventeen years old. My first trip was to Europe; it ended up lasting three years. I traveled anywhere I could, soaking in the culture. I ate new foods, saw new sights, and spoke with as many people as I could. Travel became a passion that has stayed with me throughout my life. Because of its importance to me, I changed careers. Instead of pursuing ceramics (I have a BFA and MBA), I switched to marketing. And I did everything possible to land international clients.

Throughout my life I have taken thousands of photos, kept a travel journal and written travel stories. When I retired in 2019 that material was the source material for my first book, Travel Mania. It was published by She Writes Press in 2021. In 2023 my second book, Wanderlust, was published.

As a result of those books I was invited onto podcasts, radio and TV shows. I authored numerous articles about travel that were widely published.

I’m now a senior citizen. While teaching about travel to seniors and on a number of call-in talk shows I’ve come to understand there are many seniors who stopped traveling after covid or after losing a spouse or travel companion. My goal is to convince everyone they can and should travel.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Since switching careers, I’ve become a regular contributor to Journey Woman, and organization focused on travel for solo female travelers 50 and older.

My new book will be a “how to” and “why to” travel book designed for reluctant senior travelers and those with mobility issues (I have severe back issues).

I’ve taken my lifetime of travel to 100+ countries and compiled stories and practical advice to help people overcome their fears and have a terrific experience. But understanding that my travel history is the exception, not the norm, I’ve also interviewed dozens of senior travelers to provide a broader perspective.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey to becoming a travel writer, I’d say the three most impactful qualities I developed were curiosity, flexibility, and persistence.

Curiosity drove me to explore not just destinations, but the stories that go along with them. As a writer, it’s essential to be observant, dig deeper than what’s on the surface, to ask “why” and “how” about a place, its culture, and its people. For anyone starting out, I’d recommend staying genuinely curious, reading widely, and asking lots of questions.

Flexibility is a key trait no matter what you are pursuing. For me, travel is often unpredictable—flights get canceled, plans change, or weather can turn. Adapting to those changes and rolling with the punches allowed me to not only navigate those bumps but to turn them into part of the narrative. My advice here is to embrace change. When things don’t go as planned, take a deep breath and let it inform your creativity.

Lastly, persistence was crucial in keeping me moving forward even when the path seemed unclear. Writing and travel often require a long haul—whether it’s in terms of gathering experiences, writing, or pitching stories to editors. Success didn’t come overnight, but sticking with it allowed me to refine my voice and find my audience. My advice is simple: keep going. Every rejection, missed opportunity, or obstacle is a lesson, and persistence is what eventually opens doors.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I grew up in New York City. My mother inspired curiosity about the world by exposing me to it while never leaving the city. We visited museums, ate at ethnic restaurants, and saw international performances. I often joke that I was one of the few American kids in the 1950s who loved sushi. Back then, eating raw fish was considered instant death—or, at a minimum, the source of severe stomach problems. My mother, unconcerned, insisted that if the Japanese safely ate it, so could we. Those early, positive introductions to cultures and cuisines far different from my own became central to my life. I was determined to see as much of the world as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://karengershowitz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karengershowitz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karen-Gershowitz-Travel-Writer-100628051748402
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-gershowitz/

Image Credits

Karen Gershowitz