About MJ

Mary Jo Manzanares, aka MJ, is a traveler, travel writer, podcaster, and publisher. When she’s not on a trip, she’s planning or researching the next one and has a bag always packed, ready for the next great adventure. Her travel ethos is Value Luxury – that sweet spot where experience and price intersect to create WOW.

In addition to her personal travel blog, Traveling with MJ, Mary Jo is the founder and the editor-in-chief of The Traveler’s Way, an online travel magazine proving informational and inspirational travel recommendations for value luxury travelers. She has a weekly podcast at Where Else to Go (also available on iTunes) giving listeners information about where to go. . . and where else to go, owns Seattle Bits and Bites, focused on wine and wine tourism (accommodations, wineries, restaurants, food, attractions, and related topics) in her home state of Washington, a recently launched The Yums, a restaurant review site.

Mary Jo has been a speaker a numerous tourism industry events and also consults with travel industry clients on social media and working with travel bloggers. She is the former Conference Director for TBEX, the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, and new media content creators.

In addition to traveling, Mary Jo is a big fan of food and wine, movies, reading, spa pampering, shopping, and discovering new places and things. She lives in Seattle, where she likes lingering over a cup of coffee, wandering in a museum, sipping wine at a cafe, and sharing it all with friends and readers.

Follow Mary Jo on Twitter at @MJManzanares, @TravelingwithMJ, and @thetravelersway. Become a friend or fan on Facebook at Mary Jo Manzanares, Traveling with MJ, and at The Travelers Way.  You’ll find Pinterest Boards here and here. You’ll find her photos on Instagram and  Flickr.

Feel free to email Mary Jo with questions or information.