About Me
Me in my happy place, overlooking Trunk Bay on St. John.
“If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it, too?” Well, probably, Mom, if I thought it would make a good story…and if I was sure the bungee cord was tied on really, REALLY tightly.
As a journalist, photographer — and natural coward attempting to conquer my fears through my travel adventures — I’ve paraglided 007-style in the Swiss Alps, walked with lions in Mauritius, swum with sharks in French Polynesia, and dangled from chains on Scotland’s Fife Coastal Path.
“Say ‘aaaah!'”
My most terrifying challenge, however, was taking ballroom dance lessons in London. Fortunately, that’s the only incident that nearly ended in a bloodbath.
I’ve also worked as a television news producer in the Cayman Islands and as a freelancer for People and Teen People magazines. These days, beyond travel, my favourite topics include:
- Spirits
- The kind you drink, that is, not the ones that go bump in the night.
- Home and Garden / Design and Architecture
- My articles have appeared in magazines including Better Homes and Gardens, BRITAIN, and HOME. I also published The Orvis Book of Cabins with The Lyons Press/Globe Pequot.
- Retail
- I write about designer outlet malls for The International Outlet Journal and Value Retail News.
The sidebars to the right feature links to:
- Some of my published travel articles, which have appeared in UK, US, and Canadian newspapers and magazines
- Recent blog posts
- Photography websites where you can view and purchase my photos
Specialty topics: Travel writing and photography; wine, beer and spirits; home design and decor; retail.
Thank you Amy, for your wonderful NAME! I read your article on Positano and Sorrento in AAA’s Journey Magazine and loved it. I was so delighted by your name, and of course your field of work, that I had to look you up on line! Keep on trekking! What a wonderful way to live. Bless you!
Hi Gabrielle. What an incredibly nice message. Thank you for starting out my year on such a high note! I hope your 2015 is terrific, too. Happy travels!
You are so wonderful and talented! Beautiful lady and such a sweet friend! Love you!
Paulette, YOU are so sweet, and I can’t thank you enough for putting me in touch with Michael. He is a very kind and generous individual, and he told his story so beautifully! I know how much Jennifer and her family appreciate the fact that there are people like Michael in this world.
Love to you and Wayne! I know how proud y’all are of Michael. What an amazing man!
I love that I “know” you. I mean.. I know people that know you and we went to Redan together.. so that counts, right? 😉
I really enjoy reading your blog. Your similes make this teacher very very happy. I’d love to get your permission to share them with the teachers at my school to help our students understand how to use language to bring the reader into their writing.
And on a side note – I’m planning my ultimate dream trip to England, and will be taking that 4 mile walk through 1000 years!
Hi Angie. Thank you so much for your kind note! Always a pleasure to “meet” a fellow Raider. I’d be delighted for your to share my website with your fellow teachers or with students. I hope you have a fabulous visit here in the U.K. Bring some Southern sunshine with you, please!
Amy,
I’d like to know if you are related to Randi Laughinghouse, daughter of Herbie and Marilyn Berkowitz of Philadelphia. My aunt Lucille is visiting us in Alameda, CA and left Randi’s phone number at home in Florida. Please contact me if you have the info. Thanks!
Hi Anne. Thanks so much for your message! We MUST be related to Randi’s husband somehow. What is his name? Where is he from? There just aren’t that many Laughinghouses around! By the way, I was in Alameda about a year and a half ago. Great town! I actually stayed in Niles, on the East Bay. Have you ever been there?
Hi Amy. Did you live in Linthicum as a child? My daughters, Annette and Alana, had a friend and classmate with your name during elementary school.
My favorite place in the world is St. John, USVI as well. I am heartbroken about the devastation there. We spent our vacations there for 15 years. It always felt like going home.
Dear Mrs. Gross: Oh my goodness!!! Yes, that was me. I remember Annette and Alana! How are you all? It’s amazing to hear from you after so many years. Please do send your daughters my best. I’d love to hear your news. As for St. John, the devastation was heart-wrenching, but it does seem as though the island is starting to get back on its feet. Here’s a link to a relatively recent article I found: https://wtop.com/business-finance/2017/11/st-john-the-little-virgin-island-that-could/slide/1/
I thought it was you! It sounds as though you live a wonderfully exciting life and I’m so glad to hear from you. I can’t believe our love of St. John was the connector. I read the article you recommended and am glad there is so much help there. I have been searching for updates since it was our special place. We spent many weeks at The Westin and owned a timeshare there for many years.
I am remarried and my name is now Nancy Junk and we live in Florida, where most retirees go! Annette and family live in Glen Burnie and Alana lives in Hampstead.
The best to you and the rest of your family.
Thank you so much for the update on you and the girls. I’m glad to hear that you’re all doing well. You must be enjoying the winters in Florida far more than those around Baltimore! Please tell Annette and Alana I said hello. Maybe I will see you all sometime on St. John? 🙂
Hello, Amy Laughinghouse,
our Canadian friends sent me the link to your Trier Article. Thank you for these friendly lines! I also loved to read about your trip to the amphitheatre and that you liked strolling alone there.
It was a very good experience to meet you. And I wish you many many more travels and explorations in our big and interesting world!
Have a good pre-Christmas season and a good time!
Claudia Kuhnen, Trier
Hi Claudia. Thank you so much for your message. I’m glad you liked the article. I certainly enjoyed your tour! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!
Amy,
When oh when will you come to San Diego for the Micro-brew Beer, beautiful Beaches and “TOP GUN” – tour of the Midway aircraft carrier with a stop at the bar from the movie! Perfect winter destination as its warm and sunny here – until May/June when the fog rolls in along the coast.
Joshua Tree National Park is where we spent New Years Eve and you would LOVE it! Happy 2018 Ames – I look forward to reading about your adventures in the New Year and have my fingers crossed CA is on your list!
Hey Blondie! I would love to come visit. I’ll try not to wait 15 years this time around, but I don’t know yet what 2018 holds. May see you on this side of the pond first?
I love the variety of articles on your site, although I’m mostly interested in drinks! It’s nice to see you’ve walked the Fife Coastal Path (I’m a Fifer).
Hi David. Thanks so much for your note! Ah yes, I’m a huge fan of the Fife Coastal Path, despite my sheer terror of the Chain Walk. (Of course, it does offer an excellent excuse to indulge in the comfort of a wee dram AFTER–and providing–one survives). By the way, I love the name of your blog, DiveIntoDrinks. If that were an Olympic sport, I’d be a high dive champion. I’m looking forward to reading more!
I have just seen an article on Facebook that you wrote about my beloved City Brighton and Hove. Thank you for your lovely comments. I was born here and it has changed over the years and people trash it as being dirty and not the same but things change and I still love it ! You have an interesting life
Hi Gillian. Thanks for your message. It’s wonderful to hear from another Brighton lover. It’s so colourful, vibrant and diverse, and one of my favourite cities not only in the UK, but in the world. Do you have a link to the Facebook article? You must be referring to the Journey magazine piece I wrote, but I haven’t seen an online version, so that would be lovely. Cheers!