Annika Hipple is a freelance writer and photographer who has covered outdoors-related topics for Lonely Planet, BBC Travel, Atlas Obscura, Sierra Magazine, Northwest Travel & Life, Bats Magazine, and many other publications. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Sweden, she was raised in the Boston and Stockholm areas and now lives in Seattle, Washington. […]
Meet OWAA member Annika Hipple Read More »
Blue Ridge Paddling after hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Paddling. Media members of OWAA touring the new home of Blue Ridge Paddling in July of 2024 were duly impressed. The recently-completed, lodge-like building in Erwin, Tennessee was bright, airy and full of light. There was ample space for retail. Boats, paddles, throw bags,
After Helene, the outdoor community rebuilds Read More »
Come for the conference, stay for the adventure. This August 19–21, the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) is bringing its annual conference to Chattanooga, Tennessee — and if you’ve ever needed an excuse to combine work and play, this is it. Nestled between mountains and the Tennessee River, Chattanooga is a hub for outdoor
7 tips to planning a whitewater rafting trip around Chattanooga, Tennessee Read More »
With so many options, we’ve decided to put together a list of the largest and most spectacular outdoor waterfalls in the area. We’re talking big, tall, powerful waterfalls; every falls on this list features at least 50 feet of free-falling water, and some considerably more than that. Here’s our top nine. How many have you
Nine best waterfalls near Chattanooga Read More »
Anybody who thinks radio is made up of talk-show hosts, “too-cool-for-school” disc jockeys and an endless supply of music really doesn’t know a lot about broadcasting. Radio is about one thing: money. If station management can make money playing automated reggae music, then that’s what it will do. When the national and local advertising money
Think like an advertiser and sell your idea Read More »
What happens when you take eight outdoor journalists from across the country and ship them off to a winter wonderland? A great time, new friendships, and most importantly, LOTS of great stories! This past February, Visit Keweenaw hosted eight of our OWAA members in an epic experience they called Snowventure. Along with a couple members from Pure Michigan’s marketing
OWAA members make the trek to the Keweenaw Peninsula for Snowventure Read More »
JOIN US AUGUST 19-21 AT THE 2025 ANNUAL OUTDOOR MEDIA CONFERENCE IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE! Smack dab in the Tennessee River between Chattanooga’s bustling Riverfront and vibrant Northshore district, sits an 18.8-acre island that’s easy to overlook. Maclellan Island is a refuge for wildlife and offers a unique experience for hiking, camping, and views of Chattanooga. And it’s
More than 25 years ago, I learned an invaluable wildlife photography lesson when I had the good fortune to partner with a couple of seasoned photographers preparing to work a ferruginous hawk nest in the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in southwest Idaho.James P. Blair, a National Geographic photographer, was on assignment
What I learned from a National Geographic photographer in Idaho Read More »
Want to shoot great wildlife photographs all the time? It can be done by strict adherence to one hard, fast rule: “The eyes have it.” Photography is all about the eyes, especially the eyes of the subject. Eyes are much more than the windows of the soul. So much so that the manner in which they are rendered in a photograph or painting
The eyes have it! Mastering the art of animal photography Read More »
Are you an outdoor media professional? Join us in Chattanooga, Tennessee at our 2025 annual conference August 19-21. Learn more and register today! With nearly nine months of pleasant weather, seeing Chattanooga by bike is an almost year-round proposition. And there’s no better way than via the city’s bike transit system with its 400 bikes
Bike Chattanooga: Five routes and everything to know about the bike share program Read More »
