Wander North tells stories about living well, eating well, and travelling with curiosity across Ontario and occasionally beyond. We’re interested in the people behind the places, the experiences that make a trip worthwhile, and the details that help readers decide where to go next.
We welcome pitches from freelance writers, alongside story suggestions from destinations, properties, operators, and community members.
What makes a Wander North story?
Give us a clear angle, a sense of place, and a reason to care. What surprised you? Who should we meet? What would a reader discover by following your lead?
We value firsthand experience, thoughtful reporting, and a point of view. A beautiful property can be a starting point, but we want to know what makes the story worth telling.
Our interests include:
- Live Well: Restorative escapes, time outdoors, creative pursuits, and experiences that make room to breathe.
- Eat Well: Regional food, farms, makers, and the people shaping how a place eats and drinks.
- Travel Well: Distinctive stays, local discovery, and trips that reward a little curiosity.
We’re especially interested in locally owned and Indigenous-led experiences, overlooked communities, and reasons to explore outside the busiest places and seasons.
Before pitching, please search Wander North to see what we’ve covered. If we’ve visited the subject before, explain what’s new or how your angle differs.
For freelance writers
Please pitch before writing a complete article. Email submissions@wandernorth.co with:
- A working headline and a short outline explaining the angle, why it matters, and why it suits Wander North.
- The first 100 words, so we can get a feel for your approach and voice.
- A brief introduction and links to two or three relevant writing samples.
- What you’ve experienced firsthand, access to photography and sources, and any reporting or travel still required.
Subject line: Writer Pitch: [Working Headline]
Please submit original, unpublished ideas and tell us if the pitch is also under consideration elsewhere. Disclose hosted or discounted travel, complimentary experiences, and any personal or commercial relationships with the people or businesses involved.
Fees, scope, deadlines, expenses, and usage rights will be agreed before an assignment begins. A pitch or offer of a hosted visit does not constitute a commission.
For destinations, properties, and operators
You don’t need a polished pitch or a finished article. You know your place and its people—we’d love to hear what you think deserves a closer look.
Tell us what’s happening, who’s behind it, and why it might make someone plan a visit. Specific details help: the person we should meet, the experience worth arriving early for, or the very good reason to stay another night.
- What’s happening and where.
- Who’s behind it.
- What makes it distinctive and relevant to our readers.
- Any useful dates, seasonal considerations, access details, or midweek offers.
- Who we could speak with and whether photography is available.
Subject line: Story Suggestion: [Place or Idea]
Please identify the business or client you represent. Story suggestions are considered independently, and submitting an idea does not guarantee coverage.
For paid content and broader collaborations, please visit our partnerships page.
Voice, style, and accuracy
Our voice is down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and personable. Bring readers into the experience through well-chosen details, clear sentences, and observations grounded in real life.
Please read our Wander North Style Guide (PDF) before submitting. We use Canadian spelling and Oxford commas.
We look for specific observations rather than tourism slogans, exaggerated claims, or generic “must-visit” lists. Never imply that you visited a place or had an experience you haven’t personally undertaken.
Writers are responsible for checking facts, quotations, names, and practical information. Photography must include credits and permission for publication.
We commission writers for their reporting, experience, and judgement. Please disclose any use of generative AI in preparing submitted text. Invented experiences, quotations, or sources are unacceptable.
Pitching our sister publication?
Wander Magazine explores wellness, food, and travel around the world. Visit its writer’s guidelines for submission details and current availability.
Please send your idea to the publication it best suits, rather than submitting the same pitch to both.