Jane Lasky

1 month ago | theamericanmag.com | Jane Lasky

I never tire of returning to Venice. There’s something ineffable about this unique Italian city — an intricate tapestry of more than one hundred islands stitched together by narrow canals and centuries of history — that lingers long after I leave. These quiet reminders have a way of resurfacing at the most unforeseen times, especially since the stark contrast between Venice’s timeless serenity and the hurried pulse of my hometown, Los Angeles, is impossible to forget.

2 months ago | theamericanmag.com | Jane Lasky

Years ago, I stumbled upon a Peanuts cartoon that really stuck with me. It showed Charlie Brown briskly walking across lush grass while Snoopy clung tightly to his back. The accompanying caption read, “In life, it’s not where you go, but who you travel with.”I’ve never agreed with the first part — because, let’s be honest, the destination does matter — but the second part? That’s everything. Decades ago, my late husband, Paul, became my favorite travel companion.

Mar 8, 2025 | theamericanmag.com | Jane Lasky

When I told my mom I wanted to be a foreign correspondent, she said, “You might get into dangerous situations,” and so I changed my mind, and then and there vowed to become a travel writer. I was 12. Fulfilling that goal, however, was not simple. There was a long, winding road involved. During the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, I attended Syracuse University’s School Press Institute on scholarship.