Stephanie Vermillion

Stephanie Vermillion is a freelance journalist and photographer covering travel, adventure, and astrotourism for Outside. She spent much of her 20s working and studying abroad, with months-long stints in Morocco, Tanzania, Ireland, England, and Italy. In 2018, she left the 9-to-5 agency world to pursue a travel-writing career that’s included reporting and photographing for Outside, National Geographic, BBC Travel, Vogue, and Travel & Leisure among other outlets. Stephanie’s work has taken her around the world; from camping on the Greenland Ice Sheet during a snowstorm and aurora hunting from the remote northern shores of Isle Royale National Park to monitoring nesting leatherback turtles alongside Indigenous conservationists on Panama’s Caribbean coast. As an avid aurora hunter and astrophotographer, Stephanie builds her travels around after-dusk adventures. Her National Geographic book, 100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Adventures After Dark, debuts in December 2024. The 25 Best Hikes to Beaches in the U.S. In summer or shoulder season, there’s nothing better than a water-view hike or one that ends up at a beach for lounging and swimming. From the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and places in between, these are our favorites. The Outside Guide to Responsible Wildlife Travel Wildlife adventures can do wonders for conservation—but the wrong tours put animals at risk. Here’s how to find a responsible outfitter so your trip can help protect the creatures you’ve come to see. The Outside Guide to Cuyahoga Valley National Park Some might be surprised to hear that one of our nation's most visited parks is in Ohio, but a single trip will be enough to convince you otherwise. Bridal-veil waterfalls, a spectacular river, and more than 125 miles of trails are merely supporting characters to this Midwest playground’s main act: a conservation success story. How to Visit National Parks Responsibly As crowds grow and parks reach capacity, responsible national-park travel is more important than ever. Here’s how to leave a lighter footprint, according to rangers. The 25 Best Rail Trails in the U.S. From a scenic path that extends the entire length of New York to a new route connecting Yellowstone to Grand Teton, here are the most scenic ways to experience America's wilderness by bike America Is Beautiful—and Here’s Your Ticket to See It Granting access to more than 2,000 national parks and recreation areas, the America the Beautiful pass is a game changer for any park-hopping traveler. Here’s how to know if the pass is right for you—plus how to buy it and use it. 50 U.S. Wilderness Areas, Ranked Take a break from NPS crowds by visiting these lesser-known designations, which we chose based on spectacular scenery, great hiking trails, and unique features. The Dispute over a Cable Car on Kilimanjaro Although the concept has been OK'd, that doesn't mean it will be implemented. Here's what former government officials, local guides, and environmental experts told Outside about its possible implications on Africa's highest peak. Join Us in Dreaming About These Winter Glamping Hideaways From unexpected snowstorms to below-freezing bathroom breaks, winter camping is a wild adventure. Some nights, you relish the hilarity of navigating tent poles with numb fingers. Other nights, you'd rather show up, sit back, and crack open a beer. If you're ready for the latter—a mix of chilly excursions and heated luxury—it's time to treat yourself at one of North America's best winter glamping sites. Here are our favorites.