Jessica Ritz Jessica Ritz has been a freelance journalist for over a decade. She has a professional background as an architectural historian and considers herself to be an incurable generalist when it comes to journalism. Her writing on design, architecture, travel, food, and culture has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Architectural Digest, Metropolis, The New York Times, Garden & Gun, DuJour, Vanity Fair, Sunset, and Los Angeles Times, among other publications. Before becoming a freelance writer in 2008, Jessica spent a decade working as an urban planning and architectural historian. She was born in Dallas, raised in Los Angeles by parents with New York City roots, and has studied, lived, and travel extensively outside Southern California. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her TV writer/producer husband and two kids.• 14+ years of experience as a freelance journalist• 10+ years of experience as an urban planner and architectural historian• Received a bachelor’s degree in art history and American studies from Wesleyan University in Connecticut• Received a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles About Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is a top travel media brand with a mission to inform and inspire passionate travelers. Our expert team includes a network of hundreds of writers and photographers across the globe, all providing a local eye on the best places to stay, eat, and explore. We reach an audience that takes 76 million round trips annually, offering valuable travel tips, ideas and inspiration, and products you need to get you to your destination — whether it’s a small town or big city, beach or lake, national park or theme park, road trip, cruise, or long-haul flight, and everything in between. Learn more about us and our editorial process