Who is Elaine Lee?

Elaine Lee, is a globetrotter and emancipatory travel journalist. She has visited 70 countries and completed two solo trips around the world. She is the editor of the pioneering 1997 travel book “Go Girl: The Black Woman’s Book of Travel and Adventure” and its 2024 sequel “Go Girl 2.”

“First there was the Green Book, then there was Go Girl, the first black travel guide of the modern era. Elaine Lee is a legend who continues to inspire. The New Black Travel Movement owes everything to her and her work.” Faith Adiele, award-winning author of “Meeting Faith”.

Elaine’s is a pioneer and maverick in the black travel industry and continues in the tradition of storytelling through her published works which have been featured in national and local magazines, newspapers, webzines as well as anthologies*. Over the past 30 years, she has shared her love of travel on numerous local and national radio, TV shows and podcasts. She has served as a keynote speaker, lecturer, and travel writing instructor at national travel conferences.

She founded and coordinates an extensive international network of over 400 black travel media folks for whom she has provided a free quarterly Afrocentric travel media newsletter since 2001.

In 1998 she developed and hosted the San Francisco Bay Area’s first travel radio show which aired regularly on the KPFA-FM for seven years. She was the convener/host of the SF/Bay Area’s first Black Travel Expo in 1998 and the convener of a Travel Seminar for the African American Women On Tour’s Annual National (six city) Conference Series in 1999.

Her cyberhome, www.ugogurl.com has been one of the leading portals of black travel information since 1997.

“Elaine has mastered the art of travel and spreading its gospel like few you’ve met. She skis, cycles, hikes, dances and dives her way across the globe, and wherever she goes, her fearlessness and joie de vivre light the way. ” C. Canter

Elaine is also an attorney practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in estate planning and real estate law. She is a long-distance fitness swimmer, outdoor enthusiast, culinary wizard, salsa dancer, stargazer, sailor, cyclist, ceremonial officiant and maintains a personal yoga and meditation practice. She also is a long-term volunteer at two Bay Area animal rescue organizations.

*Her travel articles and advice have appeared in numerous national and local magazines, newspapers, and webzines, such as The New York Times, O, Essence, Black Enterprise, Upscale, San Francisco Chronicle, the Indianapolis Star, Detour, the Miami Herald, Charlotte Observer, Uptown, Yoga Journal, The Bark, Heart and Soul, Odyssey Couleur, Prevention, Sunset, Bet.com, SoulofAmerica.com, and the Alta Journal. She has also contributed stories to eight anthologies.

“Lee’s work is characterized by a profound wisdom and an unparalleled mastery in the art of
storytelling, bringing to light the rich, diverse experiences of Black women travelers, as she
invites readers on a journey that is both personal and universal, offering insights into the joys,
challenges, and transformative power of travel. Her books serve as a beacon, guiding the way
for future explorers and storytellers, and her continued impact on the travel writing genre is a
testament to her enduring legacy. Elaine Ruth Lee is not just an editor and freelance writer; she
is a visionary who has charted new territories in literature and beyond, inspiring countless
others to explore the world with courage and curiosity.” D. Harris

To learn more about Elaine and her work, visit www.ugogurl.com

“Travel is the music of my soul.”