A Texas-based journalist for over thirty years, Jim focused on Lone Star state crime for much of his career, reporting from courthouses for the Dallas Times Herald, working as a political correspondent for Dallas KERA-TV and eventually editing D Magazine, Dallas’ city magazine. Fourteen years ago he made the transition from criminal to medical science, and has since written about everything from flu to cardiac surgery to sexual addiction. “At about the same time I also began turning my attention to writing about the multiple travels my wife, Ann, and I take each year,” he says.The photo of Jim, an eco-buff and lover of experiential travel, was taken on the Galapagos islands. Jim has written for Esquire, Gourmet, GQ, National Review, Playboy, Self, Town & Country and Travel + Leisure. He’s also the author of two books, Evidence of Love, A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs and The View from Nowhere.

Most MemorableTrip: “My last—a cruise of the Galapagos Islands. This was one of the ten places I’d always wanted to see before I got too old to, and it definitely delivered. A close second was a week at Lapa Rios in Cost Rica. You can’t beat waking up to the rustle of spider monkeys climbing the trees right outside your palapa. Lapa Rios also provided the best views I’ve ever seen, especially of the massive thunderstorms over the Pacific.”

Most Harrowing Travel Experience: “Having my backpack ripped off in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, it had my wallet and passport, as well as cameras in it, so it turned out to be an occasion to learn several travel survival lessons: One, keep your wallet on you, preferably in a front, zipped pocket. Two, put those passports in a hotel safe. Three, when you take a shoulder bag or backpack off to eat lunch, keep it in your lap, or at least between your feet. Four, one part of the U.S. government that does work is an embassy when you’re in dire straits. I had a new passport within twenty-four hours.”

Favorite Hotel: “The Lodge at Koele in the Hawaiian Islands. This would also be the best food I’ve consumed at a resort, although my favorite meal ever was a lunch of various ceviches I had at the Las Ventanas resort in Cabo. The best cruise food was served by a Royal Viking ship on a cruise of the U.K.”

Most Interesting Character Met While Traveling: “This grizzled old U.S. expatriate I ran into in the main jardin in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, who told me a hair-raising life story of getting into trouble with the mob in Houston over some real-estate deals and running south of the border to hide out. Speaking of San Miguel, I think the Casa Sierra Nevada there fits in the category most overrated hotel.”