- Jean has more than 15 years of experience producing travel, lifestyle, dining, shopping, and service journalism content.
- Her storytelling focuses on connecting readers to destinations through culture, local experiences, food, wellness, and outdoor adventure.
- In addition to destination features, she regularly researches topics including road trips, hospitality trends, traveling with pets, seasonal travel guides, and consumer-focused recommendations.
Experience
Jean Chen Smith is a freelance travel and lifestyle journalist based in Corvallis, Oregon. She covers adventure, luxury, wellness, culinary, and pet-friendly travel, with a particular interest in culture-driven destinations, outdoor experiences, boutique hotels, and regional food scenes. At Islands, she enjoys researching hidden gems, small-town escapes, national parks, and practical travel tips that help readers discover memorable experiences both close to home and abroad.
Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, The Oregonian, and 1859 Oregon's Magazine. She has also featured award-winning hotels, restaurants, and travel experiences throughout her career.
Education
Jean holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University School of Communication and Information.