The Geography of Madness chosen as one of the Best Travel Books of the Decade (Newsweek)

Exploring the Polar Bear Capital of the World, Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2021

Uncharted Waters, Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2019

Teaching a Stone to Fly, Notable Sports Writing; Best American Sports Writing 2018

Teaching a Stone to Fly, Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2018

Crunch Goes the Cricket, Minnesota Conservation Volunteer; Gold Award, Feature Story, MMPA Excellence Awards 2018

“Meeting Like This” in The Rotarian, Best Association/Nonprofit Column; Folio Magazine’s Eddie & Ozzie Award 2018

“Beyond Belief” Notable Essay; Best American Essays 2016

“Runner, Interrupted,”  “Best of 50 years” anniversary feature; Runner’s World “Select,” 2016

“Branding Guyana” Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2015

“What Price Experience?” (The Rotarian) Notable Essays; Best American Essays 2015

“The Secret Lives of Stories” Notable Essays; Best American Essays 2014

“The Fallout” Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2014

“Fall of the Creative Class” Notable Essays; Best American Essays 2013

“The Crossing” Notable Travel Writing, Best American Travel Writing 2013

“The Reunion” Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2013

“The Crossing” awarded Silver Prize for best Foreign Travel Article; Lowell Thomas Award 2013

“The Fallout” awarded Bronze Prize for best U.S./Canada Travel Article; Lowell Thomas Award 2013

“Finding His Way” Notable Sports Writing; Best American Sports Writing 2012

“The Roads Between Us: A Journey Across Africa,” Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2011

“A mind dismembered: In search of the magical penis thieves” selected for Best American Travel Writing 2009

“Spirits in the Material World,” Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2008

“The Lost World of Nigeria,” Notable Travel Writing; Best American Travel Writing 2008

“How to use a Squat Toilet,” awarded Silver Prize, best Service-oriented Consumer Article; Lowell Thomas Award 2007

“Test Day” selected for Best American Travel Writing 2004

Runner-up; Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize 2001

Milwaukee Press Club Awards 2004-2007

“Print Journalist of the Year,” runner-up, 2007

“Love the One You’re With,” runner up, best short feature, 2007

“Magazine Journalist of the Year,” runner-up, 2006

“Sugar Shock,” best public interest story, 2005

“Smell of the 60s” best magazine series, 2005

“Read Between the Lines” best written magazine story, 2004