The Epic Battle to Break the Mississippi River Canoe Record Selected for The Greatest Outside Adventure Stories Ever Told collection by Outside Magazine

The Epic Battle to Break the Mississippi River Canoe Record, Notable Sports Writing; The Year’s Best Sports Writing 2022

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

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

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