Kent St John

About Kent St John

Kent St. John was GoNOMAD's Senior Travel Editor since the website was founded in 2000. During that time he circled the globe many times, visiting more than 80 countries. Sadly, he passed away on Thanksgiving Day in 2012. He had an appreciation of subtleties, always finding a way to capture the nuances and essences of a destination, whether he was whale-watching in Nova Scotia, riding the rails in Australia, bungee jumping in China or worshipping the sun on a beach in Brazil.

Posts by Kent St John:

Floating the Dead Sea, One of Jordan’s Wonders

Kent St. John explores Jerash and the Dead Sea and other fascinating sites in Jordan including the ruins in Jerash and the capital, Amman.

Norway’s Viking Voyage: The Hurtigruten

Norway’s coastal cruise: The Hurtigruten. Kent St. John cruises up the coast of Norway in winter from Bergen to Tromso.

Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula: Full of Flavor

Croatia is a fast becoming a hot European destination. Kent E. St. John takes us around to enjoy the world’s biggest truffle, and beautiful Istria.

Miraculous Macau: Modern and Mystifying

Kent E. St. John describes the many changes in Macau since it was transferred to Chinese rule. Jumping the Macau tower, eating dim sum, enjoying the city.

Northern Croatia: Castles, Character and Wine

Croatia; you know it has great beaches but did you know it also has great wine? Kent E. St. John shows us Zagreb, Croatia and beyond.

Montana’s Spirited Southwest

A country lane in Virgelle, Montana. photos by Laurie Gough.

Montana Still Has a Wilderness By Kent E. St. John Senior Travel Editor With Halloween less than a week away, I wanted to explore a spirited place, one where I could connect with the past. Southwest Montana turned out to […]

Portland: Maine’s Stalwart Seafaring City

By Kent E. St. John Senior Travel Editor Portland, Maine is scruffy in the most desirable way; no wonder Outside Magazine places it on the 2005 list of the best places to live. That fits with its motto Resurgam (I […]

Buzios, Brazil: The Perfect Place to Worship Sun and Sea

By Kent E. St. John Senior Travel Editor People from around the world head to Rio for its great beaches, and Cariocas or Rio residents head to Buzios, only 102 miles away, for their beach fix. Buzios is a perfect […]

Guatemala’s Caribbean Treasure

Kent St. John presents a guide to attractions, dining and lodging in Guatemala. He was a bit shocked when he found a snake in his cabin, but it was all good

Party in Paraty, Brazil

Paraty's historic harbor - Photos by Kent St. John

Brazil: Kent E. St. John visits some of the 65 islands and 300 beaches in Paraty, Brazil, as well as many of the best restaurants and nightspots.

Southern Nova Scotia: Water, Whales and Wonder

GoNOMAD Senior Travel Editor Kent E. St. John visits southern Nova Scotia via a ferry from Portland, Maine

Jordan’s Greatest Treasure: Petra, Aqaba Down Under

GoNOMAD Senior Travel Editor Kent E. St. John visits Jordan and describes Petra, The Rose City, and Aquaba down under.

Golfing and Exploring Wales: Beautiful Castles and Courses

Distant mountains form the border of the horizon in Southern Wales.

A guide to Golfing and Exploring Wales with hotel, restaurant and useful websites

Omni Mt Washington Hotel, NH’s Grand Dame

White Mountain National Forest; gorgeous at any time of year.

Omni Mount Washington Hotel in New Hampshire is the grand dame of great country hotels with luxury, skiing and the 100-foot verandah with mountain views.

Show Notes:

In this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Max shares his lifelong affection for ferries — the working boats that move commuters, islanders, day‑trippers, and football fans with the same steady indifference. Ferries don’t pamper or preen, but they offer something better: a front‑row seat to the water and the most democratic view in travel. Whether you drive a G‑wagon or a beat‑up Volvo, everyone waits in the same line for the same ramp to drop.

Max reflects on the magic of that first engine shudder as the boat pulls away from the dock, the wind on deck, and the shared horizon that briefly unites a crowd of strangers. No TSA, no overhead bins, no seat assignments — just the shoreline sliding by and the slow reveal of a destination coming into focus.

This episode also explores the explosion of ferry service across New England and beyond. On Cape Cod, the Steamship Authority is preparing to open its long‑awaited new terminal in Woods Hole, a modern stone‑and‑glass gateway to Martha’s Vineyard. The arrival of the M/V Monomoy marks another milestone, bringing a quieter, larger, more reliable freight vessel into service.

Boston’s ferry network is growing fast, with new weekend service from Lynn, expanded Winthrop and Quincy routes, and system‑wide contactless payment. The MBTA’s new F‑10 line launches this June, connecting North Station to the Aquarium, the Seaport, and Logan Airport for just $2.46 each way — a rare moment of true transit progress on the waterfront.

Amesbury is preparing a small‑vessel shuttle on the Merrimack River for 2026, linking its waterfront to downtown Newburyport with quick, car‑free hops designed to ease summer traffic. And in New Jersey, Seastreak is running special Hudson River trips to West Point for Army football games — a floating tailgate party complete with a bar, snacks, and big‑screen TVs.

New York City is expanding too, with a brand‑new Staten Island–to–Brooklyn route, the first passenger ferry to make that crossing since 1964. Commuters are already embracing the traffic‑free ride and the chance to start and end their day on the water.

Through all these stories, Max returns to the same truth: ferries are the great equalizer. Once you’re on board, you’re just another traveler watching the horizon. And that’s why he keeps coming back.

Credits

Written and narrated by Max Hartshorne, Editor of GoNOMAD Travel. Produced by the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast team.

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