Jeff Ficker is a transplant to the Valley of the Sun, though he considers himself an Arizonan, having lived there since the age of six. He grew up learning about prickly-pear cacti at the Desert Botanical Garden and celebrating birthday parties at the Phoenix Zoo.

A graduate of the University of Arizona’s journalism program, Jeff is the cofounder of Arizona Monthly and the former managing editor of Desert Living magazine. Jeff is currently a managing editor at McMurry, where he edits The Ritz-Carlton magazine and Arrive, Amtrak’s in-train publication. He has contributed to several regional and national publications, with stories ranging from travel narratives to personality profiles about David and Amy Sedaris. Jeff is also an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he teaches editing.

A perpetual traveler, Jeff has journeyed to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and the neon streets of Tokyo. In San Diego, he made a valiant (albeit futile) attempt to learn how to surf, and in Paris, he spent the best six months of his life pretending to be French. He knows the value of a well-used travel guide, especially when in need of honest advice and in-the-know tips. In his opinion, a guidebook should open a window into the soul of a locale, revealing its secrets and giving readers an opportunity to delve into the region’s character.