Bill and Mary Burnham, authors and kayak guides, have blended their love of the outdoors and journalism backgrounds into a dual career spanning nearly two decades. In winter they lead "Paddle with the Authors" trips from the pages of their award-winning "Florida Keys Paddling Atlas." The rest of the year they lead kayak trips on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and go hiking throughout the Old Dominion. Follow their adventures at www.BurnhamGuides.com where you can sign up for their e-news and view their blog. Find them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BurnhamGuides The couple's 8 books include two National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA) winners: Best Day Hikes Near Washington, DC (2010), Knack Kayaking for Everyone (2010), Florida Keys Paddling Atlas (2007), Complete Florida Beach Guide (2008), Car Camping for Everyone (2009), Hiking Virginia, a Falcon Guide (2004, 3rd edition coming 2012), The Virginia Handbook (2004), Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland (2003)More...Both originally from upstate New York, the two grew up loving the Adirondack Mountains and later hiked them together. One year into marriage, they quit their reporter jobs and drove around the country, hiking, camping, and dropping in on relatives and friends for a free meal and to do laundry. Their exploits filled a weekly travel column: "Bill and Mary's Excellent Adventure," for the Fitchburg (Mass.) Sentinel & Enterprise, and launched careers as adventure travel writers.They ended up in Virginia and spent two years hiking and writing about the best trails in the Old Dominion for Hiking Virginia: A Falcon Guide (2001), receiving a National Outdoor Book Award. In 2003, they compiled their road travels into Small Towns of Virginia and Maryland. The next several years they spent working as kayak guides in the Florida Keys exploring the 100-mile island chain, Bill with a tape recorder and GPS, Mary with waterproof camera. The resulting Florida Keys Paddling Atlas earned another NOBA award.In 2005 they drove, camped and paddled their way around the entire coast of the Sunshine State for the "Complete Florida Beach Guide" for University Press of Florida.Due for a rest, they headed to Virginia's Eastern Shore where they operate a kayak shop for SouthEast Expeditions in the historic harbor town of Onancock. When not exploring the historic creeks, bayside marshes and seaside barrier islands around Onancock of coastal Virginia, they're hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their most recent books include instruction books on kayaking and camping and "Best Day Hikes Near Washington DC". Currently they are working on an update of their first book, "Hiking Virginia," due out in spring 2012.They write for Virginia Tourism's annual travel guide, and have contributed many publications including: The Washingtonian, The Miami Herald, Backpacker, National Geographic Adventure, American Heritage, The World & I, Blue Ridge Outdoors, MetroSports, Campers Monthly, The Columbus Dispatch, Fort Myers Magazine, Hampton Roads Monthly, The Virginian-Pilot and Racing MilestonesThey are members of The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), the Authors Guild and the American Canoe Association (ACA). Bill is a certified kayak instructor with the ACA.