"Patch.com is a local news and information platform owned by the AOL corporation. As of May 2012, Patch operates some 850 local and hyperlocal news websites in 23 states in the United States. Patch Media Corporation is the operator of the service."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Media

Are you kidding me? 850 Web sites in 23 states...and I have a passion for writing and traveling...all for free.

I live in Farmington Hills, Michigan and so logically I post blogs on the Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch. Then I got fired up about the presidential election coming up in November and K-9 Veterans' Day March 13 and thought what a great way to write about my beliefs in all 23 Patch states.

Now remember there are more than 850 Web sites in those 23 states which makes it a herclean task but, with the help of my editor I just select one city in each state and request that editor to share my blog with all Patch Communities within that specific state.

As for the travel aspect, by sweeping through each Patch community I am able to get the flavor of that area almost as if I were actually there. So I am having a great time surfing the Patch network and while there may be an easier way of doing it I don't believe it would be as much fun.

If you would like to try surfing the Patch network just follow these easy steps:

1.  Go to:  http://www.patch.com/

2.  Select State

3.  Select City

4.  Scroll down and click Want to blog on Patch?

5. Click on Post On Patch

6.  Fill in the Template