Much of the background research I do for my stories is web-related, as more and more reliable resources show up on the Internet. Food for my writing comes by observing the world and by traveling. Technically, a potential travel article can materialize as soon as I step outside my front door. A weekend car trip to Berlin becomes a story about cross-country Germany. A visit to a pilgrimage church in the Alps becomes an article for a religious publication.
People read travel articles to get a sense of places and ways of life different than their own.
And so I write. It's a hard way to earn a living but for me, it's one of the best. There are a legion of books for people interested in getting started in freelance writing. For that matter, I also recommend Writer's Digest Magazine as a great source for tips on freelancing. I've had a subscription to the magazine for 10 years and now get it delivered overseas.