I’m often asked why I chose to start a travel blog. Whether you’re thinking of starting a blog yourself or just curious to hear my story, in this post I’m sharing what motivates me (and some of the mishaps and adventures I’ve had along the way!) Learn how I left my hometown to start traveling, the biggest travel blunders I’ve made, and the travel writers that inspire me to keep going…
Hello there! I’m Kelli, and I’ve been a travel blogger for about a year. It’s been an amazing journey, but also filled with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. I work full time and travel/blog as much as I can throughout the year. I love sharing my journeys in the hopes to inspire you to travel more too!
I was recently so honored to be nominated for the Liebster Award. It’s an award bloggers give to one another, to spread goodwill and build community. Awesome, right? (Liebster means sweetheart/darling in German).
It was an unexpected delight and reminded me that one of the best things about being a travel blogger is the connection with others. So THANK YOU to Queenie, the beauty and brains behind The Poor Londoner. If you haven’t checked her blog out, you should! She has a fun, playful style and a rebellious spirit that I can 100% relate to.
As part of my nomination, I’ll be answering questions from Queenie about what it’s like to be a travel blogger. Curious? Here we go…
I Believe Travel = Personal Growth
Question #1: How would you convince a person who has never left their hometown to start traveling?
I grew up (for the most part) in small towns. And I love the warmth and friendliness that comes along with that! But I always felt a strong desire to explore and see more of the world.
I ended up joining the military at 18 years old and embarking on a whirlwind of adventure and travel. It truly changed my life, taught me so many life lessons, and gave me a ton of confidence to take risks and make changes. But it was scary!
Traveling often puts you in unfamiliar waters. I love to encourage others to just jump in! Often the reason we don’t travel is due to fear. For someone who has never left their hometown, I would do my best to fill them with confidence and courage so they can take the leap for themselves.
I’m Fulfilled By Seeing Others Succeed
Question #2: Traveling the world is one thing, but what prompted you to start a blog?
It’s true, not everyone that enjoys travel will feel the need to document it and share it with the world. For me, I like the teaching aspect of being a travel blogger. I like to encourage/coach/motivate others because I want them to feel the joy of traveling!
My experience as a teacher and coach means that my blog is full of tips, advice, and how-tos. I share actionable advice and share tangible resources to help my readers take the plunge and travel more. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned.
My military background adds a fun and adventurous twist. I’m a girly-girl who also likes to challenge myself and get outside my comfort zone. Soldier turned travel blogger might seem like an unusual choice, but I like to try new things and encourage others to do the same.
Another unique aspect of this blog is the fact that it’s a mixture of work and personal travel. Not everyone can quit their job to travel full time! So for all the working ladies out there, I see you. It’s possible to include travel into your life no matter what your circumstances are, so I like to highlight that.
And I also believe simple is better. My goal is to present information in a way that’s fun but streamlined. Travel can seem complicated, but it shouldn’t be!
Travel Teaches Important Life Lessons
Question #3: Have you ever gotten lost?
I have definitely been lost in a foreign country! On my first trip to Venice, my husband and I stumbled our way around the city every single day. There isn’t an elaborate story related to us getting lost, but just being in Venice (and their unique way of numbering streets) meant we were confused nonstop!
Getting lost is part of traveling, though, and it’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes getting lost means you have to find your way – asking a local for help, or if you’re traveling solo you have to depend on yourself. So it’s definitely a learning moment as a traveler.
You also will stumble onto some areas you wouldn’t otherwise have seen on your trip. Being lost in Venice meant we got to see more of the city and we ended up finding some cute shops and restaurants to explore. Travel mistakes aren’t always a bad thing!
You’re Part of Something Bigger
Question #4: Tell me about a travel journalist whose work you really admire. How has he/she inspired you and why?
Before I decided to be a travel blogger myself, I discovered Shannon O’Donnell from A Little Adrift. I was really drawn to her blog because she shares lots of great information, but also has a big focus on ethical tourism and volunteering.
Travel blogging is more than just traveling the world, it’s an opportunity we have to give back. Shannon sets a great example of how you can use something you’re passionate about to help others. She’s used her popularity as a blogger to make a positive change in the world.
She’s also super courageous! She was a former actress who left her career behind to travel, which I find really inspiring. I’m always inspired by people who make radical changes in their life.
It’s A Never-Ending Adventure
Question #5: Of all the countries in the world you’ve visited, which one has stuck with you the least? How would you challenge yourself to go back and experience it in a new light?
When I was in the military, I traveled to a few different countries in the Middle East – Iraq and Kuwait specifically. Because I was there on military orders (and it wasn’t a personal trip) I was limited in how much I could explore.
I enjoyed my time and had some interaction with locals (even learning a little Arabic!) but I would like to go back to see more and experience the culture to a greater degree.
Any time you visit a country once, you only get a brief snapshot of what it’s like. Imagine if someone visited the United States and only went to New York City – they would have that image in their mind. But New York City is vastly different from small-town Kentucky or remote Alaska!
I Get Inspired By Others
There are SO many great travel bloggers! And I love reading other blogs and observing their writing style and how they infuse their personality into their blog. So without further ado, here are my 5 nominees for the Liebster Award (and some amazing blogs you should check out too!):
To get to know each of these amazing travel bloggers better, here are my 5 questions for them:
- What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you while traveling?
- Which of your personality traits has been the most useful in your life?
- How do you bring the “comforts of home” with you on the road?
- If you could be famous for something, what would it be?
- Tell us about a challenge in your life that you’ve had to overcome
My Life Outside Being A Travel Blogger
So now you know what motivates me to be a travel blogger! Outside of blogging, I would describe myself as the type of person that’s driven, likes adventure, and likes to challenge myself. For me, that means staying positive in all situations and having faith and courage that I can do things I’ve never done before.
I’m not afraid to try something new, whether it’s a new career field (I’ve changed 3 times!) or just a new type of food. I like to experience new things and share that with other people.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any other questions for me, comment below and let’s chat.
