TRAVEL WRITING
One time, I stumbled upon a local flamenco singing competition in a small town in Spain, which took place at 10 PM and had an average audience member age of about 70. Another time, I got to see the Dancing Grannies in action in a public square in China (and it was everything I hoped it would be!). Yet another time, I was having a nightcap in Colombia when a bride, a groom, and an absolutely enormous wedding procession burst out of a church right beside where I was sitting, complete with live drummers and a massive fireworks display behind them. I can’t take you physically along with me for these moments—but capturing them in writing just might be my second-favorite thing in life, right after getting to be there in person!
My travel writing is for anyone who loves to dig a bit deeper—and for anyone who wants to become that kind of traveler, even if they’ve never done it before. I live for the moments where a place feels like it’s becoming less of a destination and more like somewhere you’re truly getting to know, and I want to share those experiences with you and help you go find those moments for yourself. That’s why my travel writing will always feature a mix of interesting stories, new inspiration, and practical tips for getting the most out of your travels. Whether you’re reading my work while planning your first adventure or your fiftieth, I hope you’ll discover fresh ways to travel with curiosity, confidence, and a deeper connection to the places you visit.
selected stories:
A TWO-WEEK TRAIN TRIP FROM BUDAPEST TO MILAN
“…We started with a couple days in Budapest, and then took the train to Bratislava for a quick half day of exploring before continuing to Vienna. (That made for a three-country day. So fun!) From Vienna, we took the train to Ljubljana, which was our base for three days of exploring Slovenia. Then it was onward to Venice for another whirlwind half day, followed by a night in much quieter Treviso. From Treviso, we took the train to Torino for three nights in one of our favorite cities in Italy. Finally, we ended the trip with a quick stay in Milan before heading back home to Lisbon.
It feels like we lived a lifetime in two weeks, so I’m planning to do individual posts about each place. But in the meantime, here are ten of the coolest things we did on the trip!”
SEEKING SUN IN SOUTHERN SPAIN
“Never in my life did I imagine that I would be able to take an impromptu road trip to Spain from where I live, but as they say, life is full of surprises. We’d barely explored it since we arrived, and our limited Spanish adventures had only taken us to the northern half of the country. But we had friends living on the southern coast who we’d been meaning to go visit—and we had the ability to rent a car, throw some crap in a bag, and go. So, we did!”
FREEZING, FESTIVE FUN IN LONDON
“‘One… more… Christmas tree!’
This is the mental chant moving me along as I joyfully limp down the street. We’re at the tail end of six incredible days in London—a lovely whirlwind of festive lights, unbelievable food, and delightful double decker bus rides… with 20,000 steps a day, every day, for six days in a row.
In short, we are bursting with happiness, and we have positively destroyed ourselves.
I’ve eaten so much sticky toffee pudding I feel like I’m made of it, my glutes are occasionally spasming in a way that makes me unconsciously put my palms to them when it happens—which I’m sure looks totally normal and not at all like I’m about to do something unsavory, in several possible directions—and, in this moment, there’s a good chance my feet are about to fall off.
‘Just a couple more blocks,’ I lie to my husband, casually glancing sideways to make sure his legs haven’t given out.
Our hearts are full. Our bodies are broken. And we’ve got one more giant Christmas tree to see.”
WHAT WE’RE DOING HERE
“If you don’t know me yet, I’m Kate—hi!—and I live in Lisbon with my husband Nate and our rescue pup, Andie. About three and a half years ago, we sold or gave away around 80% of our worldly possessions, basically burned down our entire lives, and moved from Boise, Idaho to Lisbon, Portugal. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made, and there are so many things we love about our life here, from the ability to go car-free to the amazing group of friends we’ve made from all over the world. Every single day is an adventure, and we are so grateful to live in this beautiful place where the lifestyle is such a great fit for us. We love it!”
Keep Traveling With Me
If you love exploring the world beyond what guidebooks will show you, I’d love to have you along for the ride!