新澳门开奖结果

鈥淭ravel Stars鈥� is an interview series created to get to know people in the travel industry who are making a difference; writers/influencers, producers, and travel executives.

In this article, we had the joy of interviewing Katie.

Katie Chavez is a Kiwi travel blogger and world traveler based in the U.S. that has been living abroad and traveling the world for almost 20 years. She has been nomadic for eight years and spends the summer months working events and the winter months traveling internationally.

Check out this fantastic interview with Katie.

Tell us a little bit about yourself – where are you from? Where did you grow up? Etc.

I was born and raised in New Zealand. We moved around a bit when I was a kid and my childhood was split between the biggest city in New Zealand – Auckland, and a small farming community called Te Hihi. We moved to Tauranga when I was 14. I think moving around when I was a kid made me adaptable and it was easy to continue doing so when I was an adult – just to different countries this time. Over the past twenty years, I have lived in Australia, the UK, Canada, and now, the U.S.

As well as traveling, I also love hiking and exploring the outdoors – especially by roadtripping and camping. We have a small campervan and a larger RV and we explore the National Parks and natural places in the U.S. whenever we aren’t working in summer, then travel internationally in winter. Our last trip saw us hiking in the Himalayas of Nepal and along an ancient pilgrimage route in Japan.

Can you remember what first got you interested in the world of travel? and why?

I have been interested in travel and different cultures around the world for as long as I can remember. Both my parents traveled when they were younger (my Dad still does), and it is common for Kiwis to leave on their big “OE” (overseas experience) when they finish school or University for a few years, but most people come back after a couple of years and I just kept going.

In the next year, where would it be if you could only visit one place for one week?

Hmmm, maybe Antarctica if I could only travel for one week in the next year. It’s definitely a bucket list trip for me.

What are some of the top places you enjoyed visiting the most? Why?

I love traveling in my home country of New Zealand as well as British Columbia in Canada, the Western States of the U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Thailand, the Galapagos, Colombia, Mexico, Greece, France, Nepal, India, and Japan. These are the countries and places I have connected with the most and have the fondest travel memories, each for different reasons be it the culture, people, landscapes, or wildlife.

Can you share a funny story that happened to you while traveling?

I’m sure there are a lot that aren’t coming to mind right now but the time a snake came out of the back of a toilet in Sri Lanka and slithered over my husband’s foot while he was using it was pretty funny. I have never heard him scream like that before.

What was one of your more popular posts in the last year? And why do you think it caught on?

One that I didn’t expect to be so popular because the search volume for the keyword I targeted was really low was my post on . It turns out Keysearch was wrong because it’s now one of my most popular posts. It makes sense because a lot of people come to the Gorge a day before the show starts, and the things to do around there aren’t obvious.

Hiking is your major passion, and you believe it’s the best way to experience the world truly. Could you share a particularly memorable hiking adventure you’ve had and what made it so special?

My most memorable hike was the 13 days we did on the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal earlier this year. This was a dream hike for me and it ended up being even better than I imagined. The Himalayas are truly spectacular and the people are so welcoming and kind. We also loved the little villages we stayed in along the trek and the other hikers we met. The whole experience was just incredible and I can’t wait to return to Nepal to hike more multi-day treks.

Islands hold a special fascination for you, and you aspire to live on one someday. What are some of the most remarkable island destinations you’ve explored, and how do they differ from mainland travel experiences?

I have two favorite island groups so far – the Galapagos in Ecuador and the Gulf Islands in British Columbia, Canada. Both are very different but I love them for similar reasons. The Galapagos are very special to me because of the unique and spectacular landscapes and the animal experiences I had there, and with the Gulf Islands, it’s about the moody landscapes, abundance of wildlife, and the welcoming communities. I also love the islands of Thailand and explore a different island group each time we visit.

One of the unique aspects of your blog is sharing travel fails and amusing mishaps. Could you recount one of your most memorable travel fails and how you were able to turn it into a learning experience or find humor in the situation?

My most memorable travel fail was turning up late to a little town in the Czech Republic where all the accommodation was booked up. One of the hostel receptionists suggested we sleep in the park and we didn’t see many other options.

Unfortunately, when I awoke in the morning, both of my bags were gone! Luckily I had my phone, money and passport in the sleeping bag with me but it was a very scary feeling.

I ended up finding my big backpack with most of my stuff still in it but I never did get my day pack back. It is something me and my friend laugh about now but I have never slept in a park again and I usually book my accommodation in advance.

What are you doing now (or about to do) that you are excited about? Do you have any new projects?

I’m currently working on some new posts, but it’s hard to find the time in summer because my husband and I live on-site at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington, managing the Glamping there. It is a full-on but very rewarding job.

Thanks for joining and sharing with us your journey and these valuable tips on traveling, Katie!

If you want to know more about Katie, here is where you can find her: