Editor’s Note:
When I wholeheartedly dove back into Instagram at the end of 2016, Caroline was one of the first people that I was drawn towards. She is engaging, witty, talented and so fun to follow! It didn’t hurt that her photos were bright and beautiful too. (We also got to meet up in person back in June in San Francisco, and it was so nice to be able to chat in person over dinner!) I have enjoyed watching her audience grow as well as tagging along virtually on her travels – many of which are solo trips. If you’re a frequent reader of this blog (or follow me on Instagram) you’ll know that I take most of my trips solo too, and am a big proponent of encouraging women to have the courage to travel alone and experience the world! Caroline is a stellar example of the type of traveler I admire, and her photography and their accompanying stories are always wonderful. She has a rapidly growing account on Instagram, a wonderful blog, and her audience is only continuing to grow. I highly recommend checking out both her blog and Instagram account!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYWS85SlfAS/?taken-by=picturesandwordsblog
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYJbfKylgyd/?taken-by=picturesandwordsblog
Q & A
Who or what inspires you to travel?
Lately, a lot of my inspiration has been coming directly from the travel blogging and Instagram community. I’m always drawing inspiration from both for new places to check out – my list just continues to grow and grow!
I just started reading “The Nest” by – which, let’s be real, drew me in because I really thought the cover was pretty (it’s actually pretty good). I’ve also been re-watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix.
What equipment do you use for capturing your travels?
I mostly shoot on a Nikon D300 with a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 lens. I also whip out my iPhone, and have started toting around a tripod to get myself in photos more often.
What inspired you to start your Instagram account or blog?
I’ve actually had my blog for about 10 years now, and it’s evolved several times. Nowadays, it’s shifting more towards a travel/lifestyle-focused blog to reflect my passion for travel. I started a separate Instagram account from my personal page to reflect that change as well.
My music taste is all over the place. I have a giant offline Spotify playlist that I can listen to without an internet connection, so it’s perfect for when I’m on planes. It has everything on it from the Chainsmokers, Ingrid Michaelson, Death Cab for Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, Explosions in the Sky, Alexi Murdoch, Justin Timberlake, CHVRCHES, Frightened Rabbit, The Naked and Famous, Zedd, The Postal Service…yeah, everything.
Who are your favorite Instagrammers at the moment?
I have so many! Some of them include: @mylifesatravelmovie, @witandfolly, @taylor_fuller, @katgaskin, @hopeisafeather, @polkadotpassport, @mvandersluis, @global_mimi…really, I can go on and on.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWAtO-kFVC-/?taken-by=picturesandwordsblog
https://www.instagram.com/p/BY6WPRtFtp1/?taken-by=picturesandwordsblog
Can you name one place you’ve traveled that surprised you the most, and tell us why?
Mexico City. It had never been on my radar, but I had been hearing so much about it that when I found a cheap flight, I decided I should just go! I didn’t expect there to be so much to do and see (and EAT! …because, let’s be real, I travel to eat!) that I ran out of time to do even a fraction of what I wanted to! There is such a rich culture, so many museums, so much delicious food…and so much color and cool architecture. I always want to go back! (Editor’s Note: Caroline just got back from another Mexico City trip, so check her Instagram for more!
What is your favorite quote about traveling?
We must take adventures in order to know where we truly belong.
One piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring traveler. Go!
So many people talk about how they can’t travel because it’s too expensive – it really isn’t! It may take a bit more planning and legwork, but there are so many ways to cut costs and make it affordable! There are always so many crazy flight deals, and the trick is to just keep looking for them. I also almost never travel during peak season because it’s always crazy expensive and I can’t bring myself to pay that much (and it’s always SO crowded!). There are also ways to cut costs on accommodations – there are so many smaller, cheaper boutique hotels, especially in Europe, and I’ve started to book hostels for my travels this year because there are so many “boutique” hostels lately that are much different than the shady budget backpacker hostels of yesterday. It’s all about planning and making it a priority.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVnM2UelXOM/?taken-by=picturesandwordsblog
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYmBI10lKbQ/?taken-by=picturesandwordsblog
That I’m stronger and more independent than I give myself credit for!
What is your favorite place in the whole wide world?
I am always talking about where to go next, and I always have itchy feet when I’m here, but I would say home – which is San Francisco.
Where to next?
Los Angeles, New York City, and Barcelona!
Such an awesome interview!!! I’ve been following Caroline on Instagram for some time now and it’s so interesting to get to know her better like this. You go girl!
Yay! I love her too and really enjoyed learning more about her. She’s a little powerhouse right?!
Definitely enjoyed reading! Now I want to travel asap!
Mission accomplished! 😉
Yayyy I love how this turned out! Thanks for including me, I loved reading more about myself – HAHA! jk. 🙂
Thank you for doing this with me! I loved putting it all together 🙂