Taking off Travel blog

This week, I’m happy to feature Justin Mussler of The Great Family Escape. (don’t you just love that name? I know I do!) Justin and his family are ‘obsessed with travel’ and plan a long term trip around the world, traveling mostly by bike!

Justin, what’s your travel background?

Well, I have never been able to get enough travel through my system. I wasn’t raised as a traveler. My family stayed close to home, but once I went off to school and tasted the open road I just never looked back.

The biggest adventure my wife and I ever went on was a year long trip to China. We quit our jobs shortly after getting married and just went. We saw the whole country. The past few years we have been watching our kids grow and realized we want to show them the world. We travel whenever we can. A few years back we drove across America and back with our1 year old daughter on a whim. Often we just go, but this time we are planning for a big adventure.

What’s different about your blog or site?

Our blog is The Great Family Escape.

Well, we are a family that is going from the working and living in Boston to potentially traveling the world by bicycle for many years to come. We are so obsessed with travel, that we just couldn’t bear the thought of traveling short term.

Instead of waiting to travel, I wanted to track the whole process of our journey from beginning to end. I literally started before we had any idea of what, when, and how we were going to do this. In fact, we still aren’t 100% sure, but we have learned so much and have just set a date for December 1, 2012 as our ‘launch’ date.

I think our readers love the truth, candor, and the ability to find something about themselves in the writing. There is a lot of talk about lifestyle, travel, money, kids, etc…

I think people love seeing the process we are going through. And they love the idea of traveling forever. Read more »

This week, the travel blogger spotlight shines on Adam Groffman, who left his job as a graphic designer to start a round the world trip and has never looked back. He writes about his adventures in Travels of Adam.

Adam Groffman celebrates Songkran in Bangkok in Spring 2011.

Adam, what’s your travel background?

Well, I was always interested in travel thanks to my parents who instilled a strong desire to travel in me. More recently, here’s the story: In 2009 I took a short weekend trip to Iceland (from my then-hometown of Boston) and discovered that I actually really enjoyed traveling and backpacking.

I’d been working in a corporate job as a graphic designer already for 3 years and decided NOW was the time to do some more serious traveling. For me, that included resigning from my job 9 months later and then going on around-the-world trip for which I still haven’t returned. I’ve been out of America for almost 18 months now but will finally be returning home this Thanksgiving (in just a few weeks)!

Over the past 18 months, I’ve traveled some of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. Along the way I always tried to find something interested to do and to keep my mind active–which involved a political internship for a nonprofit in Israel and checking out the tech startup scene here in Berlin.

What’s different about your blog or site?

My blog, Travels of Adam, is what I’d like to call a “hipster travel blog” which basically means anything you want to mean. I try to find and share interesting and unique stories from around the world, whether political tours in Israel or Polaroid photography exhibits in Berlin. I’m also not afraid to stay away from controversy. I think it’s important to be aware of local politics when travelling because more often than not, most travelers don’t pay attention to the important things that happen in the cultures or societies that they visit. Travel can have a big impact on a culture so it’s important to know what we may be affecting when we visit.

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you travelled and how did you handle it?

I’d have to say that the most unexpected thing that happened to me while travelling is the fact that, after 18 months, I’m still abroad. I never expected to last this long, to go to so many places or do so many things.

Complete the sentence: I never travel without …

My Moleskine notebook. It’s where I write down just about anything from reminders to Skype with my parents or the really good stories that I probably shouldn’t share online

When it comes to travel and travel blogging, who is your mentor/hero and why?

Well, it’s pretty cheesy, but I’d have to say that my travel hero would be my older sister. When she was in her mid 20s she also quit her job and spent several months backpacking in Europe. While she was travelling, she’d send these e-mails home which were always a lot of fun (and oftentimes interesting) to read. I actually chose the name for my blog based on what she called her e-mails.

What place is on your travel bucket list? Why?

I’ve wanted to go to Russia for a long, long time. I studied a little bit of Russian history and literature and I’d love to see the country up-close.

What is your favorite travel planning tool?

It used to be my iPod touch until that broke when I was backpacking in India. It was a quick and easy way to access information, maps, e-mail, Twitter — all the necessities!

Anything to add?

Some travel advice: When you’re abroad, don’t be afraid to talk to strangers. It makes everything so much easier and people are so much friendlier than we might think.

(Image: agroffman)

JoAnna a junk in Halong Bay, Vietnam during a solo trip through the country.

Today we feature JoAnna Haugen of the eclectic Kaleidoscopic Wandering travel blog, who has been traveling her whole life.

JoAnna, what’s your travel background?

I’ve been traveling in some form and fashion my entire life. I began traveling with my dad on his business trips before I was three years old and could still fly free. Growing up, we actively explored the United States every summer with long road trips. I went abroad for the first time when I was a sophomore in high school to London, where I marched in the New Year’s Day parade with the high school band and played the French horn with a brass choir in Westminster Abbey. I’ve had a serious travel bug ever since, so I continue to trip around the United States and the world as opportunities arise.

What’s different about your blog or site?

My travel blog, Kaleidoscopic Wandering is not a travelogue or journal, so readers won’t find a blow-by-blow account of where I am and what I’m doing. Rather, it’s a collection of general travel advice and tips, information about specific sites culled from my travel experiences, contemplative essays, book reviews related to travel and interviews with interesting people.

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you travelled and how did you handle it?

Knock on wood, I’ve always had decent luck with catching planes and getting where I need to be on time, but this past year I got stuck in Costa Rica when my plane broke down and it took me 48 extra hours to get home. As usual, there were a handful of people who flew through the roof when the flight was cancelled, but for the most part, everyone was really understanding and relaxed. There really isn’t much you can do when a flight is cancelled, so everyone else on the flight (including a baby and a dog) bonded over the situation. We had a huge happy hour at the hotel in San Jose with our flight attendants and held a talent show on the plane back to the United States.

Complete the sentence: I never travel without … because …

… a sarong or pashmina because I freeze on airplanes and always find a use for it!

When it comes to travel and travel blogging, who is your mentor/hero and why?

I don’t have a mentor when it comes to travel blogging because I tend to do my own thing with little regard to what’s going on in the rest of the community. However, my travel heroes are my dad, who introduced me to travel as a kid, and Rick Steves, who I’ve admired since college. I own a ton of Rick Steves’ books and used to drive hours to attend his free travel classes in the Seattle area when I was in college.

What place is on your travel bucket list? Why?

I’m enjoy checking out any destination I’ve never been before, but of particular interest right now is Ireland. My husband and I would really like to get there this year and bike around the country.

What is your favourite travel planning tool?

My husband. I am the world’s worst planner when it comes to travel, and if it wasn’t for him, I’d never have reservations at hotels or plane tickets. He takes care of all the details for me because I just never get around to doing it myself.

Anything to add?

As much as I love to travel, I understand and appreciate why others aren’t as adventurous as I am, and that’s okay. There seems to be an ongoing discussion about forms of travel that are somehow more acceptable than others, and I just don’t think that’s necessary. I believe that any form of travel is legitimate, and no one deserves to be judged because they prefer certain destinations or travel styles.

Want to take part in this interview series? I’d love to feature as many travel bloggers as possible, so leave a comment on this post or contact me.

This week, Angela Petitt of Sabbatical Scapes is in the spotlight. Angie quit her corporate IT job two years ago to travel the world and changed her life forever. Here’s her story, including an unusual favorite travel planning tool!

Angie, what’s your travel background?

Although my parents always took us on trips growing up, I only traveled every now and again after high school. Then one day while in college, I saw a flyer for a trip to Israel. I knew I wanted to go. But how could I afford something like that? Thinking about the trip all that day, I happened to mention it to my brother. He candidly said – Why don’t you ask me for the money? I was floored and excited!! Long story short, that trip to Israel was only the beginning. (You can read more about the story behind the Israel adventure here.)

Fast forward to present day, I quit my corporate IT job 2 years ago to go on a sabbatical to travel. So far I have been to almost 30 countries during my sabbatical!!

My travels have led me to amazing destinations such as China, Siberia, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Panama, Honduras and many other exciting places. I have zip lined in Cabo, narrowly escaped the earthquake in Japan, received a HUGE bouquet of flowers from a stranger in Positano (my friends dubbed me the Princess of Positano since then), went cave diving and horseback riding on the beach in Punta Cana, played with monkeys in Roatan, glared into the mouth of a steamy volcano in Nicaragua, my friends and I had a stellar white sand beach along the beautiful coastline of Colombia all to ourselves, stared in wonder at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, got caught in a downpour atop the Acropolis in Athens, visited the MLK Memorial in DC, and had many other awe inspiring experiences.

What’s different about your blog or site?

My blog, Sabbatical Scapes, is different due to the fact that I am chronicling the experience of quitting my corporate IT job during the throes of the recession in August 2009 to go on sabbatical…Not as a young backpacker, not as couchsurfer, but as a 41 year old professional, with a mortgage, car, and other responsibilities. I did not sell anything to make my dream come true. Actually, keeping my lifestyle of comfort was important. Moreover, I want to inspire and encourage others to go for their dreams as well and to really know that with God all things are possible.

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you travelled and how did you handle it? Read more »

Today I’m happy to add Lola Åkerström to our list of featured travel bloggers. A writer, photographer and traveler, Lola  has been published in some of the world’s most prestigious travel publications. She is the editor for Matador Goods and also photoblogs for Sweden’s offical website. I highly recommend that you check out Lola’s personal  blog, especially the ‘postcard’ travel photo series.

Lola, what’s your travel background?

I’ve been traveling ever since I was 1 year old. I’ve always been a geography nut, especially both human and physical geography, so traversing the globe was always in my cards. When I was growing up, my family was (and still is) big into spending time together abroad, meeting up on different continents, and such. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I started traveling solo, and lately I bring my husband along on a trip or two. I’ve been blessed to be able to visit roughly 40 countries so far and look forward to experiencing more.

What’s different about your blog or site?

I work as a freelance writer and photographer who covers various aspects of travel, culture, food, and lifestyle with a few stints in between as a painter, cartoonist, and web developer. I spent 12+ years as a GIS/web programmer before finally resigning in 2009 and making the fulltime leap into a location-independent lifestyle as a freelancer.

You can check out my portfolio and credits here – http://www.akinmade.com.

Blogging is just one of many platforms I use to share my work, and my work has appeared in many major publications around the globe.

What’s different about my work is that I try not to put all my eggs in a single basket; developing various skills along the way so if one source of income hits a dry spell, I can always rely on other skills until it bounces back.

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you traveled and how did you handle it?

One of the most unexpected things I encountered was at the Terror Museum in Budapest. I was down in its basement looking at old cells where prisoners had been kept. I noticed an old man crying and looking around in desperation, almost disoriented. He spotted me, headed over, and in the little way we could communicate, told me he once was a prisoner in one of those cells.

Complete the sentence: I never travel without … because …

I never travel without my camera because you just never know when you’ll snap that once in a lifetime moment.

When it comes to travel and travel blogging, who is your mentor/hero and why?

Ironically, my ‘hero’  happens to be outside of the travel blogging world. I find Oprah Winfrey to be an extraordinary inspiration, and her life echoes a mantra I try to live by – live your authentic self. You need to show up completely in your own life, and find your own path in life. There are so many distractions out there and one can get easily swayed by trying to fit a certain profile, fit a certain club, or run with a certain pack.

One needs to step back, discover what it is they’re truly passionate about, and try to pursue and develop those passions in a way that makes them feel fulfilled – be it travel, writing, photography, blogging, or a combination of all these.

What place is on your travel bucket list? Why?

I was recently asked this same question and my answer is that I’ve actually chucked out any bucket lists I had. My attitude and philosophy towards travel has changed with time. I’ve stopped looking at life as a checklist and more as a moment by moment experience. If I never get to go skydiving off Kilimanjaro in my lifetime, I won’t have regrets because it wasn’t on some bucket list that defined my life.

That said, I really do want to go to the North Pole because it has always been a childhood dream of mine and it means so much on so many levels to me. I would love to explore Mongolia, more of West Africa, as well as spend a few months island hopping around the South Pacific.

What is your favourite travel planning tool?

I love rooting around Kayak and Skyscanner to find low fares.

Anything to add?

I’ve been blessed to visit roughly 40 countries so far and I know I’ll journey through a few more, but one of the things I’m trying to do a lot more of is to travel at a slower pace instead of flitting from place to place.

Thanks, Lola. Want to be featured in this slot? Leave a comment on this post to be considered or contact me to find out more.