My adoration for travel began at an early age. Family vacations to the lake turned into trips to the beach which turned into visits to faraway lands overseas. From humble beginnings come great things, and it’s the little moments that have made travel so impactful for me. My mom was bound and determined to get me up on water skis at the ripe age of 4 by throwing me in the lake and bribing me with $5 to hold onto the rope and stand up. Little did I know that exchange was the best deal I would ever make, as it jolted my adventurous spirit into 6th gear. Not too long afterwards, my dad put me in a tiny sailboat at the beach. I cried the entire time because I was sure we’d soon be taken by the shark infested waters, but we weren’t. We lived to tell the tale with my adventures and courage growing with each parental nightmare. Since those humble beginnings, I’ve swam with the dolphins in Mexico, scuba dived in Colombia, and polar-bear plunged into the near freezing waters of Lake Louise, Canada.
I tell you this not to humble brag about my athleticism in extreme water activities, but to let you in on where my love for travel and adventure began. I may have only been blogging about it for very little time, but I’ve been an active participant my entire life. The majority of emails I receive revolve around the question of…
“How did you start travel blogging?”
I’ve wanted to start a blog for years, but I didn’t want it to be some half-ass project. I wanted it to be full of pertinent travel info, funny situations with comedic relief, a plethora of pretty pictures and my personality. I wanted it to be a place where I could write about my thoughts during my excursions as well as report on things I saw and places I went. Feelings and facts. I wanted it to be an extension of who I am while also giving my readers what they want and need.
Fourteen months ago, I decided to take the plunge and head south to Argentina with my boyfriend, Wade. Landing at the Buenos Aires airport with two bags, sub-par Spanish skills, and a job offer has been my most memorable travel moment to date. Short version: Best decision I ever made. Longer version: I managed a marketing team for a luxury hospitality company for a year and loved every second of it. The knowledge I acquired and the travels I had done over the past 27 years of life prepared me for starting my own website. It was just a matter of finding the best way to present it to my readers and inspire others to follow in my footsteps. I knew what I had to do: Quit my job and put some major focus and undivided attention on this creation.
And so became The Road Les Traveled.
And so I became a full-time travel blogger with no regrets.
If you could pick up and go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? Tell me in the comments below!
Brazil!!
Congratulations on becoming a full time travel blogger! My boyfriend and I are starting to plan a trip to France/Switzerland for his birthday next year so I would say if I had to pick up and go anywhere now I would pick those two!
http://www.laviedevi.com
Thank you! Both are spectacular places. Can’t go wrong with either. Have a great trip!!
I loved you on the bachelorette! You were my pick. A little over a year ago my husband and I moved to Stockholm, Sweden for two years for his work. I am not adventurous and this is way out of my comfort zone but I am so thankful I said yes. We have traveled to a new country about once a month since we moved. I guess I would pick Italy since we are heading there on Tuesday! I’ve enjoyed your blog!
karajanzen.blogspot.com
Thanks Kara! I’ve heard great things about Stockholm. Can’t wait to visit. Enjoy Italy…it’s one of my favorites!
I love reading this blog, and a lot of travel blogs like yours. I love the idea of travel blogging as a career in general, even though it also terrifies me- I have this fear that I’ll just disappear into the world if I don’t take the time to put down roots in a specific place with specific people. Reading a blog likes this inspires to get over those fears. Also, the pretty pictures are nice too. : )
If I could go anywhere in the world right now, it’d be back to Northern California. The drive through the mountains on the way from San Jose to Napa is beautiful, and Napa itself is unforgettable. Or Copenhagen… that’s my never been, must go, next place on the list.
Diana, thanks for the kind words. I definitely get what you mean about not taking the time to put down roots in a specific place with specific people. When you travel, though, you allow yourself to figure out what it is you like and dislike for possibly putting down roots later. And by that point, you’ll have friends all over the world 🙂 Copenhagen is on my list too!
Australia!!!!
Ah, that’s so awesome you’re doing this full time! It’s an understatement when I say I’m slightly jealous… can’t wait to see all the places you’ll go to!
Anywhere in the U.S.: New York! My husband has never been and the last time I was there was when I was in high school.
Anywhere in the world: London. We’ve never been to London and maybe we could become BFF’s with Will and Kate. Wishful thinking 😉
It’s always cool to see people’s inspiration to just get up and go. To see what motivates others to go against the norm of getting a job, working 40 hours a week and not living a fulfilling life. I, like you, quit my job and decided to travel the world but have hit every country I’ve ever wanted to go to. My new list includes Australia, New Zealand and southeast Asia (I know that encompasses a lot of countries) just to name a few. Have you gone there? I look forward to following your travels.
Will-Australia and New Zealand are next on my list as well! Cannot WAIT. Safe travels!
I love the idea of travelling for work especially since you are a "luxury travel blogger"- you get to visit the best places and stay at the nicest hotels. What does your boyfriend do that allowed him to move with you? Are you working for yourself or are you employed by a company that has you taking the trips? I would not be so nervous if I was being paid to travel and blog. Would like to hear what your situation is! Safe travels!
Hey Leslie,
First I must admit I did watch your season and you definitely stood out in the group. I like you started water sports at the age of 4 which also gave me the adventurous bug and to this day I’m always researching the next trip. This winter I’m heading to Japan over New Years to get some of their amazing pow. I’ve often considered travel blogging and read some different articles on how difficult it is to actually make it a reality. Have you discussed how you went about this? Of course getting national recognition helps, but I’m sure there was more than just that right? Congratulations on making this a reality.
I have a blog myself where I kinda do whatever that strikes me. Do you keep a list of where you’ve been? Here is mine: http://www.30isthenew20.com/travel/places-visited/
You should also check out The Travelers Century Club which I’ve also linked on my site. It’s a different way of counting countries.
Also, if you’re never heard of the Day Zero Project I think it’s something you would enjoy especially when you base it around all your travels. http://www.30isthenew20.com/day-zero-project/
Keep enjoying the good life and be sure to check out PowderQuest if you like snowboarding/skiing in Chile/Argentina.
Leslie-
Reading your blog has inspired me to want to see South America. Originally, Macchu Picchu was the only South American sight on my bucket list. Needless to say, my bucket list has grown quite a bit since reading ‘The Road Les Traveled.’
I would love to see Costa Rica and Argentina. The culture in South America is so intriguing to me. In America, we don’t have the rich culture that you seem to find in Latin American countries. I have been thinking about spending some time abroad Teaching English but definitely worry about leaving home. How did you move past your fears of missing out on life at home? I worry I’ll come home and life will have moved on without me.
Maria- Happy to hear you are interested in visiting South America. I think it’s a no-brainer 🙂 As far as leaving home goes and getting over my fears of missing out: I think the people who don’t get out of their comfort zone and see the world are missing out! Moving abroad has been so beneficial and enriching. I’ve been back home many times to visit, and life has not moved on without me. Life has only gotten better. It’s so easy to keep in touch with everyone using all the forms of technology these days. Don’t think…just do it. Forget your worries and your strife 🙂
Love the blog! I recently began my own travel blog so reading how you got started is inspiring! I’ve only been to the caribbean, North America and Europe, but after reading this South America is on the list as well!
I love hearing your many travel adventures!! My husband and I have recently started to mark vacations off our bucket list, so far our travels have been in the states but I’m very excited to cross some countries off our list! Your blog inspires us to take the plunge and go for it!!
Hi Lesley! Question for you – I have a similar background in journalism/marketing and was wondering where you looked when searching for your job in Argentina? I would love to score a gig at a travel company overseas but am unsure of the best places to look. Any insight would be super helpful. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this post! It may not have told me everything but indeed gave me a lot of insights on travel blogging as a profession. I hope I can incorporate your suggestions into my blog.
Hey Lesley,
for me it‘d definitely be the Maldives! But you also made me fall in love with Santorini and Peru. My Bucket-list is long… I hope one day I can realize all my dreams!
Do me a favor and never ever stop blogging! (; Seriously I love your blog and your photos and everything!
Greetings from Germany
Marie
Hi Lesley, nice share. I enjoyed reading your blog post. This is my first visit and truly enjoyed every travel experience you have shared. The travel photos of yours are fantastic.