As a part of being nominated for the Liebster Award, I got to take part in a Q + A with my nominator, Kate from Petite Adventures. Check it out below!
Kate: When did you start your blog and why?
Kelsey: I had been writing about travel for DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. for about a year when I attended TBEX (Travel Blogger Exchange) in Ft. Lauderdale. I was so inspired by the full-time travel bloggers at the conference that by the second night of the conference, I had purchased my domain and set up my social media accounts for Hipstorical!
Kate: What is your favorite travel destination, and why?
Kelsey: This is that questions that makes me feel like I’m being asked to choose a favorite child. It’s impossible to pick just one favorite! But if forced to choose, I’ll pick Ireland. I studied abroad in Maynooth (just outside Dublin) during my sophomore year of college and feel head over heels in love with the culture, the pubs, the landscapes, and even the rain. The Emerald Isle will always hold a magical place in my heart. I miss her every day and long to return.
Kate: And, your least favorite?
Kelsey: San Diego. I was only there for a brief weekend and spent most of my time in Ocean Beach, but I’ve never felt so out of place before. The very thin women with deep bronze tans, the surfer boys with deep bronze tans, and the general vibe was just not for me. I’m sure it’s a great travel destination for many, and there are probably great pockets and corners that I didn’t have a chance to visit. But overall it just didn’t live up to my expectations.
Kate: What is the best food you’ve eaten?
Kelsey: The first thing that sticks out in my mind is this pasta dish I had on my DuVine cycling trip in Verona + Lake Garda. We stopped for lunch and wine at Tenuta La Ca winery. It was a simple dish of fresh pasta, tomato, basil, garlic, and olive oil, but it was one of the most spectacular things I’ve ever tasted. There’s just something about eating food made with fresh local ingredients and paired with outstanding wine and a beautiful backdrop after a long bike ride.
Kate: What is the best piece of blogging advice you’ve received?
Kelsey: Run with it. When I first started throwing around the idea of Hipstorical with some travel bloggers at TBEX, so many of them were encouraging and supportive. Lots of people said “I would totally read that blog!” They gave me the motivation I needed to get Hipstorical off the ground!
Kate: What are your favorite film, color, and song?
Kelsey: Film: Breakfast at Tiffany’s | Color: Magenta | Song: Pink Toenails by the Dixie Chicks
Kate: What is your proudest travel moment?
Kelsey: Studying abroad in Ireland was a very proud experience for me. It was very scary as a 19-year-old from a small town in Wisconsin to be traveling so far for an entire year, and I had my share of tears when I arrived. But it didn’t take long for me to get comfortable with my surroundings, and before I knew it– I was in love.
Kate: What blog post are you most proud of?
Kelsey: I wrote a blog for DuVine called “Confessions of a Cyclo-phobe” about my experience overcoming sports anxiety. I opened up about something that I’ve struggled with since I was a kid, but it was important for me to spread the message that cycling is for everyone– if you could ride a bike when you were a kid, you can do it now.
Kate: What piece of advice would you give to new/aspiring bloggers?
Kelsey: Make sure you find your niche. There are so many travel bloggers out there who just write about their general experience traveling. Many of them are successful, but it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. Finding a very specific topic that nobody else is talking about will get peoples’ attention and make you an expert in your field.
Kate: If you could have dinner a slumber party with five people (alive or dead) who would they be?
Kelsey: Taylor Swift, Zooey Deschanel, Stargirl Caraway (fictional characters count, right?), Beyonce, and Michelle Obama
Kate: Alternate: If you could have dinner a poker party with five people (alive or dead) who would they be?
Kelsey: Barack Obama, Dumbledore, Kermit the Frog, David Sedaris, and Abraham Lincoln
Kate: BONUS: Where can people find you? (share your social media links)
Kelsey: www.facebook.com/hipstorical | www.instagram.com/hipstoricaltravel | twitter.com/hipstorictravel
Find out who I nominated for the Liebster Award HERE