Travel Writer of the Week: Kendall Dickinson from Tastebuds and Travel

How long have you been a blogger? I have been travel blogging for nine months.

Where do you call home? Lincoln, Nebraska.

How many countries have you been to? 17.

How many continents have you been to? 2.

Top 5 destinations on your travel to-do list: Edinburgh, Kyoto, Peru, Italy, and the Australia Zoo (it has been on the top of my list since I was a child – I’d always wanted to see Steve Irwin. In a way, that’s still possible, as his son Robert continues his legacy).

Earliest travel memory: My earliest memory was going to Disney with my parents. As we were in line at TSA, my mother realized she had forgotten her I.D. and we didn’t have time to go home. Luckily the man was nice and ended up letting us go anyway – in an effort to not crush the dreams of a child. Times have certainly changed.

Favorite Travel Photographer: Joe Thomas is one of my favorites – he captures my favorite city (NYC) in the most beautiful way. I’m also very drawn to Jord Hammond’s work – a lot of it features the eastern part of the world, which I’ve never been to, but since following him it has moved to the top of my list.

Favorite Travel Website: Travel and Leisure has always been my go-to.

The trip that turned me from a vacationer to a traveler: I’ve always been a bit of both. I constantly look for hidden gems wherever I go – even when visiting the Caribbean each year, I try to venture away from the touristy spots and usually have a local take me to a place that they enjoy. I’m also a huge fan of lounging on a resort beach for a week – I’ll go mad if I don’t get a dose of the ocean every so often.

The trip that turned me into a travel blogger: It’s hard to pinpoint exactly – I’ve always kept a journal to remember what I did and liked, so I can revisit those places when I return – but I’ll go with New Orleans this last year. I tried a lot of things that I’m not sure the average visitor would know about, and I wanted to share those places with others.

My first steps to becoming a travel blogger: I had been keeping a travel journal for a while when I realized that the experiences within it could benefit other travelers. I came up with a few article ideas, designed my website, and here we are.

The social media platform driving the most traffic to my site is: Pinterest. I use SEO and visual variety. You never know what could catch someone’s eye.

My favorite tool/app for social media: I like to use UNUM to arrange Instagram photos in a way that looks aesthetically pleasing.

If only I had the time, I’d do/finish……: If I had more time, I’d create more visuals for Pinterest – I could never have enough.

Kendall Dickinson

My top tip for aspiring travel writers and bloggers!

Write what you are passionate about, even if you don’t think it will be popular. The right audience will connect and appreciate your unique perspective.

Best travel tip for travelers: Travel is all about experiencing different cultures, so make sure to wander off the beaten path and get to know the locals – talk with them, learn from them, and be open to trying things you normally wouldn’t. Nothing new or exciting will happen if you stick to the plan within your comfort zone.

Connect with Kendall

Website: tastebudsandtravel.com

Social: Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest  | Instagram