This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on my link and buy an item I will make a small commision off that purchase at no additional cost to you. To see my full disclosure policy click here.

Little known fact – this isn’t my first blog. I have had several small blogs that were mostly private “diary” type blogs. But, I also had a blog almost ten years ago that was called “Hemp and High Heels”. It was your typical mommy blog – arts/crafts, DIY, decor, home school ideas, vegetarian recipes, and photography.

I loved that little blog, until one day the internet decided to eat it. Literally, I went to log-in one morning, and 95% of my blog was gone. Just disappeared overnight. Two years of hard work had totally vanished.

I walked away from blogging after that, feeling super defeated.

That was 2011. Fast forward to last year (2017). After having what can only be described as “the year from Hell“, the Universe thoughtfully handed me a life-line and moved my family to Saipan.

Once I settled into life on this rock, and life fell into a normal rhythm again, I knew it was finally time to work on healing my very broken heart. I read somewhere that art can be very therapeutic, so I decided to test that out for myself.

And that is how you came to be reading this post. Because I remembered my first passion is storytelling, and I wanted my voice to be heard. I was able to remember that creative part of myself that I had lost a long time ago. And even if no one but my mom is the only person who ever reads my posts, I am so grateful for the gifts running this site has given me. I have found my confidence again, which is an immeasurable gift to be given.

Once I knew what I was funneling my creative hopes into, I had to narrow down what niche I wanted my site to be. As I discussed before there are only two things in this life I am passionate enough about to write about weekly for years and years to come – traveling and home decor. Since I am a renter these days, and since I have spent quite a lot of time the past few years traveling, I decided that a travel site would be my new baby.

When I started I knew absolutely nothing about travel blogs. I had followed travel bloggers on Instagram but as far as writing content for an actual site I had no idea where to even start. So to the Google machine I went and typed in “travel blogs”. Hundreds – if not thousands – of blogs were suggested by Google.  I think I spent about six hours that first night reading.

I fell head over heels in love with the world of travel blogs. That was the night I finally knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up (only two weeks before my 40th birthday… Some of us are slow learners, y’all.).

Not only did I fall into the world of travel blogs, but I fell pretty hard for a few travel bloggers. Their voices are unique in an oversaturated crowd. They stand out above their peers and make me full of a wanderlust that drives my daily ambitions now.

Let me make a formal introduction to the bloggers who inspire me. I hope you meet a new favorite!

The 6 Travel Blogs That Made Me Want To Start Blogging

Travel Blog #1. I Am Aileen

Aileen is what many travel bloggers consider to be “travel blog goals”. At 21 she quit her job to become a full-time travel blogger/vlogger + digital nomad. She offers fantastic resources and tips about almost anywhere you could want to travel.  I love her style – she makes travel seem so achievable.  As a mostly solo female traveler from the Philippines, she has a unique point of view that is very down to earth and practical. Her graphics are AMAZING. She gives so much attention to detail in her posts, and I find myself referencing her articles time and time again. Head over and say hello to Aileen and see what the fuss is all about for yourself.

Travel Blog #2. Adventurous Kate

If you’ve ever dipped your toes a little bit into the world of travel blogs then you probably know who Kate is already. She is one of the first successful solo female travel bloggers in the industry from the United States. Her goal was to encourage more women to give solo female traveling a try. Today she has one of the most successful blogs in the market. Kate gives very in-depth reviews of her travels, and I find her city guides can almost always answer any question I can think of about that city. I love how outspoken and passionate she is, and how she isn’t afraid to tackle sticky subjects. Get inspired to take new chances with Kate!

Travel Blog #3. Wyld Family Travel

The Wyld‘s are an Australian family who focuses on affordable family travel. We share the same philosophy about family travel, which is what made me drawn to their blog. As the Wyld’s say:

In a world with increasingly less family time available we believe travelling with our kids can only make us a close-knit family, while making our kids more balanced and accepting children, by exposing them to different cultures and nationalities along the way.

Their two daughters even have their own blog, Wyld Child Travel, that is just too sweet! I love their Instagram feed, also! Cuteness overload and the girls have a natural eye for photography.

My favorite thing about the Wyld’s is they have something for everyone in the family and are very down to earth.  Go check them out!

Travel Blog #4. Adventures Around Asia

Long before the thought of starting this blog even entered my mind, I went looking for blogs on traveling around Asia. I knew living here would give us the chance to explore Asia, and since I knew very little, if anything, about the subject I decided to find someone who did. That’s how I found Richelle at Adventures Around Asia.

I just love this blog. Richelle feels just like your best friend. She’s real and honest, which is such a nice breath of fresh air! She spent five years living and teaching in China, so most of her blog is focused on China and Asia. Recently though she left China, so I am looking forward to her newest explorations!

Travel Blog #5. Travelnuity

The very second I first laid eyes on this blog, I knew I would be a follower. Shandos travels the world with her dachshund, Schnitzel (and her husband, too).

Sidenote: If Clarabelle hadn’t been previously owned by a friend of mine, I would have renamed her. What name did I want to change her name to? Schnitzel. What can I say? I love a good wiener joke!

Travelnuity started out as a travel blog but has been refocused on traveling internationally with dogs. Helping others to travel with their pets is a dream come true if you ask me. Her blog is informative and easy to read. And sweet little Schnitzel will steal your heart away. His Instagram photos are my favorite!

Travel Blog #6. The Blog Abroad

I saved the best for last.

You know Glo, right? She’s one of the hottest travel bloggers in the industry, and my hands down most inspirational/favorite/we should really be best friends blogger of all. Glo and her “sessy” attitude have traveled the world nonstop for over five years now. Her blogs are beautifully written, her pictures make you feel joyful, and her Instagram account makes me want to book the next flight to anywhere. She’s funny, real, not afraid to speak the truth, and one of my heroes.

Go check out her Instagram account and her Instastories! They are THE. BEST. She will have me hooting and hollering along with her escapades.  She was in Memphis recently, and her description of us Memphis folk, and all of the Y’all-in we do had me both cracking up and in tears over homesickness. She is so engaged with her audience and cares so much about her readers – like I said total inspiration to new up and coming travel blogs like mine.

I hope you enjoyed meeting some of my favorite travel bloggers today! There are so many fantastic travel sites to inspire your sense of wanderlust.  I hope you made a new favorite today! Do you follow other travel blogs? Which ones are your favorites? How much do you love watching travel bloggers Instastories? Let’s discuss below!

Pin this, please. All the cool kids are doing it.