Hi, I'm Brandy!
That’s me … with a goat … on a boat. And yes, there’s a really great story behind it! I live in Florida, but I believe in making time to travel and experience all the world has to offer — especially the unusual, the quirky, and anything that gets me outside. I also believe everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors, not just people who consider themselves “outdoorsy.” I’m fortunate to write for a variety of publications that give me the opportunity to share inspiration and ideas that help others discover one-of-a-kind experiences of their own.
Besides being mother to a fabulous (yet very spoiled) feline named Smokey and fiancée to my partner in crime JP, I’m a Florida-based freelance travel and outdoor writer. I’m a self-professed adventure seeker who loves traveling, animals, and nature. My happy place is anywhere outside, but I have a special love for the woods and the water. If it involves hiking boots, a kayak, paddleboard, fishing pole, or metal detector, you can usually count me in! I’m also perfectly happy hanging out in the backyard with my resident wildlife — all of which have names, of course.
I fully believe you don’t have to be extreme to have an extremely great time appreciating nature, and that being outdoors isn’t just for the “outdoorsy.” I want to help change that misconception and inspire people to simply step outside and experience some of the fun that awaits.
On the professional side, I spent many years in broadcasting and destination marketing, but now focus more on writing. My work has appeared in publications including Islands, Beach.com, Men’s Journal, GearJunkie, Matador, Sierra, World Nomads, and more. I especially enjoy projects that give me the chance to inspire others through storytelling and share the places, people, and experiences that make getting outside worthwhile.
Published Work
Where I’m Going Next
I’ll be visiting Florida’s Historic Coast and staying at the Saint Augustine Beach House on Vilano Beach to enjoy the beach, look for shark teeth, visit a fort that’s only accessible by water, climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse, and visit the farmer’s market. I’ll probably throw in a sunset cruise and some paddleboarding too. This is such a unique area of Florida’s Atlantic Coast and I’m excited to spend time there.
I’m heading west to experience the charm of Whitefish, Montana. My home base will be the Bar W Guest Ranch, where I’ll spend time exploring the landscape on horseback. Of course, no trip here would be complete without a visit to Glacier National Park, so that’s high on my list. I’m also planning to sip my way through a few local spirits tastings, wander art galleries, and hit the trails on two wheels to round out my adventure. (Photo credit: Brian Schott)
I’m headed to Roanoke to experience Virginia’s Blue Ridge, and the timing couldn’t be better. My visit lines up with one of the region’s biggest events for outdoor enthusiasts: the GO Outside Festival. Even better, I’ll be arriving right around peak leaf season—so I’m ready to embrace my role as a leaf peeper! (Photo credit: Jennifer Griffin)
About Me
Besides being mother to a fabulous (yet very spoiled) feline named Smokey and girlfriend to my partner in crime JP, I’m a self-professed adventure seeker that loves traveling, animals, and nature. My happy place is anywhere outside, but I have a special love for the woods and the water. If it involves hiking boots, a kayak, paddleboard, fishing pole, or metal detector, you can usually count me in! I also appreciate just hanging in the backyard and enjoying all of my resident wildlife (all of which have names, of course!)
I fully believe that you don’t have to be extreme to have an extremely great time appreciating nature, and that being outdoors is not just for the “outdoorsy.” I want to stop that misconception and motivate others to just step outside and experience some of the fun that awaits.
On the professional side, I have spent many years in the broadcasting and destination marketing industries. I also really enjoy writing projects that allow me a chance to inspire others through my storytelling.
Earth Day Every Day Pledge
Sustainability is an important part of what I believe in as a person, outdoor enthusiast, and as an outdoor travel writer. I’ve created this pledge to demonstrate my own personal mission toward protecting our natural resources.
1
I pledge to honor and respect our natural resources-including our lands, waterways, foliage, and wildlife.
2
When I visit a destination, I will respect their rules and leave the destination the way that I found it, if not finding a way to improve it.
3
I promise to leave only footprints on my journey, and to dispose of all waste in appropriate ways.
4
I will show concern for others, and make good decisions to keep myself and others safe.
5
I will be kind to those I encounter in my explorations, and help others as I can.
6
I will view every day as Earth Day, and do my part to make sure our outdoor assets last for years to come.
1
bid
bid
I pledge to honor and respect our natural resources-including our lands, waterways, foliage, and wildlife.
bid
2
I promise to leave only footprints on my journey, and to dispose of all waste in appropriate ways.
3
When I visit a destination, I will respect their rules and leave the destination the way that I found it, if not finding a way to improve it.
4
I will show concern for others, and make good decisions to keep myself and others safe.
5
I will be kind to those I encounter in my explorations, and help others as I can.
6
I will view every day as Earth Day, and do my part to make sure our outdoor assets last for years to come.
Work with Me
While I have a passion for using storytelling as a way of getting others interested in exploring outdoors and appreciating nature, I also enjoy helping outdoor brands find ways to shine and stand apart from the rest. I love seeing the impact that can be made from compelling content creation that is appropriately shared!
* If you are a print or digital publication that is looking for a journalist that creates awesome outdoor or travel related content, let’s chat!
* If you are an outdoor brand that is trying to put together the pieces and figure out how to tell your story- and who to tell it to- we should talk too!
* I am also always looking for new content ideas for stories that I am working on, so feel free to reach out to me and share ideas that you would like for me to consider.
What Others are Saying
Brandy was an active reporter in the WDBO Orlando newsroom. She kept her fingers in local/breaking news for me for 14 years as she pursued and grew her career. I could always count on her to come in on short notice with a great attitude and a great sense for what IS news…and what she should be writing at that moment. Brandy was always there for the big stories from the Pulse terror attack to every hurricane.
Hiring Brandy was the best move we made when starting Lake Martin Tourism Association. With her deep knowledge of destination marketing, and her outstanding storytelling abilities, she was able to help us substantially grow lodging tax collections in our area, even during a pandemic. She started the Lake Martin Tourism blog, which became a huge website driver for us. She also was able to find many other media outlets to share the stories of our area. Within our first two years as a destination marketing organization, we won Southeast Tourism Society’s Tourism Organization of the Year and Alabama Department of Tourism’s Tourism Organization of the Year. Brandy is responsible for the achievements we received.
Brandy has been an absolute breeze to work with. She is right there with you the whole way, helping you through any snags and making sure the job gets done at a high level. As far as her ability to promote a business?? That accolade sails high over the first. This woman will get people talking, and get people booking! Pure facts! I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone that wants to increase their numbers.