Hi! I’m Brandy! I’m originally from Louisiana (Geaux Tigers and Who Dat), and even though I have also spent time living and working in Arkansas and Alabama, I have called Florida home for many years, and I totally love the outdoor diversity of the sunshine state.
My stories have appeared in a variety of publications, including Men’s Journal, Islands, Beach.com, Yahoo, AOL, MSN, GearJunkie, Matador, Sierra, World Nomads, Alabama Living, and more. I’m also proud to have received multiple awards recognizing my work. In addition, I’m an active member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA).
I love to travel, but I enjoy sunrises much more than high-rises and tight lines much more than long lines. I believe travel is one of life’s greatest teachers, and I get especially excited about the quirky and unique things I find in my adventures. I’m very blessed that I have the opportunity to share those discoveries with others.
My goal is to help people discover and appreciate all of the beauty that surrounds us outside. I fully believe that being outdoors is not just for the “outdoorsy” and doesn’t have to be intimidating. I want to stop that misconception and motivate others to just step outside and experience some of the fun that awaits, even if it is just outside your back door. I also hope to inspire an appreciation and respect for nature that encourages long-term sustainability. I have created my own Earth Day Every Day Pledge, and I take that very seriously.
Although I’ve always loved being a storyteller, I didn’t take the standard path to becoming a freelance travel writer. I enjoy taking the road less traveled, and apparently that applies to my career journey as well. I fell into the broadcasting industry at a young age and then transitioned into destination marketing, where I spent more than a decade helping communities tell their stories and attract visitors. My years at VISIT FLORIDA gave me an insider’s understanding of the state’s destinations and helped shape my expertise in Florida travel.
Helping launch a new destination marketing organization in rural Alabama also gave me unique insight into telling the story of a small destination built around ecotourism. I’m proud that within the first two years of Lake Martin Tourism Association’s existence, we won prestigious awards from the Alabama Tourism Department and Southeast Tourism Society that recognized us for our marketing and storytelling. Those experiences confirmed my true calling: combining journalism with destination marketing. That’s when I became a freelance outdoor travel writer. That combination of journalism, marketing, and firsthand travel experience gives me a unique perspective when covering destinations and outdoor recreation.
While I’m a Florida-based travel writer, I’m originally from Louisiana and have also lived in Arkansas and Alabama. My family lives in St. Croix, USVI, and I love exploring the Caribbean as well. I’m an expert on Florida travel, and write a lot about my home state. However, my assignments have taken me to destinations around the world. I’ve traded my flip-flops for snow boots plenty of times, and some of my favorite stories have come from above the Arctic Circle.
Whether I’m writing a feature for a national publication, partnering with a destination, or sharing my personal tips with fellow travelers, my goal is always the same: inspire people to step outside, explore responsibly, and discover places they’ll never forget. Hopefully, it helps give them a new appreciation for the world in the process.