Traveller of the Month: Nicole from Wandering with a Dromomaniac
Welcome to Traveller of the Month! Each month I’m featuring a fellow travel blogger to help build connections within the blogging world, share some travel stories and wisdom, and introduce you to another awesome world traveller.
Without further ado, meet November’s Traveller of the Month: Nicole!
And if you missed last month’s, check it out here!
Who are you, where are you from and where are you now?
My name is Nicole Lewis; I am a wildlife veterinarian and adventure travel blogger. I am originally from Nova Scotia, Canada and I am currently living in New Jersey, where I have been for the past 7 years.
What’s your travel story? How did you get into travel and what kind of travel are you doing now (or were you doing pre-pandemic)?
When I was younger my parents used to take a yearly trip down to the Caribbean, but it wasn’t until I first went to Italy when I was in college that I truly caught the travel bug. From then on it was all I wanted to do. Before the pandemic, adventure travel was my favourite kind of travel. Climbing mountains, hiking, pushing myself out of my comfort zone and visiting nature in other countries was my absolute favourite.
When did you start your blog and what sort of stories do you share there?
I started my blog 3 years ago and I mostly write about wildlife, hiking, and culture, specifically food culture.
What do you do when you’re not travelling or writing about travel?
I’m a full-time wildlife veterinarian for New Jersey’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. I love my job and love that I am lucky enough to do both, be a vet and go on adventures.
What’s your best travel memory of the last five years?
Solo hiking the Presidential Traverse. It was my first solo hike and my first multi-day hike. It was the hardest thing I had done up to that point and one of the challenges I am most proud to have achieved.
How has COVID-19 impacted your travels? How will it change how you travel in the future?
I had a few trips planned when COVID-19 happened. One of those was a once in a lifetime trip where I was going to go gorilla trekking in Uganda as part of a web series that was going to be filmed. I still plan to go on that trip, web series or not. To see those incredible animals in their natural habitat is one of those experiences that will change your life.
When I am able to travel again, I will take every precaution that science recommends. I am truly looking forward to getting back out there and climbing mountains, hiking big trails and once again learning from other cultures.
What do you want to inspire other travellers to do?
Get out of their comfort zones and push themselves. It is surprising the things you can do and the experiences you can have when you fully put yourself out there. Don’t let fear hold you back. I promise you, it’s worth it.
Travelling has made me…
A better person.
What food instantly transports you back to a favourite travel memory or place?
Iberico ham reminds me of Barcelona every…single….time. The food and wine in Barcelona are some of the best I have ever had and I am always looking for octopus salad and patatas bravas whenever I go to a Spanish restaurant.
What’s one thing people don’t understand about travel blogging?
It doesn’t grow overnight. Those bloggers you see out there making a full-time salary off of their blog did not get there overnight. For many, it took several years before they really started to make an income. It’s hard work and takes dedication and perseverance. It’s a marathon not a sprint.
What destination would you go back to over and over again? What about a destination would you never go back to?
Utah is one place I could go back to over and over again. It has something different to offer every time I go from great national parks with awesome hikes to your pick of ski mountains. It’s an outdoor lover’s paradise.
I would be ok if I never went back to Geneva. It wasn’t as beautiful and welcoming as I had thought it would be. I also had a bad experience with being followed by several young guys. Luckily, a gentleman stopped and told me what was happening and pretty much helped me get out of a potentially scary situation.
What destination is calling your name in 2022?
Peru. I became obsessed with the thought of travelling there during quarantine. To hike to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, go sand boarding, and experience the local culture would be an amazing trip.
What is the best weekend trip you’ve been on?
Probably our recent trip to Shenandoah National Park backcountry camping. It was nice to get away and just be in the woods, listening to the owls over instant coffee in the morning. It was the perfect multi-day hiking trip to get away from everything during a time when we need to decompress.
What is your favourite travel-related book, movie, TV show or podcast?
My favourite podcast is Armchair Explorer; it speaks to my heart. The host, Aaron Miller, talks to explorers who have had some of the most incredible adventures, including gorilla trekkers, the first Lebanese woman to summit Everest, and Ed Stafford, who holds the Guinness record for walking the entire length of the Amazon. It is inspirational and shows us just what we are capable of if we just put ourselves out there.
Lastly, where can we find you online?
Blog: https://wanderingwithadromomaniac.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nikkilee717
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wandering_with_a_dromomaniac/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderingwithadromomaniac
Thank you for joining my Traveller of the Month series, Nicole! Head on over to Nicole’s blog to learn more about her awesome adventures in nature and stay tuned for December’s Traveller of the Month – the final traveller of 2021!
