Be My Travel Muse
Kristin
User avatar
  • Kristin Addis

Kristin
Hi, I'm Kristin

My vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered, brave, and confident in their abilities. Where we explore other cultures, spend more time in nature, and come to love our world more. Solo traveling is the best thing I've found to promote these qualities. We become the chief architect of our own destiny. Everything is new and our entire surroundings are an opportunity to grow. My purpose is to provide resources to make traveling more accessible, adventurous, and immersive for you.

I'm guessing that you ended up here because, like me, you're looking for the ultimate escape, a chance to get to know yourself better, or you just want to plan an immersive trip that isn't the same thing that everyone else is doing. You want the life-changing experience, the kind that only adventurers have.

Maybe you're looking for ways to maximize your paid time off, or maybe you're looking to change your life completely, leaving behind the cubicle and embracing an adventure on the other side of the world. Maybe it's something you've wanted your whole life, and nobody around you understands, but your desire for the adventure of a lifetime keeps the dream alive.

I know that's not easy, and it can be pretty scary to go somewhere you've never been before, especially if you're going it alone.

Does it sound familiar?

I totally get you.

My Story

I was born and raised in a Los Angeles suburb. For most of my life, I did what I was supposed to do - got good grades, went to college, studied abroad in Taiwan, and got a steady job in finance when I was 22. I thought this was my only option.

But my creativity didn't get a chance to shine that way. I was obsessed with painting, writing, and reading history books from a young age. The American Girl series was my jam. I was the kid who used to play Civilization and the Amazon Trail video games, who spent hours searching the weather and capital cities of far-off places around the world, just to imagine how it would feel to be there. I was a dreamer, but I didn't think I could make it into a career.

Four years into my investment banking job, I was miserable, dreaming of my Taiwan days and wondering if there was an alternative to the golden handcuffs. After a year of agonizing, I quit that fancy job, ended my lease, said goodbye to my friends and family, packed a carry on bag, bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok, and took a chance on my dream. I wanted to write, I wanted to create, and I wanted to get to know those far off places I'd dreamt of as a kid. That's when I started this blog, and it's been my job ever since.

Seven years later I've had some crazy adventures, including hitchhiking solo across China, freediving with humpback whales in the South Pacific, hiking for 14 days to over 18k feet in Nepal without a guide, leading women's adventure tours all around the world, and even becoming a Buddhist nun for 10 days.

Though I had very humble beginnings, now this blog is read by millions of people, and has become a community for solo female travelers the world over. Vogue, Buzzfeed, the Washington Post, Business Insider, Cosmopolitan, and more have sought my solo travel advice for women just like you.

Welcome, and I hope that you enjoy what you find here. This is the beginning of a beautiful journey.

I'm also a new mom! Interested in my take on family travel? Check out my other project, Parenthood Adventures!

Published : Jul, 2023

Sites and attractions | Suggested itinerary | Outdoor Activities
Diving | Eureka | Helicopter Ride | Hiking | International Car Forest | Lake Mead | Las Vegas | Rhylite Ghost Town | Seven Magic Mountains | Stargazing | Tonopah | Valley of Fire
An epic Nevada road trip itinerary that includes the must-sees and some local favorite spots!

After living and exploring Nevada in the past 3 years, here are some of my favorite spots that you must see on an epic road trip. If you like solitude, nature and all things quirky and amazing, Nevada is the perfect road trip destination for you.

Published : Jul, 2023

How to get there | Suggested itinerary
Black Rock Desert | Massacre Rim | Soldier Meadows | Stargazing
I ventured out solo to one of the darkest places on Planet Earth, Massacre Rim in the Black Rock Desert of Northern Nevada. It's one of just 17 dark sky sanctuaries in the world, with the potential of seeing the Milky Way in all its glory. But it wasn't without its mishaps and adventures getting there. This is the story.

Special thanks to Travel Nevada for sponsoring this video! Check them out: / travelnevada

Itinerary and tips here ↠ https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/massacre-rim-nevada-stargazing/

Published : Jun, 2023

Sites and attractions | Cultural Activities | Nature and wildlife
Doi Chiang Dao | Doi inthanon | Elephant Nature Park | Emerald Lake | Erawan National Park | Mae Hong Son | Pai Canyon | Red Lotus Sea | Silver Temple Chiang Mai | Sukhothai | Wat Chaloem | Wat Sirindhorn Wararam | White Temple Chiang Rai
What are the most beautiful places in Thailand? It’s hard to narrow it down, to be honest. With thousands of temples, tons of gorgeous scenery from north to south, and glistening beaches with towering karst islets, the unique landscape is what has made Thailand so famous worldwide.

I’ve spent a cumulative 5 months on the move in Thailand now, and after much research, have found some seriously beautiful spots. Most of my suggestions are places that are out of the ordinary and will have fewer tourists. I tend to like places that are farther off the beaten path and provide a bit more breathing room.

With that in mind, here are 20 of Thailand’s most beautiful places in order from north to south. I bet there are a few, or maybe a bunch, on this list that you haven’t seen before:

PS: The Tourism Authority of Thailand Los Angeles recently reached out to me to share about their newly launched Let’s Go Thailand campaign, which offers exclusive deals on flights, tours, and more to help you plan an epic adventure to Thailand! If you plan on visiting the country this year, be sure to check out LetsGoThailand.us and book before August 31.

Published : Jun, 2023

Sites and attractions | Day tour | Nature and wildlife
Costa Nordeste | Hawaii of Europe | Miradouro Craveiro Lopes | Miradouro Lagoa Negra e Lagoa Comprida | Moinho da Cascata Tour | Piscinas naturais de Santa Cruz | Spot Azores | Travel Tips | Weather
We spent a few days on Flores Island in Azores, Portugal, a tiny island with a population of only 4000! We visited several waterfalls, including the infamous Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro. Our time in the Azores was absolutely sublime and we can't wait to be back!

↠ READ MORE about family travel on my blog:
https://parenthoodadventures.com

↠ SUBSCRIBE for solo travel advice around the world:
/ bemytravelmuse​​

Published : May, 2023

Sites and attractions | Cultural Activities
Banff | Calgary | Churchill | Gatineau | Icefields Parkway | Kananaskis Country | Killarney Provincial Park | Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature | Montréal | Ottawa | Québec City | St. John’s | Sunshine Coast | Toronto | Vancouver Island | Winnipeg
Oh, Canada, you’re one fantastic country to visit, especially as a solo traveler!

For those who love the outdoors, want a safe and incredibly friendly place to travel in, and want to experience many different cultures all at once, Canada is the perfect solo destination at any time of year.

Canada is easy to navigate, has a very low crime rate, is absolutely huge (so you can’t run out of national and provincial parks or activities), and is breathtakingly beautiful. Need we say more?

Though the whole country is worth exploring, these are a few places that my fellow travel bloggers and I think are particularly good for solo travelers:

Published : Apr, 2023

Sites and attractions | Suggested itinerary
Baguio City | Bantayan Island | Boracay | Cebu | Coron | Donsol | El Nido | Manila | North Luzon | Romblon Island | Sagada | Siargao | Siquijor
It’s tough to think of a more beautiful corner of the world than the Philippines, with white sand beaches, bath-temperature water, and incredibly friendly locals.

These islands, 7,107 of them to be exact, are worth a departure from the typical banana pancake trail in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam! The beaches are regarded as some of the best in the world, as are the diving opportunities, and the welcoming nature of the Filipino people is unwavering.

But with so many islets to choose from offering up various culture, adventure and culinary delights, where do you even start to plan an itinerary and figure out where to go in the Philippines? Well luckily enough, Charlotte and I have spent roughly two months in the Philippines and have wrapped up our experiences into one neat little package below. Let’s get to planning your perfect Philippines itinerary:

Published : Mar, 2023

Sites and attractions | Cultural Activities | Outdoor Activities | Nature and wildlife
Big Major Cay | Cabbage Beach | Clifton Heritage National Park | Cloisters | Dean’s Blue Hole | Hiking | Lucayan National Park | Nassau Straw Market | Parasailing | Pirate Beach | Primeval Forest National Park | Scuba Diving | Sharks | Stocking Island | Thunderball Grotto
Pillowy soft sand, baby-blue water, and everything that makes a tropical destination feel like a dream — that’s what you can expect when you visit the Bahamas. This picture-perfect island nation has some of the most idyllic beaches in the world, but the beauty doesn’t stop there. Visitors who come to bask in the sun on a beach chair, drink in hand, often miss out on the other amazing places this vibrant archipelago has to offer.

From swimming with pigs in the Exumas to exploring the second-deepest blue hole in the world, here are the top things to do in the Bahamas, including many exciting adventures that might surprise you:

Published : Mar, 2023

Sites and attractions | Suggested itinerary
Arashiyama bamboo forest | Chureito Pagoda | Fushimi Inari Taisha | Hie Shrine | Kaiser | Kozantei Ubuya | Kyoto | Meiji Jingu | Nakano Broadway | Prince Gallery Kioicho Hotel | Shirakawago | Takayama | Tenku no Torii | Tokyo
For our first big international trip as a family, we chose Japan! We'll explore the best things to do in Kyoto, Takayama, Kawaguchiko, and Tokyo, from the shrines and temples of Kyoto, to the amazing food.

Featuring a food tour with Viator, our sponsor for this video. Whether it's a traditional tea ceremony, street food tour, bar hopping, or historical walking tour with meal like we did, they have tons of options all around Japan and the world!

Published : Feb, 2023

Sites and attractions | Outdoor Activities
Äkäslompolo | Dogsledding | Kittilä | Northern Lights | Rovaniemi | Sauna Gondola Ride | Skiing | Snowmobiling | Snowshoe | SnowVillage
Before I finally resolved to visit more cold spots this winter, after fully experiencing my first winter of life (in my 30s, I know. I’m late), I came to realize that it’s actually one of my favorite seasons.

There are so many things that you can only do when it’s really, truly cold outside, and Finnish Lapland is the perfect place to do them all. From playing in the snow to all of the adrenaline activities and cool things you can do either solo or with friends, I was really impressed by the offerings there and found myself fantasizing about renting a little cottage there next winter, just so that I could ski on those uncrowded slopes and stare up at the sky hoping for the aurora borealis.

Here are 13 things I tried and that I have a feeling you’ll love too when you visit Lapland:

Published : Feb, 2023

How to get there | Sites and attractions
Airbnb | Hida no Sato | Onsen | Sabou Usagi café | Sanmachi | Shirakawa-go Light Up event
From Kyoto, we took 2 trains up to Takayama, the gateway to the Japanese Northern Alps. We picked this town for its historic feel and famous food, and the opportunity to experience what is it like to be in a snow globe!

Watch the vlog as we fill our tummies with delicious food, visit historical sites including Sanmachi and Hida no Sato folk village, as well as the Light Up Shirakawa-go event, the highlight of our Takayama trip.

Published : Oct, 2022

Sites and attractions | Outdoor Activities
Ben & Jerry | Camel Hump State Park | Church Street | Fall Foliage | Gondola Ride | Hiking | Idletyme Brewery | Shelburne Sugarworks | Tom Girl | Waterfront
When I imagined the Vermont of my dreams, it consisted of maple all the things, crisp autumn weather, and the most incredible fall foliage on Earth. My expectations were high, which is always risky when visiting a new place, but I’m pleased to say Vermont exceeded them. It's one of those places you've got to see to believe. Follow us along as we take you through Ben & Jerry's, a gondola ride up the mountains to see the fall foliage at its peak, delicious breweries, cafes and restaurants, and a hike through Camel's Hump.

Published : Apr, 2022

Sites and attractions | Health
Cabane du Pic Bois | Érablière Bernard | Mont-Mégantic National Park | Snowshoeing | Yurt
If you're looking for beautiful, entertaining, and good for the soul types of winter trip in Quebec, I've got your covered. I'm taking you on a dreamy, relaxing winter road trip in Quebec... maybe except for the driving part.

↠ SUBSCRIBE for solo travel advice around the world ↠ / bemytravelmuse​

↠ CONNECT WITH ME:
https://www.bemytravelmuse.com​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemytravelmuse
Facebook: https://facebook.com/bemytravelmuse​

Published : Feb, 2022

Sites and attractions | Outdoor Activities
Après-ski | Biathlon | Ramsau am Dachstein | Showshoe | Skiing | Sledding | Treetops | Werfen Ice Caves
I’ll be totally honest here – I wasn’t really sure that I was going to like visiting the Alps in the winter. I’d hiked all over them in the summer and thought they were breathtakingly beautiful, but after experiencing a couple of incredibly frigid days in Berlin, I was hesitant to take a mountain holiday.

Up until 2016 when I visited Austria, I’d chased summer and never really experienced winter. I suppose most people from the US and Europe grew up with snow, or ski holidays, or both. I’m not one of those people, however, and I had only been to the mountains behind Los Angeles in the winter a couple of times, and never to ski. But you can’t travel and experience the world in only one season, and it was time to get out of my comfort zone and give winter a try.

I realize now what I was missing out my whole life. Winter doesn’t have to be scary and cold – it can actually be tons of fun, and it’s insanely beautiful! I don’t know why it took me til my 29th year of life to figure this all out.

Published : Nov, 2021

Sites and attractions | Outdoor Activities
Coral Forest | French Polynesia | Hiking | Maupiti Islands | Shell House
This is Maupiti, the most beautiful island in French Polynesia and the world! I've asked many people where their favorite island is, and Maupiti kept coming up, so naturally, I had to see it for myself!

Jen and I spent one glorious week exploring Maupiti island and are totally convinced that paradise on earth exists. We stayed with locals, swam with manta rays and stingrays, explored the eccentric shell house (a must-see!). Watch to see it for yourself and let me know in the comments if you'd like to visit someday!

Published : Jun, 2021

Sites and attractions | Suggested itinerary
Aix-en-Provence | Lavender Fields | Provence Region | Sault | Sénanque Abbey | Valensole
Don’t you just love it when something lives up to the image in your mind?

As I walked through the Marseille airport it struck me that it had been ten years since I’d visited France. It was an impromptu idea that had come to me just a week prior:

There are lavender fields in France. I wonder when they bloom.

*fierce Googling*

Omg now! They are in bloom right now!

Published : Jun, 2021

Sites and attractions | Low budget
Buddhist Lodge | Cé La Vi | Esplanade Theatres | HSBC Rain Vortex | ION Sky | Library@Orchard | Siloso Beach | Southern Ridges | Supertree Grove | TreeTop Walk
The following post is by Hui Jun Ng:

If you’ve traveled around Southeast Asia loved how far your money takes you, you might be worried about having a good time in Singapore on a budget.

Despite Singapore’s reputation as the priciest city in the world, a short vacation here can actually be relatively affordable – if you know what the best free things to do are.

In this city guide, we will reveal to you the essential travel hacks when in Singapore. You can watch musical performances, eat vegetarian meals and admire Singapore’s skyline from the top of Marina Bay Sands for free, plus a bunch of other totally free activities, so keep on reading!

Published : May, 2021

Sites and attractions | Suggested itinerary
Breaking Bad | Breaking Bad Tour | First Cook Site | The Bench | The Grove | Tuco Hide Out
We went to Albuquerque New Mexico and explored the filming locations of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. This isn't your typical movie tour, but rather an exploration of the underbelly of the city and its surroundings. You won't believe how similar many of these places still look, and how different some look as well!

Published : May, 2021

Amazon | Desert | Lima | Mountains and Highlands
I learned a little something interesting when I set out to pack for my month-long trip to Peru: Depending on which source you’re quoting, Peru has 30 of 32 world climates.

If you want to see a nice variety of the country during your travels in Peru, it will be like trying to pack for a trip to the USA including both Hawaii and Alaska, a big city like Los Angeles, and the deserts of the American Southwest, all in the same trip.

That certainly makes packing light for Peru a challenge, especially if you do plan to visit the mountains, like Cusco, the Amazon jungle, Lima, and the sand dunes of Huacachina.

I was able to fit everything that I needed, including a sleeping bag and other camping gear, into a 75 L backpack, which was under standard airline weight limits though still not ideal. However you could cut down a lot if you don’t plan on bringing your own camping gear like I did. The key is in bringing layers and wardrobe pieces that serve multiple purposes. With that in mind, this is my perfect Peru packing list:

Published : Mar, 2020

Sites and attractions | Outdoor Activities
Churchill | Northern Lights | Snow Mobile | Yurt
If you’ve always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, or have seen them already and know how incredible they are, you’ll know it’s a beautiful phenomenon that gets addictive. The more you have seen them, the more you want to again!

Churchill, Manitoba was listed as one of Canada's "50 Places of a Lifetime" by National Geographic. This tiny town with a population of just about a thousand boasts 300 nights per year with the potential to see the northern lights!

Watch the vlog to see how you can plan a northern lights trip to Churchill on a budget, as well as other things to do while you are there, including dog sledding and snowmobiling.

Published : Mar, 2020

Sites and attractions | Outdoor Activities
Bagan | Goteik Viaduct | Hiking | Hot Air Balloons | Hsipaw | Inle Lake | Kakku | Mandalay | Ngapali | Shwedagon Pagoda | Temple Raiding | Thingyan Festival | Trekking | U Bein Bridge | Yangon
Myanmar isn’t a Southeast Asian country that is often on travelers “must see” lists, or planned for their great backpacking adventure. Which is a shame, because Myanmar is one of the most culturally preserved and exciting destinations in Asia.

Why isn’t Myanmar on everyone’s “must do” lists?

It honestly wasn’t on my list until I was invited by a friend. Before traveling to Myanmar, I didn’t know anything about the country except about how it was closed off from the world up until about a couple decades ago.

After backpacking through a large portion of Myanmar during their annual Thingyan Festival, I can without a doubt declare Myanmar as my favorite country in Southeast Asia.

Myanmar is a captivating and exciting country for many reasons. From floating villages, to valleys of ancient temples that beat out Angkor Wat, to multi-day jungle treks into mountain tea picking villages.

Ready to go yet? Awesome. Here’s my itinerary on the best of Myanmar, from where to go to what to do from my own personal experiences, and a few key tips and tricks to know before you go: