Meet Andrea Wintergerst | Travel Writer & Digital Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Wintergerst and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had already been working on my blog for about 5 years and realized if I wanted to continue to do things my way, monetizing it was not really an option. Simultaneously, I was still creating things in my free time that I looked at one day and realized I could maybe sell. As much as I love to do things just for the fun of it, bills aren’t going to pay themselves.

The best part, though, was that it fit in well enough with what I had already built with my blog, and I figured creating some intentional synergy between the two could actually work, and so Two Forks Trading Post was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m going to be really honest here – sometimes it still terrifies me to call it “art”. I went through the same process with my writing, but over time I learned how to be comfortable acknowledging and valuing what I do. So now I’m working on getting to the same point with everything else I create. That being said, I’m excited to experiment more. I feel like I was more creative when I was younger, but all that means in reality is that I was more spontaneous, and free from the self-imposed limitations that sometimes come with imposter syndrome. Slowly but surely, I’m getting there. I just need to remind myself that whenever I’ve taken a big risk in life, it has usually been met with an equally big reward. And if nothing else, a lesson.

But circling back to the art itself, I just take inspiration directly from my travels and the things I’m fortunate enough to experience on them. I like to think that I’m able to convey the wonder and whimsy I feel in everything I make – whether that is in my writing or in my other creations. Hopefully I inspire others to step outside and explore this big, beautiful world of ours, starting in their own back yard.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d start the week at the 16th Street Mall, since I haven’t been in a while and really want to see how the renovations turned out. Later that night I’d drop by Union Station for drinks and a bite, and spend a night at the Crawford.

Brunch at Central Market, a stroll through the Botanic Gardens, dinner at La Forêt, and then go watch a Nuggets or Avs game.

We’d also hit up the Denver Art Museum and the Center for Colorado Women’s History, and a stroll through Capitol Hill and the Civic Center Park. Depending on the time of year, a stop at the Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree are musts too.

And I’d find a way to sneak in a visit to Casa Bonita, the Buckhorn Exchange, and the Denver Mint.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I will always be a staunch advocate for community, no matter what that looks like. Where I am is because of who I’ve crossed paths with at every point in my life. The people who have supported me throughout the entire journey, the ones who provided an opportunity at crucial times, or just a word of encouragement and a shoulder to cry on. My community is my everything.

Website: https://store.twoforksandapassport.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoforkstradingpost

Other: https://www.twoforksandapassport.com/
https://www.instagram.com/twoforksandapassport