Meet Kay Kingsman | Travel Blogger

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

Hi Kay, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Especially as a creative, the most important lesson to me has been the power of leaving a good impression and being open to connection. In general, being sociable and outgoing does not come naturally for me, but that is where I have found the bulk of my memorable organic opportunities. Even if you don’t mean to network, you never know where someone could work or even where their close contacts have connections. Being open to connection means speaking openly from your heart and making those foundational pillars in your relationship with someone new, so then (as long as you’re generally a good person), leaving a good impression shouldn’t be too challenging. Even if you aren’t the most knowledgeable or skilled, the most important aspect of working with someone is their personality and work ethic. If someone believes in you, they will help you out in the experience department.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a creative writer by nature. Although I didn’t always enjoy reading (and as a result, I didn’t write too much), I’ve always known that crafting stories and fantastical narratives was my passion. Even retelling silly daily mishaps to my friends was an art onto itself, and one day I put those words down on paper and never went back. Back when I was writing my first novel, I wanted a separate creative outlet that I could use as a break from novel-writing, and that is when I started my blog The Awkward Traveller. Because it was primarily an outlet for myself, I focused on the storytelling aspect and writing blog posts. However, what is often overlooked (especially if you start a blog for yourself and not as a business avenue), is that writing is only a small part in what makes a successful blog. There is a surprising amount of background work (such as learning SEO, marketing, formatting) that is NEEDED if you want those outside of your immediate circle to stumble upon your site and read your work. If I could go back in time, I would definitely take an intro course to a few of the technical aspects of running a blog. What got me through all of the blogging hardships and annoyances has been my travel blogging community and those I have met along the way. Having a support system is crucial in any line of work, but especially creative work. Because of my support system, countless doors have been opened with opportunities that I never would have imagined, and I want to pour those opportunities back into my community. In fact, my first passport was bought for me by a family friend since I did not have the funds myself. Since creating my blog, I have started a scholarship fund to sponsor passport and travel costs for first time travelers, because I want to make travel more accessible to the general population – just as my community made my travel dreams more accessible to me.

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.
If you’re headed to my corner of the world, Portland, Oregon (USA), then a nice weekend trip – or a week if you have access to a car – is plenty of time! Portland isn’t too big of a city, so pick a hotel or lodging that meets your needs. The THING to do in Portland is eat, it’s a major foodie city, so grab breakfast at local spots such as La Fondita, Kingsland Kitchen, Urban Farmer and Cadillac Cafe. If the weather is nice, you can go for a hike in Forest Park (which is actually bigger than Central Park in New York City!), take a stroll along the Multnomah River at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, or browse local boutiques along in the art-focused neighborhoods of Alberta, Hawthorne, and Nob Hill. If the weather isn’t so dry, head indoors to get a taste of Portland’s quirks at the Aladdin Theater, the Loyly Sauna, or Powell’s Bookstore, the largest used bookstore in the world!

Portland is KNOWN for its healthy food cart culture, so when you’re ready for lunch, get a bite from some of the best food carts in Portland such as Kim Jong Grillin, Tokyo Sando, Baon Kainan, and Thicc Boi. Then settle in for the most iconic Portland duo – donuts and caffeine. While there is much heated debate over who has the best fried dough (my vote goes to Doe Donuts!), you’ll find amazing cafes on every street corner. However, if you need your coffee spot to double as a work space, head to Esperanza Trading Company, Concourse Coffee, or Bison Coffeehouse for an ample table-to-cup ratio!

Portland is one of the best large cities in the US for cycling, which is perfect for those wanting to give it a shot. There are electric bikes in every neighborhood available for short term rentals, or rent a bike from a shop for a full day rental with equipment. From a bike, you can explore Portland’s parks and numerous bridges (it isn’t called Bridge City for nothing!) Don’t forget to ride up to Portland’s Japanese Garden, one of the most authentic outside of Japan, and the International Rose Garden (Portland is ALSO called Rose City!)

Once dinner rolls around, you’ll want to tuck into Ken’s Artisan Pizza, Wajan, Everybody Eats, Los Ponchos, or EEM for amazing food and drinks. For a little fancier of dinner, be sure to secure reservations to Kann, Republica, and Magna, all which bring incredible flavor that you cannot be replicated anywhere else.

If you have longer than a weekend, opt for a few day trips from Portland and head to the Columbia River Gorge for waterfall hopping, the Oregon Coast for breathtaking views, or the Willamette Valley for Oregon’s globally acclaimed wine country.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout a few of my good friends and fellow travel bloggers who helped my travel blogging experience a welcoming and encouraging space: Francesca of Homeroom Travel, Millette of The Next Somewhere, Aneesa of Expat Panda, Amanda of PTPassages, Tosin of Tosinfinity and Beyond, and Gerry of Dominican Abroad. These wonderful women are all so incredible in their own creative outlets, and their personality shines through their words. They have each taught me so much about blogging, but also how show up for those in your inner circle.

Website: www.theawkwardtraveller.com

Instagram: instagram.com/theawkwardtraveller

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awktravels

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzWaOcus2KUQtjBt0EF-8HQ