So I’ve had this blog for one whole month now. And I’m super excited that it’s been received pretty well so far. I honestly wasn’t sure how this all would go. I’m not a very opinionated or talkative person. I generally don’t like talking about myself and I tend to just stay quiet most of the time. (What? Wow! That’s new information…)

Posting new stories every week is both exciting and dreadful. I love being able to document my memories and share them with curious readers. I love reading your comments and answering your questions. I love being able to rifle through old photographs and remember new stories to write about.

But at the same time, it’s not easy to publish these small pieces of me, for the whole internet to see and judge.

So why continue? Well. Because I made a commitment to myself. A one-year, give-it-your-best-and-see-what-happens commitment. So I’m sticking with it.

I’ve got a long list of topics to share, and several other stories written and waiting to be published. I haven’t yet given in to the temptation to bombard you all every time a story is completed. You’re welcome.

But in honor of my one-month blogiversary, I wanted to pay tribute to the travel blogs I read, which continually educate, motivate, and inspire me.

Nomadic Matt

This was the first travel blog I ever read. Being a travel writer has been a goal of mine for several years, but this blog made me realize that I could be a travel writer now. I didn’t have to wait to be hired by some fancy magazine.  Nomadic Matt has amazing posts, mostly geared for budget travel, and really- who doesn’t want to know money-saving travel tips?? I don’t read this blog as often nowadays, but I still revisit every once in a while. This blog is a great resource on all aspects of travel.

Be My Travel Muse

Kristin does guest posts for Nomadic Matt, which is how I learned about her site. I first got interested in her posts about Nepal, looking through her photos and feeling nostalgic. But then I read about her trip to Southeast Asia- a part of the world that, until I read Kristin’s blog, felt very foreign and scary to me. Kristin breaks down her travels and shares her financial outcomes for each leg of her journey- Information that proves very helpful for readers with tight budgets. She also has a detailed Travel Resources section that serves as a useful tool for anyone headed around the globe. Kristin recently re-vamped her blog to include a Destinations section, which also organizes her posts by country and gives important “Good to Know” information about that region. I’m also super jealous of all her yoga-poses in her photos. #canteventouchmytoes

Photo by Kristin Addis

A Dangerous Business

Needing to branch out from all of Kristin’s adventures, I searched for more Solo-Female travelers to live vicariously through. That’s how I found Amanda. I love love love Amanda’s blog for many reasons. First, I love how much I relate to her, personally. Sometimes I think we might be the same person: Introverted. Didn’t quit her job to travel the world. Has a degree in Tourism. Plus, she’s a Mid-west girl, like me! Amanda has many really insightful posts about travel in general that I find myself reading over and over again. She also has many posts about travel blogging which have helped guide me through my own journey with Archives of Adventure. Not to mention, her photography leaves me drooling all over my keyboard:

Photo by Amanda Williams

Adventurous Kate

Another Solo-Female travel blog I stumbled upon is authored by Kate. This blog is probably one of the most well-known blogs for solo female travel. And rightfully so. Kate shares the good and bad about her travel experiences. She’s got some great stories and it seems like she’ll take advantage of every adventurous opportunity that comes her way. That’s why she’s such a big inspiration for me. I don’t think I could muster up the courage to do many of the things she’s written about. She also has great posts about travel-blogging that I have read many times over as I’ve begun Archives. I’ve literally read her blog from beginning to end.

Never Ending Footsteps

Adventurous Kate’s blog led me to this one. It’s another that I have read beginning to end. Or, end to beginning really. Lauren is hilarious. She’s got so many stories about her travel mishaps that keep you reading and reading. I also really appreciate how honest she is about her anxiety, which I find extremely relatable and comforting. Plus, she’s British so sometimes she says things that make me smile. 🙂

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Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to begin Archives of Adventure. It’s been an adventure in itself, but so far a fun one! Thank you to all these inspiring travel bloggers. You are the reason I believe in myself and my blog.

Have any suggestions for other travel blogs I should be reading? Any Questions? Comments? Tell me below!