Midway into 2021, as we settle into a new normal, we’re looking forward to reigniting our sense of wonder. With the return of travel, we also anticipate the return of travel bloggers to guide us on our merry ways. One travel blogger we’ve got our eyes peeled for is Joelle Friend.
Based in Seattle, WA (where she shares a home with her cat and dog), Friend is very much dedicated to a life of travel, both locally and internationally. With some quarter-million followers on Instagram, and true to her last name, Friend has a knack for connecting with others, sharing her adventures in a meaningful and long-lasting way.
According to Friend, her love of adventure is tied back to her upbringing. “Growing up on a lake, I’d wake up to a low hanging fog and rain drops falling on the water,” she writes in one Instagram post.
Indeed, a love of water and fog comes through her unique photos, carefully curated. “There’s something so peaceful when this weather happens,” she reflects. “Everything becomes so quiet and all you hear is the rain hit the lake.”
Growing up near a lake is one thing, but Friend also explains her wanderlust through her unique connection with her late father. “My love for travel started at a young age because of my father,” she wrote in another post. “We had a Cardinal Cessna, so he made sure traveling and adventure was a big part of our childhood.”
Another spot that holds a special place for Friend is the Olympic National Park in western Washington: “Hands down, if you were to ask me the first place that really sparked my love for nature and the outdoors it would be this place,” she admits in one blog post. “The Olympic National Park is an expansive temperate rainforest, encompassing nearly a million acres and receiving an average of 138 inches (3.5 meters) of rain annually. It is a rare refuge for species dependent on old-growth forests and wild coastline (70 miles worth)!”
These days, you will often find Friend on the road traveling to the next destination. “One thing I enjoy about road trips is camping outside,” she notes. “It is so fun to make the campsite super cozy. I love smelling the fresh air when I wake up while being all bundled up in the sleeping bag.”
Her Instagram page and blog will inspire your next road-trip if nothing else!
