If I am completely honest, I am not exactly sure how or when I first became aware of Summer and her blog, Outside This Small Town. If I had to guess, I would say that we have been writing to each other on social media for close to a year. No matter the duration, her travel stories and aesthetically pleasing blog never failed to inspire me. (A personal favourite – A Life-Altering Climb.)
Her blog is jam-packed with adventurous and inspirational stories. As well as travel tips and guides for travellers on a budget in Europe. Hopefully one day when we make our way to Europe we will be able to meet Summer in person, and if not, we will have her blog as our guide.
Where are you from?
I am from a very small town in Colfax, North Carolina. My blog, Outside This Small Town, is based on the fact that I grew up in a VERY small town…the kind where everybody knows everybody, you’re kin to all your neighbors, and there’s not a secret you can keep. Most people never leave. I consider myself one of the lucky ones to have gotten out and discovered the world, but I will always remember where “home” is!
How long have you been travelling?
Our most recent trip was over Thanksgiving holiday weekend to Santorini, Greece. We celebrated the holiday in atypical style by eating gyros and souvlaki instead of pumpkin pie and turkey. We truly missed being with our huge family but enjoyed the beautiful island and it was the perfect place to spend our one year anniversary.
What inspired you to start travelling?
The first time I went abroad was 2 years ago to visit my boyfriend (now husband) who is stationed in Italy. We spent our first Christmas together in Italy and then New Year’s Eve in Austria. I was hooked after that. He opened my eyes to a whole new world – the Alps, different cultures, a life of traveling, and more! I’ve been traveling with him by my side ever since.
What is your favourite and least favourite part of travelling?
My favorite part of traveling is seeing the different cultures and landscapes. I’m a huge fan of landscapes and it amazes me how within one country, the landscape can change so many times. I’m forever in awe of God’s creation. My least favorite part of traveling is flying anywhere. I hate flying – the delays, the baggage requirements, airports, having to get there hours early. I’d much rather be in a car and have our dog with us, on the open road just exploring at our own pace!
How do you make it work financially? (ie. did you save for the trip,
are you working? living on a budget,etc?)
Such a great question! My husband is in the military and I’m a stay at home wife currently due to a SOFA agreement that Italy and the US Army has. With only one income it can be difficult sometimes, but we are big on budgeting and taking the least expensive route. We never stay in fancy hotels – in fact we are happiest when we’re out in the mountains camping in our own tent or living out of our car during road trips for weeks at a time. Most of our travel is adventure travel so we’re doing things outdoors – mountain biking, hiking, climbing – which are usually free minus the gear required up front!
What is your favourite place you have travelled to and why?
Croatia! We started our two-week road trip through the Balkans there this past summer and that was the first place I had ever tent camped, and now I’m obsessed. Everything from their sunsets, their alcohol, their food, and the people there, are amazing. The water is beautiful, there’s so much history all throughout the country, and the landscapes – WOW. Add this place to your list!!
What is your least favourite place you have travelled to and why?
Naples, Italy. We had a terrible experience here. We currently live in Northern Italy where the people are so kind and laid back. In Naples, there was so much litter and rubbage everywhere we went. Graffiti on historical statues and water fountains. We went down to the beach and found nothing but more trash, needles, and beer bottles. The people were not friendly to us and that was one of the only times I’ve ever felt unsafe while in Italy.
What do you think the biggest misconception is about travelling?
That it’s easy! If someone thinks traveling is easy, then it’s probably the people staying in the Hilton Hotels, Holiday Inns, or other luxury hotels throughout the world, and having a transfer everywhere. When you’re pushed out into the world and required to take public transportation, figure out where the parking garages are in a huge city that won’t rip you off, tackle a foreign language, and do all that while maintaining a healthy marriage or relationship, I’ll believe you when you say it’s easy. It can look like a nice lifestyle from the “Instagram photos” we post but watch the stories and read the captions to see what we really think of a place, what it took to plan these types of trips, or the countless hours of travel time to get there.
What do people never ask you about your life of travel that you wished they did?
Do you ever get homesick? People have stopped asking me that at this point because I’ve lived abroad for over a year now. I think I hide it pretty well, but I’ve had “thanksgiving dinner” with my family in North Carolina while sitting in bed in a hotel in Greece, been to “cheerleading practice” for my niece while sitting in the car waiting for my husband to get off work, watched family members open birthday presents, and stayed up 5 hours past my bedtime to go “trick or treating” with my family. All this occurs over facetime, but I never miss an event, no matter where I am in the world. I get homesick a lot, but that’s one aspect that doesn’t get mentioned during a lot of conversations.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to travel, what would it be?
Just go! Everyone always says, “I’m so jealous of your travels” or “I wish I could do that”. You. Can! We live on one income and manage to travel almost every weekend. You have to start somewhere, even if it’s just taking a trip for a two-day weekend. Just get out there and experience something new and you might be surprised how much you enjoy it!
If you would like to follow along with Summer and her travels – which I highly recommend you do! – you can find her here:
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Website