Hey, I’m Catherine!
I’m an outdoor photographer, travel writer, and adventure seeker based on the beautiful island of Kaua’i. Through this blog, I share destination guides, outdoors adventures, luxury travel experiences, and practical travel tips to inspire your next trip.
Whether you’re chasing the thrill of the outdoors or luxury stays, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and information here.
My Story
Growing up, my family moved across the country several times and we traveled a lot. I’ve lived in multiple states, spent family vacations in many more, and we just enjoyed discovering new places as a family.
After college, I moved to a small town about an hour outside of Lake Tahoe with a guy I recently started dating. I was still navigating with the loss of my parents, my mom had passed two years earlier and my dad passed while we were together. The relationship ended and I found myself in a new place where I didn’t know anyone and didn’t know what to do next.
A friend of mine told me I’d just move “home” because that’s what people do when things get hard. But I didn’t really have a home to go back to in the way she meant it. I didn’t have any family there anymore and I didn’t want to choose my next chapter based on what felt safe.
I didn’t want to get stuck in the town I grew up in. It never feel like home to me.
Her comment had the opposite effect. It made me more determined to prove her wrong and figure it out on my own. So I decided to take the risk, stay near South Lake Tahoe, and start over.
It was the best decision of my life.
Staying in Lake Tahoe was one of the most defining chapters of my life. It was so liberating. I learned how strong and independent I am. I built a new life from scratch, I found a place to live, a job I loved, and made friends who became like family. And I learned the difference between doing things alone and being lonely. I went out to dinner, to the movies, or hiking by myself. And it shocked people.
Through travel, risk-taking, and a lot of time spent outdoors, I grew into someone I didn’t really recognize. But I loved every bit of becoming this version of myself.
Moving to Kaua’i
After years of building a life I loved in Lake Tahoe, another adventure called. I met my now husband. I dragged him along on all of my adventures. We road tripped to Colorado so he could meet my brothers, to Texas twice to get dogs, and all over the western United States.
One year we had a really snowy winter, our Christmas decorations were buried under the snow until April. I jokingly suggested we should move to Hawai’i.
To my surprise, he said yes.
I immediately started researching, house hunting, and preparing our animals to move. A year later, we boarded a plane to Kaua’i with one way tickets.
Some friends and family still doubt that we’ll stay and tell us we’ll get sick of island life. Or get island fever. But we both love to travel. Kaua’i isn’t the end of adventure for us, it’s just our new home base for it. And we feel so lucky and to call one of the most beautiful places in the world home.
Why I Started This Blog
Travel has shaped nearly every chapter of my life. Growing up, my family moved frequently and traveled often. My curiosity for travel and new places started an at early age.
My dad gave me my first DSLR camera in middle school and I instantly fell in love with photography. I later earned my Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.
This blog combines those two passions: visual storytelling and writing.
My goal is to inspire travelers to experience their own great adventures. With this blog, I help travelers discover beautiful destinations, spend more time outdoors, and connect more deeply with the locations they visit.
What You’ll Find Here
- Kaua’i Travel Guides
- Hawai’i Travel Guides
- Lake Tahoe Travel Guides
- Road Trip Itineraries
- Outdoor Adventures + Hiking Guides
- Luxury and Boutique Accommodations + Experiences
- Travel Tips + Resources
Make sure you check out some of my Lake Tahoe guides here. Some of my other popular travel posts are: Fairbanks, Alaska and Santa Cruz, California.
Fun Facts About Me
- I’m usually carrying a camera
- My phone has over 20,000 photos + videos
- I inherited my family’s obsession with shoes
- I grew up competing in Hunters/Jumpers/Equitation
Work With Me
Interested in working together?
I create content focused on outdoor adventure, luxury travel, photography, and an active lifestyle. If you’re a destination, tourism board, hotel, or brand looking for authentic storytelling and high-quality visual content, I’d love to connect.
Please email me at hellochicotka@gmail.com!
Follow me on social media here!
Instagram: CatherineChicotka
Twitter: CatChicotka
Facebook: Catherine Chicotka
Pinterest: Cat Chicotka
