Always looking for the next big adventure, Leigh McAdam is a curious traveler who has had some incredible natural adventures all around the world. She followed her love to travel after giving up her career as a geologist, dietitian and small business owner. While pursuing her wanderlust, she developed a new love along the way: photography.
She recently released her first book, Discover Canada: 100 Inspiring Outdoor Adventures as one of her favorite places is Alberta, Canada! Hike, Bike, Travel has been created to inform and inspire her followers on all of the amazing adventures that are awaiting for them when they take charge of their lives.
Tune into Hike, Bike, Travel to be inspired and in awe of all that Leigh is seeing and doing across the globe.
What inspired you to start a travel blog? Was there a specific reason or an event that made you decide ‘I’m gonna start a travel blog today’?
I had sold a business and was thinking about what the next step in my life would look like. Blogging was quite new so I just jumped in with both feet because of a passion for travel. Really though, I had no clue about the journey blogging would take me on. It’s been a wild ride and it just keeps getting better.
What have been the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of running your blog and social media presence? Do you keep in touch with your readers?
The lack of down time and always feeling like you need to be connected is the most challenging aspect of blogging for me. But the reward is comments either on my blog or via email from readers saying that I’ve inspired them to travel somewhere they had never heard of before reading my blog. I do get readers following me on social media and we have online conversations for sure.
What’s your favorite place that you have visited & what’s a dream destination that you still haven’t conquered?
Apart from Canada’s North, Turkey ranks very high as one of my faves. I was there in October visiting Cappidocia and hiking the Lycian Way. The landscape is stunning, the people warm and friendly, and the food beyond compare. Throw in reasonable prices and it’s a winning country to visit. I would love to visit Patagonia, Japan, Jordan and do a bike ride through eastern Europe.
If you had one piece of advice for people who want to travel throughout the U.S. and around the world but want to stay on budget, what would it be?
Research ahead of time about what your accommodation options look like, as that’s a huge chunk of a budget. Use Airbnb, house sit, exchange houses, couchsurf, get creative. Food is next – and I think here you need to shop in local markets, eat what locals eat, drink what they drink. Also, look for bloggers that have recently visited an area you have your eye on and email them directly for cost-saving ideas. They would know better than most.
