About Me
I’m Kim Nelson, a writer, outdoor cat, and karaoke enthusiast from Chicago. I love researching, planning, and writing about all things travel-related, with a preference for outdoor adventuring (National Parks, camper van living, backcountry hiking, multi-day kayak trips, and more).
Since I was young, I read as many books as I could get my hands on about traveling around the world. I love to lose myself in fantasy worlds as well as the natural world. Part of the reason I am drawn to the wild outdoors is because of the way it feels a little supernatural, from the black sand volcanic beaches of Iceland, the rocky moonscapes of New Mexico, the misty lochs of Scotland, to the midnight sun of Alaska.
I have a hard time staying still for too long before the urge to change the scenery kicks in. But I also feel deeply rooted in my home, Chicago, an ideal base of operations from which to branch out on various adventures.
Where does the phrase “ponytail up” come from?
Years ago during a busy week, I came up with the phrase to describe myself kicking into high gear. It’s stuck around ever since and feels fitting because the majority of the type of travel I do involves being constantly on the move.
What’s the deal with this newsletter?
On average, I send 1-2 newsletters out per month. When I have a particularly interesting story to tell, I may write more installments but it will never be more frequent than a post per week, usually in time for your Friday morning coffee because aren’t we all just working for the weekend? This Substack will remain free for the time being, and if in the event that ever changes, I will still send out free posts in addition to paid content (and don’t worry, you won’t be charged anything without opting in!). If you enjoy this newsletter, please show support by sharing it with a friend, or hitting that heart button, or reaching out in the comments section. I always love to hear about what you want to read more of!
Where else do I live on the internet?
You can find me on Twitter and Instagram, as well as my ‘official’ writing website at www.kimberlymilanelson.com.
