Today’s post is not about one particular destination, but it’s about one person who has inspired me and my wanderlust dreams. A few years ago, I met Karis Kranker through a mutual friend when we stayed with her on a whirlwind weekend girl’s trip to New York City. I had never been to New York City and had an agenda of what I wanted to see and do, but meeting Karis was a highlight of that weekend.
Not only did she open up her small one-bedroom apartment to me, but she opened up my eyes to a whole new world of travel. Until I can afford to travel the world, I live vicariously through her and the beautiful photos she posts on her Instagram account, InspireMe_Travel. She is afforded the opportunity to travel due to her job. She has traveled for work as well as for fun. You can just look at her world pin map and see that she has been to hundreds of beautiful and sometimes off-the-beaten path.
She’s been to China.
She’s been to Machu Pichu.
She’s been to the Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire.
She’s been to Dubai.
She’s been to the Maldives.
She’s been to Pisa, Italy.
She’s been to Rome, Italy.
She’s been to Stockholm, Sweden.
She’s been to Orebro, Sweden.
She’s been to Shiek Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
She’s also been to Cartagena, Colombia, Aruba, Spain, and hundreds of other places. Although she’s been to many places, I think Iceland just may be her favorite. Every time I see another photo of a place she has visited is another place I add to my own bucket list. She has ridden a camel, kissed a manatee, and snuggled with a panda. She has been to places that most of us dream about, which is why she is my travel guru/inspiration!
Even though Karis loves to travel, her heart belongs to four cities: New York City, where she currently lives; Knoxville, Tenn., where she graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and yes, she is a #VFL; Asheville, N.C., where her adorable nieces live with her brother and sister-in-law; and finally, Hernando, Fla., where her parents live.
I would love to go back to New York City and experience it the “Karis” way. She would be a wonderful tour guide! I would also love to go on a vacation with her to somewhere that she’s never been to because she has a way of finding such beautiful hidden gems in every city she visits.
I hope that you’ll check out her Instragram @InspireMe_Travel, because I know her beautiful photos will inspire you to travel more!
Yours Truly,
Vanessa
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