Catherine Paker shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Catherine, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Travel is on my daily to-do list as a travel writer. I usually travel outside of the Austin area once a month for about a week. When I am not traveling, I am writing about destinations I have visited.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Let me take a moment to introduce myself, my name is Catherine Parker. I’m a freelance travel writer and travel website owner. I started in the industry back in the 1990s, as a flight attendant for one of the largest airlines in the world. That opened my world, enabling me to stay in thousands of hotel rooms over the last three decades.
Over the years, I have traveled to all 50 U.S. States, seven Canadian Provinces and seven Mexican States. I have traveled to several Caribbean islands. I have traveled to top destinations in Asia and lately made several trips to Europe. My last trip took me on a train tour of Switzerland.
To do what I do, I am a traveler first; a writer second.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was growing up, we didn’t travel much. I yearned to travel from an early age and escaped into books in school. After college, I moved to the Austin area, then I wanted to see more so I landed a job as a NYC flight attendant, never visiting it before. That experience changed me profoundly, living off of $20,000 a year in the most expensive city in the U.S.
In between trips, I explored the streets of Manhattan, soaking up the energy that is uniquely New York. Even after going to school in Houston, a diverse city, New York felt different from the rest of the U.S. I return often, and it still gives me a shot of energy. I loved it then, and I love it still today.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
After the 9/11 attacks, I left my job at the airline. I couldn’t fly with a broken heart. As a young person who saw so many young people die, including my former roommate, I instantly became an adult in that moment. In the next year, I married and had my first of three children. However, I carried a sadness and deep regret in my soul from walking away from a dream job.
It wasn’t until my third child was born and I started traveling in ernest again. In 2012, I started documenting my travel that would become CarfulofKids.com. My website opened doors to travel frequently again.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
In a world that is becoming dependent on AI, I visit the places I write about. It takes me hours to research each article for the most up-to-date information that people depend on for their own trips. I also personally fact-check each article once a year. I want people to enjoy their trips without being surprised by unexpected details, such as closed restaurants or extensive renovations at attractions.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
The place that brings me peace is the natural landscape. One of my favorite places is the U.S. National Parks. They offer escapes to decompress and reflect. The majestic beauty of the national parks made me appreciate everything from waterfalls to redwood forests to the smallest tide pool creatures. The parks also offer refuges for wildlife, often pushed out of their natural range by continued development.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carfulofkids.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carfulofkids/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-parker-86b37528/
- Twitter: https://x.com/carfulofkids
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carfulofkids/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CatherineParkerTravel
- Other: MSN: https://www.msn.com/en-us/channel/source/Carful Of Kids Travel/sr-cid-26637e031e1d95f6
Image Credits
All my own images
