Globetrotters Writer Spotlight — Annie Kocher
Enjoying the journey, one step at a time
Hello Globetrotters!
It’s so nice to be a part of this supportive and dynamic community. Without further ado, here is a little bit about me…
My name is Annie and I love to travel because it makes the world feel bigger and smaller all at once. I love how travel can expand our perspectives and teach us the intricacies of other cultures while also reminding us that, at our core, we all want the same essential things: love, fulfillment, joy.
My number one travel activity is walking. Whether it’s walking through a city to more intimately understand its heartbeat, or hiking a stunning nature trail, I find that a good pair of shoes and my own two feet are the key to me feeling like I’ve fully communed with a place. Plus, it’s the one activity that has no effect on your budget.
I come from the Midwest in the US. I grew up in Michigan, and that’s where I live now, although I’ve also spent several years collectively living in Scotland.
I work as a copywriter, mostly doing marketing content for various businesses. Which is why I come to Medium to have some fun with storytelling!
The best place I’ve been is… a tough statement to narrow down to one choice! I’ve felt a connection to lots of places I’ve traveled to and for different reasons. Here are a few noteworthy places:
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Northern Michigan. I venture to this part of my home state every summer with my family, and it still hasn’t lost its charm. The turquoise waters of Lake Michigan and its sandy beaches can be shocking to travelers from further afield, who didn’t think this kind of beauty could exist in the Midwest. It’s truly a remarkable corner of the world, and I’m grateful it’s in my state.
Applecross, Scotland. This remote peninsula in the Scottish Highlands is difficult to get to, but oh so worth the journey. Its remoteness lends to its beauty, and is one of the many places in Scotland that, despite it being not even half of an already small island, makes it feel like a Big Country.
Porvoo, Finland. This small, colorful, quaint, historic city is one of the reasons my trip to Finland holds such a special place in my heart. It offered me peace and a space for reflection that reminded me why travel is such a helpful way for me to stay in touch with myself.
Barcelona, Spain. Okay, okay, I get that I’ve been naming a lot of places that are quiet, surrounded by stunning nature, and cold for a lot of the year. So here’s somewhere totally different. I love Barcelona for being a vibrant and dynamic city. Two of my dearest friends live there, and when I lived in Scotland, I would often visit them for long weekends as a way to get some much-needed sunshine and an energy boost. Not to mention the delicious food everywhere you turn.
In my spare time, I like to cook, take my dog on long walks, and volunteer at my local animal shelter. And plan for my next trip, of course :) Be it a long-haul trip across an ocean, or a drivable weekend getaway, planning out time in a new destination is all a part of the fun.
My top travel tip is to wear comfortable shoes! Don’t pack any pair of shoes that have even the smallest chance of giving you a blister. Travel is full of enough curveballs, you don’t want avoidable pain to compromise your plans.
My other best travel tip is to plan and do lots of research, but also be open to the plans changing. Prioritize what you absolutely want to see or accomplish, and have other options on the roster, but be open to the trip changing shape as you go.
If I could live somewhere else, I’d live in… is another tough one! I love a lot about Michigan, and I’d also happily live in Scotland again. But if I were to live somewhere new, maybe I would choose Spain. The food, the sense of community, the access to other tantalizing European countries. Plus, it might be nice to try living somewhere with much more warmth and sunshine than I’m used to (I’m also typing this on a sub-freezing day, so my answer very well may change to Scandinavia on another day).
My favorite way to travel is with a mix of friend time and solo travel. I love what travel can do to strengthen a friendship, but I also love how much you can learn about yourself when navigating a new place on your own. So having both in one trip is the perfect formula for me.
Three lessons I’ve learned from travel are…
- Do I need to emphasize the importance of comfortable, walkable shoes again?
- Be smart about your surroundings, but also be willing to talk to strangers. Human connection is one of the best parts about traveling, after all.
- As an American, I definitely fall into the trap of sometimes believing that Europe is better than us in every possible way. I still think that the US has some pretty deep-rooted and harmful structural aspects that are hard to avoid living here. And I still think Europe has some things figured out that we in the US do not. However, living and traveling Europe, while magical and wonderful, has also reminded me that there is no such thing as a perfect country or a perfect place. Sure, there are some places that may better suit your values or desired lifestyle, but there’s a lot to be said for building a community and creating a positive mindset. And travel is a good reminder of that.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more travel stories with you all!