To Katelynn Out Loud!

Your go-to space for travel tales, outdoor adventures, and authentic experiences.

About Me

Hi, I’m Katelynn — a Michigan native who ran away from the cold and lives in Texas now.

I work as a Project Specialist at Texas A&M University and take full advantage of my PTO and professional development funds that allow me to visit different places each year.

I love to hike and be outside, but I also love to visit touristy spots and big cities.

I always say I can find joy in even the most boring places with a positive attitude.

I travel as often as I can, but when I’m not traveling, I love staying active by working out, walking my dogs, taking cycling classes and doing yoga or pilates. I have two dogs that run my life and being a dog mom is one of my top identities. I care about health and overall wellness and do what I can to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

My Story

My oldest memory of traveling was one summer when I was in middle school my grandparents bought an RV and took us on one of the most epic road trips of my life. We left Michigan and headed out west hitting multiple National Parks and attractions along the way.

Unfortunately, I don’t remember much of the trip, but I do remember:

• becoming a park ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park,
• standing on the 4 corners monument between New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah
• hiking in Arches National Park and climbing on all the rock structures, and
• falling in love with the Grand Canyon.

and of course, all the memories we made with our grandparents while camping and living in that RV for the whole summer.

Fast Forward, I graduated high school and moved overseas to Denmark where my whole is changed for life. Being 18, I was still young and figuring out who I was and what I wanted in life. The culture is so vastly different than that of the U.S. I had a lot adjustments, embarrassments, life lessons, and self-discovery. I formed some of the closest friendships I’d ever had in my life. I found myself living with a family who lived to love one another and I figured out that there was so much more to this world than my brain had even thought of.

I went back to college, spent all my free time watching House Hunters International and Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown show and dreaming of my next trip. I actually learned a lot about geography and culture from these two alone. They only fueled my fire to see more.

Thankfully I had an amazing from friend Germany who allowed me to come over and crash at his place for a summer after I graduated college. I met more incredible people, learned more about myself, and fell in love with Germany.

I returned to the U.S. and moved to Nevada which is where I fell in love with nature. Students at the University of Nevada, Reno were rarely on campus on the weekends. They were out hiking, camping, skiing, or otherwise just OUTSIDE. I grew to love that mentality and love the outdoors. I started learning more about safety and backpacking.

After I got my MA, I secured a job at Texas A&M University and moved to Texas, which is where I still love today.

My Adventures

Outdoors – I love being outdoors. Hiking, Camping, Backpacking, and generally just exploring Mother Earth’s incredible landscape brings me joy. My love for the outdoors really began when I moved from Michigan to Nevada and saw the incredible Lake Tahoe and started getting into hiking. Since then, it’s been something that brings me so much happiness.

City Immersion – Although I love being outside, I also love visiting cities and top tourist attractions. I really enjoy museums, breweries, botanical gardens, sporting events and visiting each city’s unique attractions.

Domestic – The U.S.A. is such a LARGE area and there is so much to explore. I feel like I could live my whole life in the U.S. and never get bored of all the sites. We have incredible national parks (Zion National Park, Arches, Joshua Tree, and many more), bustling cities (New York City, Las Angeles, Houston, etc.), and literally everything in between. We get all 4 seasons. We have swamps, deserts, and forests. I would LOVE to someday have visited all 50 states.

Texas Specific Travel – Texas is a huge state and there is so much to do here. I’ve spent many long weekends exploring all this state has to offer from wine tastings, brewery tours, sports stadiums, hiking, kayaking, and so much more.

International – I have been blessed and had the opportunity to not only visit 12 countries but to actually slow travel through quite a few including Nicaragua, Denmark, Czech Republic, and Germany. I absolutely love Europe and Central America as travel destinations.

Authenticity Matters

I believe in genuine experiences. That’s why I only promote products and services I’ve personally used and loved. Trust is paramount, and I aim to provide honest insights to help you make informed decisions.

Join the Journey

I’m on a mission to explore as much of the world as possible, all while managing a full-time job. It’s a balancing act, but it proves that with passion and planning, adventure is always within reach.

Let’s Connect

Blog: Read about all my new adventures on the blog. Get advice on places I recommend in each city I visit. I’ll share hotel, restaurant, and things to do as well as my favorite hikes in each place I go. You’ll also get some personal stories about travel fails and big travel wins.

Instagram & Threads: Follow my real-time adventures and behind-the-scenes moments @KatelynnOutLoud. To really get to know me, find me on Threads. I share a lot about travel, but also my personal life.

Newsletter: Stay updated with content I don’t have the opportunity to publish about my travels, the world of travel, and gear/merch I use.

Collaborate With Me

If you’re a brand or another blogger looking for authentic collaboration and believe we have some shared values, let’s create something amazing together. Contact me and let’s discuss!