YouTube has been a huge part of my life for over 15 years. I’ve watched hundreds of hours of other people’s lives unfold on screen through airports, train stations, trailheads, terminus statues, and city centers. I’ve experienced true love, heartbreak, fear, and genuine freedom through watching YouTube travel creators share their journeys with the world.

In many ways, it feels like I know some of the creators, even though we’ve never met. Their voices are familiar. Their stories are familiar. Watching their growth over time feels personal, like cheering for a friend when they’ve accomplished their life goals.

I’ve learned about so many parts of the world I didn’t even know existed, and I’ve specifically visited locations because a creator I follow recommended it or enjoyed some time there. When I can’t travel, you can almost always find me at home watching people hike, backpack, fly, ride, and otherwise explore this beautiful earth we live on. Living vicariously through their videos.

YouTube has allowed me to experience parts of the world I may never have the opportunity to visit myself—and somehow, that still feels incredibly meaningful. I’m endlessly grateful to the creators who put in the time, energy, and vulnerability to let us follow along on adventures both big and small.

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The OG YouTube Travel Creators (The Foundation)

Some of the YouTube travel creators I’ve followed for what feels like my entire adult life include Kara and Nate, Hey Nadine, Lost LeBlanc, and Nicole and Mico. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these creators I feel a deep, long-standing connection to.

I’ve watched most of them evolve from posting low-quality videos with beginner editing skills and a shoestring budget to living what many would consider the ultimate travel lifestyle — luxury villas, first-class flights, and Airbnbs that cost more than I make in a year. Watching that growth has been impressive and well-earned, especially knowing how much work went into building their platforms.

That said, I’ll always have a soft spot for their early content.

Those beginner videos felt more relatable to me. I connected with the hostel stays, street food meals, missed plans, and budget-conscious choices. That version of travel felt attainable. I also miss the raw, vlog-style storytelling that originally drew me in—the unpolished clips, the imperfect moments, the feeling of simply tagging along for the ride.

Today’s content is undeniably beautiful and incredibly well-produced, but it carries a very different energy. While I still appreciate seeing where these creators are now, it’s their early videos that made me believe travel was something I could actually do, and that belief is what stuck with me.

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Kara and Nate

One of the longest-running channels in my feed, Kara and Nate are truly incredible. Their story is beautiful, and their love for each other, different cultures, and adventure is genuinely contagious. They’ve come so far in their careers, and I honestly feel like I’ve spent hundreds of hours watching their journey unfold.

In many ways, their channel has become a quiet constant in my life. I especially look forward to their New Year recap and goals video every single year—it feels less like watching a YouTube video and more like checking in with familiar friends as they reflect on where they’ve been and where they’re headed next.

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Hey Nadine

As a young woman who wanted to travel the world but didn’t always have someone to go with, Hey Nadine felt like the best friend I hadn’t met yet. She gave me the confidence to just get out there and go. She was out exploring the world solo or on group trips at such a young age. Watching her made independent travel feel possible for me.

I fell in love with her early vlog-style videos. They were messy, rambling, and beautifully raw. It made me feel like I was traveling right alongside her. Much like Kara and Nate, her channel grew and received the recognition it truly deserved, and with that growth, her lifestyle naturally shifted.

While she isn’t living in luxury resorts or hopping around on private jets, she has settled into a different season of life. Her content is now more polished and scripted than it once was, and while I still enjoy watching her, it’s those early videos that I return to and romanticize the most. They’re the ones that made me believe I could go out and see the world on my own.

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Lost LeBlanc

Although I naturally gravitate toward female or couple travel creators, Lost LeBlanc caught my attention back in 2015 when he set off on a study abroad program. While Hey Nadine was taking me through Europe, he was introducing me to parts of Asia I had never seen, and that contrast really pulled me in.

What I appreciated most was how grounded he felt. He didn’t come across as someone with unlimited money or privilege; instead, he made the most of the time and opportunities he had while genuinely immersing himself in local culture. His early vlogs—often filmed on an old-school GoPro—were real, unfiltered, and made creating travel videos feel approachable.

While I can’t relate to the lifestyle he’s built today, I have nothing but respect for it. He’s worked incredibly hard and earned every bit of success. I don’t watch his videos as consistently as I once did, but I’m continually impressed by how much his technical skills have grown from editing and cinematography to working with drones and advanced gear. Watching that evolution has been inspiring in its own way.

Newer Channels I’ve Followed in the Last Few Years

Over the last couple of years, I’ve continued to follow the YouTube travel creators above, but I’ve really gotten into thru-hiker videos, specifically solo-female hikers. I also discovered Nicole and Mico years ago and spent countless hours catching up on their channel and following along on their adventures. Here are some of the channels I’ve been following long term, but weren’t part of the O.G. YouTube crew for me:

Nicole and Mico

I’m not entirely sure how I first discovered Nicole and Mico, but it was years after they had already started their platform. I remember spending nights and weekends binge-watching their videos just to catch up.

I’ve always loved watching couples travel together, and Nicole and Mico brought such a sweet, thoughtful energy to their adventures. As a Canadian couple passionate about food and history, their videos were both entertaining and educational. I almost always walked away having learned something new. And of course, I loved when their adorable dog joined them on their journeys.

Although they chose to step away from their channel in 2025, their content is still absolutely worth watching. If you enjoy food, culture, and heartfelt storytelling, their library of videos is a gift.

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Stella Hikes

Stella Hikes is another creator I discovered later and immediately binge-watched to catch up. She’s completed the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and 1,400 miles of the Continental Divide Trail, along with several other long-distance hikes.

What I love most about her channel is how real and organic it feels. Her videos are often longer and more conversational, giving space for her emotions, reflections, and honest updates along the trail. Watching her work through challenges in real time is both grounding and motivating. It feels less like polished content and more like walking beside her for a few miles.

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Taylor the Nahamsha Hiker

Every year, I follow hikers documenting their journey on the Appalachian Trail. I’ve probably watched over 60 people attempt the 2,000+ mile trek, but Taylor’s story is one I’ve followed closely.

I first started watching her in 2020 when her thru-hike was cut short due to COVID. She regrouped, returned in 2021, and successfully completed the trail. Since then, I’ve watched her take on the Appalachian Trail again with even more confidence and experience. I was rooting for her every mile.

I resonate with Taylor because we’re around the same age, and she has a supportive partner and dog waiting for her at home while she heads out on solo adventures. Her content has shifted in recent years due to a serious injury, surgery, and welcoming her first baby, but she’s still showing up. Now, she creates educational content for hikers—covering gear, safety, and trail updates—which feels like a natural extension of her experience and heart for the hiking community.

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Kelly Hays

I originally found Kelly Hays through her Arkansas hiking videos while planning one of my first solo trips there. As I searched for trails, I came across her channel and immediately felt drawn in.

Since then, I’ve followed her journey through the Appalachian Trail, Florida Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and her attempt at the Pacific Crest Trail. She’s still chasing miles, and I genuinely look forward to each new chapter.

Every time Kelly pops up on my screen, it feels like seeing a friend. She’s around my age, embraces solo hiking, and lives a version of van life I’ve always been curious about. There’s something steady and encouraging about the way she shares her adventures—it makes the outdoors feel both challenging and completely possible.

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Brand-New Channels I’ve Recently Fallen in Love With

By “brand-new,” I mean new to me, not necessarily new to YouTube. I discovered these channels within the last couple of years and have been steadily working my way through their videos. I may not have watched everything they’ve ever posted, but I’ve seen enough to know they’re creators I want to keep following.

David Rule

David Rule is just a simple guy out here delivering dry humor, dad jokes, and outdoor projects with effortless charm. Whether he’s building something or sharing his love for the outdoors, his videos are equal parts entertaining and refreshingly down-to-earth.

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Courtney Eve White

The first video I watched from Courtney Eve White was her Pacific Crest Trail documentary, and it was so beautifully done that it nearly brought me to tears. She’s incredibly talented yet remarkably humble, and I’ve loved everything she’s created since that first introduction.

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Meghan’s Adventures Outdoors

I’m drawn to Meghan’s channel because she’s a solo female hiker around my age, and so much of her content feels instantly relatable. Beyond her trail videos, she shares travel experiences in Europe, hikes in her home state, and everyday life updates that I genuinely connect with.

She’s also a fellow coffee lover who enjoys exploring local shops, reading, and running her own pet-sitting business—details that make her feel less like a distant creator and more like someone I could grab a latte with after a long hike. She’s still finding her footing on YouTube, and I’ve really enjoyed watching her grow.

Titus Humphreys

Titus is my most recent follow, and although he’s fairly new to YouTube, his skill is undeniable. He has a beautiful way of telling stories and romanticizing long-distance hikes and the outdoors.

I initially found him on Instagram, then watched the documentary he created about his Pacific Crest Trail adventure. I subscribed immediately. I can’t wait to see what he shares next.

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Why YouTube Is an Incredible Way to Experience the World

YouTube isn’t just entertaining—it’s educational.

Through YouTube travel creators, I’ve learned geography by watching routes unfold across maps and landscapes shift from country to country. I’ve learned the logistics of travel before ever stepping on a plane—how to apply for visas, navigate unfamiliar airports, and use public transportation in cities where I don’t speak the language.

Beyond logistics, I’ve learned about culture. What’s appropriate to wear. How to greet someone respectfully. Which gestures or phrases might mean something completely different depending on where you are. Watching creators immerse themselves in different communities has taught me that travel isn’t just about seeing new places, it’s about honoring them.

And maybe most importantly, I’ve learned resiliency. I’ve watched travelers face setbacks, injuries, fear, and uncertainty—and keep going. That quiet perseverance has shaped how I approach my own adventures.

YouTube isn’t just fueling wanderlust. It’s building awareness, empathy, and confidence.

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Why I Finally Started My Own Channel

If I could have a life do-over, I would have started creating on YouTube in the early 2000s, back when YouTube travel creators were just beginning to carve out their space online. Not because it was easier, but because that’s when my adventures began, and I didn’t record any of it.

The cross-country RV trips with my grandparents. Riding my bike across half of Michigan. Moving to Denmark. Kayaking hundreds of miles. So many moments that now live only in my memory.

As the years pass, the details fade. That realization makes me sad. I wish I could press play and relive those seasons of my life.

If I had started then, I’d have a library of adventures to revisit—the friendships, the places, the version of me that existed in those chapters. I’d be able to watch it all back and remember exactly how it felt.

I can’t go back, but I can start now.

So I finally did.

I decided to stop overthinking it and create. I want to document the places I’ve been and the ones still waiting for me. The hikes. The road trips. The everyday beauty. I hope my channel becomes a space where people can laugh, learn, and feel inspired to step outside and experience the world for themselves.