FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO TRAVEL?

Raised by traveling artists in a multicultural family, my unconventional, bohemian childhood inspired much of who I am today. 

I got my first passport at six-months old and grew up trekking the globe on a budget and flying on standby (IYKYK!). My backpack and sleeping bag were always ready to hit the road. Our often rugged adventures took us along winding roads and through remote areas, where I learned how to navigate with paper maps and communicate beyond language barriers.Whether exploring near or far, every trip has peaks and valleys that opened my eyes to new perspectives and all of this cultural exposure definitely fueled my curiosity while encouraging a heart full of wanderlust.

During our road trips across the globe, interacting with many different people and new places taught me early on to be an open-minded, adaptable person. Some of my favorite travel experiences came from exploring the local perspective through homestays, visiting regional markets, engaging with traditional artisans, and learning from local makers.

My curiosity led me to study Cultural Anthropology, and when traveling, I prefer tapping into the local experience through culture, history, and food. For me, researching a new place is half of the fun!

Today, I opt to take the scenic route and prioritize responsible travel with respect to local communities and their values. That’s why my City Guides focus on local people, diverse perspectives, and women-led initiatives.

I believe that traveling is a powerful way to get to know yourself and understand the world around you.
Hopefully, my stories will inspire you to get out and explore!

HOW DID YOU END UP IN AMSTERDAM?

Growing up as an active traveler, I had the unique opportunity to explore out of my comfort zone traveling solo and studying abroad
Living in Europe was always a dream of mine. What began as a gap year turned out to be the trip of a lifetime!

After completing my degree in cultural anthropology and women’s studies, I took a leap of faith and traded Florida’s swamps for Amsterdam’s canals.
Throughout different chapters, challenges, and a few lucky breaks, I built a life in this charming city. It wasn’t easy but a decade later, I still have to pinch myself sometimes!
And yes, riding bikes along the canals every day is quite dreamy (except when it's raining).

Why Amsterdam? The city is a cultural and creative hub offering metropolitan energy with a cozy neighborhood feel.

Since moving here, I have always loved wandering different neighborhoods with my camera in hand. Exploring different areas of Amsterdam inspired my first City Guides, and since then, my work has been published in a variety of travel magazines and books, including iAmsterdam, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, Time Out, The Simple Things Magazine, and more.

Over the years, I've watched Amsterdam transform while I have grown up and changed alongside her. I'm excited to see what the next decade brings, whether that's in Amsterdam or beyond!

WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR FREELANCERS?

This is one of the most popular questions I get!

Like many other Millennials trying to survive various economic recessions, I turned my multi-hyphenate creative skills into a freelance career.

I fell into this career path after naturally building up a solid client base as a travel and lifestyle writer. From there, I expanded my wheelhouse into branding and advertising.

For more information about freelancing, check out my blog post.

IS BLOGGING YOUR FULL-TIME JOB?

LilyWanderlust is a personal project, my own creative space to share travel stories and photography.

As an Amsterdam-based freelance Copywriter & Creative Director, I launched my freelance creative studio in 2016. My ‘day job’ involves creating copy, campaign concepts, and visual stories for global lifestyle, fashion, and travel brands.

Writing and photography have been my life-long creative outlets and while many believe we have to exist in a box, I’m happy to be a hybrid-creative! My love for printed publications dates back to crafting photo journals during my childhood travels and my days as lifestyle editor of my school newspaper.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS BESIDES TRAVEL?

My friends often joke that I’m an analog girl stuck in a digital world.
Whether printing a photo, writing a story, or preparing a colorful meal, I love the movement and action of working with my hands to create something from nothing.

As a writer at heart, you’ll always find me with a pen in hand. Handwritten journals have been my go-to way of capturing daily thoughts, ideas, and travel notes. My journals eventually turn into City Guides and blog posts to encourage and inspire others to get out and explore.

My other forever love is film photography. I have been shooting 35mm film and printing in the darkroom for 20 years.
When everyone else went digital, I bought up old Polaroids and continued to keep rolls of film in my refrigerator.
I love collecting and experimenting with vintage cameras. You can browse #analogbylily to discover more.

Working on many different projects and new people is something I love about my job as a freelance creative in Amsterdam.
But sitting behind the computer for too long is my least favorite part of the day.
And that’s probably why this blog is updated so sporadically.

My curious spirit drives me to explore, create, and learn something new daily.
I’m inspired to get outside, interact with the world, and observe other people, places, and perspectives.