Share
Tweet
I was scrolling through old posts on Downtown Traveler when it hit me: this November marks the blog's third anniversary!
Downtown Traveler was founded in November 2010 after my fiance and I returned from a round-the-world trip and had settled back in New York.
Our adventure began when we left our corporate jobs to travel in Spring 2008, several months before the Great Recession led to massive layoffs. When we departed, the idea of a career break or round-the-world trip (RTW) was far from mainstream in America. Even the airline reps who helped book our RTW ticket were bemused and a bit confused by the process! Just a few months later, when thousands of professional Americans found themselves out of jobs, the media embraced stories of corporate refugees on long-term adventures.
I caught the writing bug on our trip and blogged throughout, although always on a third party platform (first MyTravelBlog.org and then Examiner.com). Since we didn't have a branded site, we missed out on the media coverage and early boost in followers experienced by other US "early adopters" of RTW blogging.
However, there were benefits to waiting to start a branded site. We had more time to flesh out a concept and find a suitable name, and didn't have to limit the focus to budget travel or backpacking.
In fact, our most popular content includes an eclectic mix of arts, culture and travel stories. Scroll down for top posts from the past year.
1. Review: What to expect at Blackout Haunted House in New York City (Halloween 2013)
2. Top 5 tips for visiting New York City (from a Manhattan tour guide)
3. Shopping guide: The best Los Angeles flea markets (photos)
4. Camping 101: Top 5 packing tips for first-time campers
5. What to expect at NYC's scariest Halloween haunted house: 2012 Blackout Haunted House Review
6. Travel photography 101: The best places to take photos in New York City
7. Best free places to see art in New York City: Galleries, museums and more
8. Best of China: Top 5 street foods in Xiamen (photos)
9. London’s top 5 emerging art galleries (photos)
10. Shopping guide: The best Montreal vintage stores offer fashion, fur and art
I was scrolling through old posts on Downtown Traveler when it hit me: this November marks the blog's third anniversary!
Downtown Traveler was founded in November 2010 after my fiance and I returned from a round-the-world trip and had settled back in New York.
Our adventure began when we left our corporate jobs to travel in Spring 2008, several months before the Great Recession led to massive layoffs. When we departed, the idea of a career break or round-the-world trip (RTW) was far from mainstream in America. Even the airline reps who helped book our RTW ticket were bemused and a bit confused by the process! Just a few months later, when thousands of professional Americans found themselves out of jobs, the media embraced stories of corporate refugees on long-term adventures.
I caught the writing bug on our trip and blogged throughout, although always on a third party platform (first MyTravelBlog.org and then Examiner.com). Since we didn't have a branded site, we missed out on the media coverage and early boost in followers experienced by other US "early adopters" of RTW blogging.
However, there were benefits to waiting to start a branded site. We had more time to flesh out a concept and find a suitable name, and didn't have to limit the focus to budget travel or backpacking.
In fact, our most popular content includes an eclectic mix of arts, culture and travel stories. Scroll down for top posts from the past year.
Top Posts of 2013
1. Review: What to expect at Blackout Haunted House in New York City (Halloween 2013)
2. Top 5 tips for visiting New York City (from a Manhattan tour guide)
3. Shopping guide: The best Los Angeles flea markets (photos)
4. Camping 101: Top 5 packing tips for first-time campers
5. What to expect at NYC's scariest Halloween haunted house: 2012 Blackout Haunted House Review
6. Travel photography 101: The best places to take photos in New York City
7. Best free places to see art in New York City: Galleries, museums and more
8. Best of China: Top 5 street foods in Xiamen (photos)
9. London’s top 5 emerging art galleries (photos)
10. Shopping guide: The best Montreal vintage stores offer fashion, fur and art
