Hi, I’m Gretchen
Gretchen Stuppy Carlson (Owner of Chasing ADNVTR)
Travel writer • photographer • adventurer
I’m Gretchen Stuppy Carlson, the writer and photographer behind Chasing ADVNTR.
I’ve spent much of my life exploring: from working aboard sail training vessels and spending weeks at sea to hiking, backpacking, skiing, sailing and traveling around the world with my family.
Chasing ADVNTR is where I turn those experiences into practical travel resources, photography and stories designed to help you get out and explore.
Want to Get in Touch? Visit our Contact Page or email me at [email protected]
A life built around adventure
Long before I became a travel writer, I spent nearly two decades working in outdoor and experiential education.
Much of that time was spent aboard sail training vessels, where I worked as a captain, mate, educator and program manager with organizations including Salish Sea Expeditions and Sea Education Association.
Those years shaped the way I think about adventure.
I’ve watched people discover what they’re capable of when they’re challenged. I’ve seen how quickly strangers become a community when they’re working toward something together. And I’ve experienced how travel and time outside can completely change the way we see ourselves and the world.
It’s a perspective I still bring to everything I write.
Then adventure became a family affair
I met my husband, Dave, through the sailing world, and adventure has been part of our life together ever since.
Before kids, we moved around for sailing contracts, traveled between jobs, spent a winter skiing in Colorado and followed opportunities that took us throughout North America, the Caribbean and across the Pacific.
Then we had twins.
And eventually three kids.
We quickly discovered that adventure with children was absolutely possible: it just looked different.
Over the years, our family has hiked, camped, skied, sailed, road-tripped and traveled together across the United States and around the world. Our kids are now teenagers, and the adventures have changed again.
We’re also not full-time travelers – at least not at the moment.
Home is important to us. When we’re not traveling, we’re back in New England with gardens, animals, school schedules, sports and an old farmhouse.
Travel has never been about escaping our everyday life. It’s part of the life we’ve intentionally built.
What you’ll find on Chasing ADVNTR
Chasing ADVNTR combines firsthand travel experience with practical information that helps you plan your own adventures.
You’ll find:
- Detailed destination guides and itineraries
- Hiking and outdoor adventure guides
- Family adventure travel
- Travel photography
- Trip-planning resources
- Firsthand recommendations from places I’ve explored
- Stories and ideas about adventure and why travel matters
I specialize in adventure travel, outdoor experiences, family travel and active trips: especially trips that get you beyond simply seeing a destination, and I love off the beaten path destinations. In my world cities are for stopping for a day or two, but the magic happen in the small towns.
More of my travel work
Chasing ADVNTR is just one part of my travel writing.
I also founded National Parks Club, home of the National Park Journal, where I write about exploring and protecting America’s national parks.
And I publish New England Uncovered, focused on outdoor adventures, road trips, seasonal experiences and places worth exploring throughout New England.
For my more personal travel writing, stories from the road and thoughts about why adventure matters, you can subscribe to the Chasing ADVNTR newsletter.
Work with me
I partner selectively with destinations, lodging properties, outdoor and travel brands, and tourism organizations that align with the kind of travel I cover.
Partnerships can include editorial storytelling, photography, newsletter features, destination coverage and content creation.
Interested in working together? Visit my Work With Me page.
Travel planning
I also offer travel-planning services for travelers who want additional help turning an idea into an actual trip. I take on a limited number of clients a year.
My background as both an experienced traveler and travel advisor gives me a useful perspective: I don’t just write about where to go: I understand the logistics involved in actually making these trips happen.
Learn more about travel planning with Chasing ADVNTR by emailing me at [email protected]
Stories, places, and ideas for a life of adventure.
Thanks for following along.
— Gretchen
Follow along with us on Instagram
When I’m not out exploring with my family, you can also find me writing about Backyard Farming from her home in NH or write on Amazing Charcuterie Boards.
