The real reasons why I started Many Journeys Blog
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To fall in love with my local area again
In all honesty, one of the main reasons for starting Many Journeys Blog was because I was bored of where I live. I have lived in the Latrobe Valley region of Australia for the majority of my life and was tired of doing the same things over and over.
Starting Many Journeys Blog was an attempt to fall in love with my local area again.
Latrobe Valley isn’t that bad; I was just uninspired.
Surely, I could find some inspiration close to home…
So I spent time taking photos, learning interesting facts, visiting museums and browsing the brochures at information centres. I asked people for recommendations for places to visit and things to do. I booked more weekends away and stopped waiting or “one day” to visit places nearby.
These things reinvigorated me to explore more of my local area.
I also challenged myself to look at everything from a “tourist” perspective. How would I view this place if it was the first time I had ever visited? How would I enjoy this place if I thought I might not ever visit again? This approach worked! I saw the nearby beaches with fresh eyes – clear water, soft sand, spectacular coastlines. How peaceful the National Parks are and how lovely it is to breathe in damp fresh forest air.
Beyond the local area, we are lucky to live within 2 hours drive of Melbourne and beautiful beaches. The Dandenong/Yarra Ranges regions, and the Alpine regions are also within a 2 hour drive. And we have easy access to lots of National Parks.
To see my local area from a different perspective
As humans we often stick with what we know. But starting Many Journeys Blog prompted me to research more local events and activities outside my normal range of interest. We have attended events such as timber festivals and tractor pulls which would never have made it onto my radar in the past!
Purchasing a stand-up paddle (SUP) board also opened my eyes to beautiful local locations where I could enjoy the quiet of nature. I am looking forward to publishing blog posts on where to SUP in my local area!
Obviously, there will be times that venturing into the unknown doesn’t fill you with wonder and joy, but it’s worth a shot!
To learn new skills
In the past my hobbies were things like sewing, felting and scrapbooking with many failed attempts at knitting and crochet. But I wanted something different. Starting Many Journeys Blog would push me to learn new skills.
Learning to build a website seemed fun so the decision was made. Then I realised I should also learn about SEO, call to actions, mailing lists, social media etc etc! So, the learning curve was far larger than I expected but I have loved it!
Whilst I did my best to build a sound website from the start, I ended up doing a complete website rebuild in 2024 – 2025. Why did I rebuild the website? Well, in my inexperience I had used many different page builders (WordPress, Elementor, WP Bakery) which were slowing the site. I was also battling with a clunky theme that for many years I assumed was an issue with my lack of skills, but the reviews for the theme started to show that it wasn’t just me struggling. I purchased a new theme and started the rebuild with a tad more experience than before.
The learning curve with blogging will ever end, and I am here for it!
To reminisce on past trips
Oh, the time I have spent distracted by photos from previous trips! I go searching for a specific photo, but instead spend an hour scrolling through photos remembering the fun adventures, delicious food and wonderful people (or the opposite of all those things!).
There is something so wonderful about revisiting past trips and turning them into blog posts. I always learn something new about the location, or notice a detail in a photo, or giggle about something silly that happened.
On a side note, the blog has been great at motivating me to properly label photos and keep them organised in folders for later retrieval!
To be like the “cool” kids
For years I had followed awesome travel blogs such as World Travel Family, Be My Travel Muse, Nomadic Matt and Where Goes Rose (to name a few). My admiration for those bloggers is huge and their honest blog posts about blogging for income made me ponder whether I could do that too!
At this stage the blog is a hobby, but I do want to make it into an income stream in the coming years.
To inspire others to travel even if it is only local
Travel does not have to be complicated with multiple flights, expensive hotels, decadent dining and pricey tourist attractions. The expectation for grand holidays often stops people from travelling until they have enough money to do it all. But I really want to encourage people to travel in any way they can. Keep it simple and do what is within your means.
Where to from here for Many Journeys Blog?
My vision for Many Journeys Blog is to inspire others to travel more regardless of how far the journey is – near or far, it doesn’t matter, just get out and explore!
I would love if you stayed for my blogging journey as I build destination guides, travel blog posts and share honest stories.
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