Meet Kym Tyson, one half of the dynamic duo behind 33andFree. Once a corporate professional in Los Angeles, she and her husband Kevin now document their adventures as full-time travelers. She’s already an active contributor to our travel community, and for the next three months, she is Flipboard’s Traveler in Residence. You may have come across some Magazines she curates, such as Travel the U.S.A from 33andFree or Hiking the World, a Group Magazine featuring posts from other travel bloggers.
I recently chatted with Kym to learn more about how she and Kevin came to be full-time travelers, their experiences with Flipboard and their curation approach. Here are some highlights from our conversation.
Share a brief introduction about yourself and your travel journey.
Our story started like many stories. We got married and thought that working our way up in the corporate world was the way to success. We got to a great place in life, but it always felt like something was missing. We were working in Los Angeles during the week and driving up to five hours to get into nature on the weekends. Eventually, we realized weekends were not enough, so we quit our jobs, sold everything we owned, and went on the road full time. We focused our time on exploring new places and getting outside, camping in some of the most beautiful places in the United States, mountain biking and hiking some epic trails. As we grew ourselves, we started helping others realize the benefits of being in nature and being outdoors.
Where does your passion for adventure and outdoor travel come from?
I have always loved experiencing new places. I have been traveling internationally with my mom since I was five. When Kevin and I met, that continued — we even went on a five-week backpacking trip through western Europe six months into our relationship. We moved to California and had all the national forests and national parks at our disposal. We started backcountry camping and fell more in love with the solitude and beauty that nature provided. It has progressed from there to 20+ mile day hikes to see more. The challenge of completing a hike or the satisfaction of being outdoors for eight hours keeps us going. It also makes pizza and a cold Coca-Cola that much better at night!
What is your favorite destination, and why?
This is a question that we are never able to give a simple answer to. My short answer is, I don’t have one, and my long answer is, what kind of traveling are we talking about? Are we traveling for hiking and outdoor adventure, city life enriched with history, or a relaxing time on the beach?
When I say that the United States is one of my favorite countries to explore, people look at me quizzically. It is incredibly diverse and has some of the most beautiful and unique natural locations in the world. People tend to think that they have to travel internationally to get a truly unique experience, but you really don’t have to look far.
Don’t get me wrong, traveling internationally is something I don’t take for granted, and I love that we can experience new cultures, see history, and witness some of the most beautiful places in nature. Some of our favorite international destinations are Dominical, Costa Rica; Nice, France; Seoul, South Korea; Regensburg, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; and Sydney, Australia.
Who are the voices that you turn to for travel and hiking inspiration?
The late Anthony Bourdain and his last TV show, “Parts Unknown,” really provided some new places we hadn’t considered. The journalism in his TV show provided a lot of motivation. Food really was a main reason for us to travel to cities and new international locations, so his work provided a lot of inspiration.
As our travels turned to hiking and exploring beautiful trails, we looked up to trail ultra runners from around the world. We also look up to a lot of these runners, as their stewardship of the trails and local communities is amazing.
What are the five things you always travel with?
This is another hard question. It depends on what kind of travel we are doing. Are we flying or are we in the RV? I provided a list for both.
When we travel by plane: Rumpl blanket, headphones (wireless and wired), our current favorite snack, running shoes, and an anti-itch stick for mosquito bites.
When we travel by RV: Rumpl blanket, running gear, PS5, sun screen, and extra socks!
What are some tips you have for other travel enthusiasts who want to make the most of Flipboard?
Flipboard gives you the opportunity to really curate your own feed with articles that you are interested in. If it is hiking, then make sure to let Flipboard know that is an interest. Follow profiles and topics, and you can flip through everyday learnings about new locations and destinations.
Tell us about your own curation approach and what we can expect to see on your Flipboard profile.
We took two approaches to our Magazines and Storyboards. We highlight our travels and the places we have fallen in love with — including exploring Europe, and fun free camping for a budget road trip. We also include blog posts from other sources, so you can discover writers we admire.
We’ve also created several Group Magazines so we can collaborate with other travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. Our Hiking the World Magazine is focused solely on experiences on the trail. People can read how it really feels to be out there and see some of the most beautiful places in the world.We find this community very valuable since we can’t make it to every trail, and having others contribute helps us be a better resource to our followers and fellow adventure seekers. In our National Parks Around the World Magazine, we’ve invited outdoor enthusiasts to share travel stories about protected places, tips on how to travel responsibly, what you shouldn’t miss, and what makes the place unique.
We are always looking for contributors to either of these Magazines. So, say hi and let’s connect!
— Jessica Jordan, community and marketing lead, is contributing to The Travel Exchange