travel insurance masterGet to know one of our Travel Insurance Master affiliates, Monica Champagne of Champagne On Deck. Based in Texas, Monica hopes to inspire others to find their own calm in nature.
Blog: Champagne On Deck
Instagram @MonicaChampagne
Monica, when did you start your blog?
November 2020
Walk me through how or why you started?
When Covid 19 quarantine began in Texas during March of 2020, like everyone else's family we started getting creative with ways to entertain our children and ourselves. After all of the board games were played and all of the puzzles put together, we started to explore new hobbies. I built a garden, dabbled in sewing projects, and purchased a Cricut to make iron-ons and vinyl stickers. Eventually, wanderlust got the best of us and we began shopping for a starter travel trailer.
Getting away from our suburban home and immersed in nature provided a sense of peace and serenity that cannot be prescribed by a doctor. We learned to appreciate nature in a new way. We started noticing things we ignored before and found calm in a time of stress and worry.
The more we traveled, the more my Texas friends asked me about places to camp and things to do. What started as a family scrapbook has morphed into a blog that attempts to inspire others to find their own calm in nature.
Do you feature a specific type of travel or area?
Yes! My blog focuses on road trips from the North Texas area. I share my RV and cabin camping experiences and advice, campsite and camping gear reviews, and camping activities for kids.
What is your favorite part about being a blogger?
Connecting with other people who have the same interests as I do. In addition to connecting through the blog, I have had the opportunity to more personally connect with readers through our Texas RV Camping Moms and Grandmothers Facebook Group.
What is your favorite or dream destination?
We would love to visit The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort one day. We have done the whole Disney resort vacation, but not since we purchased our RV. Nobody does it like Disney!
What is your favorite travel tip?
Don’t overbook yourself. Schedule downtime on your vacations, especially if you travel with children. Midday naps or midweek free days will make the rest of the vacation more enjoyable and prevent meltdowns. Besides, a vacation should be a time to recharge as well as a time for adventure.
What other suggestions do you have for travelers?
As an RV road tripper, I would say enjoy the journey. Research the points of interest along the way and schedule plenty of time to stop and enjoy some of them.
What suggestions do you have for bloggers or what has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome with your blog?
When I first got into this, I had no idea just how clueless I was. I built a webpage and began telling my story. I thought that would be enough. Ask yourself, “Who are you writing for?” Are you writing for yourself because you enjoy it or just want to document your travels? Are you writing to inspire or motivate others? Or, are you writing for search engine optimization? Any answer is correct, but the third is the only one that is profitable and it takes a lot of time and work. I am very new to this myself. I have learned a lot, and every day I’m finding more things that I need to learn about. It is going to take time. My advice here is the same as above, “enjoy the journey” or you will burn out.
How can our readers follow your travels?
Follow me on Instagram @MonicaChampagne and subscribe to my blog Champagne On Deck to never miss a post.
Anything else you would like to share?
If you are a woman who enjoys camping in the southwest United States, we would love to connect with you through our Facebook group at Texas RV Camping Moms and Grandmothers Facebook Group.
Be sure to follow Instagram @MonicaChampagne and subscribe to Champagne On Deck!
