*Photo of Christie Brown @*christiebrown_

Exploring Life on the Open Road

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From a curious Scottish teen with an Indiana Jones obsession and a dream of learning to surf, Christie Brown’s journey has evolved far beyond adventure for adventure’s sake. What began as a desire to explore the furthest corners of the world has grown into something deeper with a mission to design a lifestyle rooted in freedom, creativity, and connection.

After years working and traveling the world by boat immersed in far-reaching cultures and ever-changing landscapes Christie’s idea of travel began to shift. She now balances a lifestyle of movement in and out of van life: hiking remote trails, cooking under the stars, and embracing the kind of off-grid simplicity that brings her closer to the things that matter. These experiences have shaped a growing awareness of the environmental impact of how we live and move through the world, and sparked a desire to live more consciously.

Christie aims to use her skills as a videographer, artist, and storyteller to spotlight and collaborate with changemakers, supporting cultural preservation, and inspire more sustainable, creative ways of living.

Background

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I’m a Scottish lass - born and raised on the moody coastline belonging to the suburbs of Edinburgh. I come from very humble working-class roots and for which I am grateful! We never really went on extravagant holidays growing up, instead, we spent summers camping in places like the Lake District with lots of hiking, wild swimming and waiting for dad to catch a fish from the river! We were also probably the last generation to actually play outside in the mud and build “gang huts” in the bushes before the “screen revolution” invaded - another thing I am truly grateful for more every day.

*2 Camping picnic with Dad and Lorna (my twin sister). @*christiebrown_

What sparked your passion for road-tripping and exploring nature?

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Honestly, Indiana Jones. I was a little obsessed when I was a wee girl. He was always off on these mad adventures in obscure places and that (hilariously) is what lit the adventure spark. From then it grew into my adult years when it came time to make that big decision - what to do after high school?

I’ve never been one of those people who has known exactly what they wanted to do as a career. The only thing I can say I have ever been certain of in my life is my need for adventure. Thankfully I don't have the kind of parents who pressured me to enrol into a university or college course, besides what would I study… “how to become Indiana Jones but only the cool parts - not the boring museum stuff”?! So, I opted for the good old gap year to Australia at the age of 18…which has in a way evolved into a bit of a “gap life”.

I went on to work as crew on board yachts all over the world and stopped for ACTUAL travel breaks in between jobs as often as I could afford to. In order to keep the adventures alive into my 30s I now own a campervan in the US which I use to travel in with my South African boyfriend, Shaun, whenever we get the chance.

*3 My 18 year old self after landing a job at a surf camp in Aus and finally learning how to surf. @*christiebrown_

Can you share one of your most memorable road trips in your van?

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The national parks have our hearts. Our very first national park we visited in Morrison (the van) was Big Bend in Texas - one that most overlook when planning their trips as it is so far out of the way. I will never forget that moment driving towards the park and seeing the terrain change almost immediately from flat dirt expanse into a golden canyon and mountains as far as the eye could see.

*Photo by Christie Brown @*christiebrown_

We camped in the Chisos Basin under the darkest skies in America and took in the stars - brighter than I had ever seen them from the lack of light pollution in this corner of the world. We hiked to vistas that made us and any problems feel very insignificant. We rafted through the divide between US and Mexico via the Rio Grande river as the cliffs towered high above us on either side. To top it off - what's a trip to texas without visiting the only saloon for miles around, eating some homemade chili, sipping cold beer and listening to local country musicians play.

Since that first park experience we have been moving our way through as many as we can in any time off we can get - so far we are up to 28! Each holds their own special memories, all of which I have documented in great detail in my journal which I plan on making a book out of some day (as well as reflect on in my own travel blog launching this year).

What are some of your favourite hiking trails, and what makes them special to you?

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I have hiked all over the world and certainly have my favorites. The ones that spring to mind first are in Washington State - one of my favourite places in the world! Especially in the autumn months when the larch trees show off yellow hues you never knew were possible. Whether it's around Mount Rainier, North Cascades or just in the middle of nowhere - I honestly don't think there is a single bad hike in Washington.

Outside of Washington tho I have to give special mention to Tongariro Crossing and Chapman’s Peak in New Zealand, the Munros of Scotland, the Drakensberg amphitheatre in South Africa, 3 lakes in the Rocky Mountains - Colorado, Zion national park and all the sneaky little hidden paths I will keep mysterious in Alaska.

How do you choose the locations for your hikes, and what do you look for in a good hiking spot?

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We tend to just travel where we want to go and research the best hikes when we get there to be honest! The places we travel in the van will always have countless amazing options to choose from - especially in the national parks. I think my favourite hikes are the ones that offer incredible views the whole way up or have changing terrains and features round every corner to keep my ADHD brain stimulated at all times.

I've found that hiking in off peak seasons is always preferable - there is nothing like hitting a trail the day before a park closes for the season and having the views all to yourself. To me it makes the whole experience so much more majestic than if there are crowds of people surrounding you.

What are some unique experiences you've had while travelling by boat?

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I never particularly enjoyed the work itself when it came to my time on board the multitude of vessels I have worked on, but the places I have been able to witness will stick with me forever. One boat in particular allowed me to venture into parts of the world few will ever get to witness. In less than a year we went to Texas, Panama, Galapagos, Costa Rica, Mexico, California, Washington, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Fiji and New Zealand (and all the little islands in between). There is only so far wheels can take you in a lot of these places!

How does travelling by boat differ from your road trips or hikes, in terms of the experiences and scenery?

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I will give one example of a favourite moment of mine that travelling by boat allowed me to experience that any other mode of transport would not have allowed for. We were cruising around in southern Alaska, with no guests on board so the crew were free to make some stops in some breathtaking anchorages as we moved to our next destination.

This one particular spot was in one of the wildest areas I have ever witnessed, mountains dense with thick forest, eagles circling in the fog and salmon jumping all around us. There was nobody else around, just us and the sound of a roaring waterfall not too far away. A few of us decided to take our cameras and the kayaks to try and get a closer look.

Once we had pulled our kayaks onto the pebble beach we were stunned by what we witnessed next. About fifteen (very large) bears fishing for salmon right under the falls. We stood in amazement and watched them for about an hour as more showed up and we got to see a mother bear attempt to teach her naughty cubs how to catch a fish. They started to get a little too close for comfort so we paddled our way back to the boat - one of my best boat moments to date!

How did you get into nature videography, and what equipment do you typically use?

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It all started with me making short montages of my adventures just using my phone to show family and friends what I was getting up to. While doing that I was shooting photography on my Fujifilm. It took me far too long to realise that I could be shooting high quality footage on that very Fujifilm camera - that was the big turning point. No longer was I just documenting - I was purposefully capturing authentic moments cinematically with brand new eyes (...and lenses).

Can you share a favourite project or video that you’re particularly proud of?

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I am very critical of all of my work, so it takes a lot for me to ever say I am proud of something I have produced. There is one montage I created of some of my favourite footage from my time working in Alaska and travelling in my van up in the Pacific Northwest, that transports me back. The selection of shots really captures the essence of my journey, and it’s the JOURNEY that I am most proud of.

Christie Brown - Show Reel

YouTube

What is your go-to recipes for campfire cooking, and do you have any tips for cooking outdoors?

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Cooking in the wilderness on a van trip with Shaun must be one of my ultimate happy places. I have always loved cooking and am always striving to learn new recipes and find interesting ways of keeping us healthy on the road while still considering the practicality of van cooking with a limited water supply for washing dishes. The key is a good one pot meal if using your camp stove or if you are doing fire cooking - a good cast iron pan!

On the camp stove I have been known to make a wide variety of world foods and become an expert at “making it work” with whatever bits and bobs we made have left in our little fridge. It is a massive part of it - you really have to be adaptable and willing to experiment.

The likelihood of always having all the ingredients you need for a specific recipe and being organised enough to know a week in advance what you are going to cook for every meal is unrealistic (at least for us!) Our favourite stove meals have been things like a rich, spicy spag bol, a mushroom risotto, bangers and mash, tacos, veggie chili, chicken noodle soup, gnocchi - all hearty homely meals to recharge our energy after long days of hiking and biking!

As for camp fire cooking, I love using up some leftover chili to make some campfire nachos in foil pockets with melted cheese!

Can you share a memorable campfire meal or experience?

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The first one that comes to mind was in late fall last year just outside Grand Teton national park. We had arrived at one of our favourite camp spots in the late afternoon which has the best view of the Grand Teton range I think you could ask for. The smoke in the air from a nearby forest fire cast an orange glow everywhere and there wasn't a soul around. It felt like it was just us and the Tetons.

Since we had arrived at the camp spot early for once we decided to really take our time about the dinner making process. Shaun mixed up some beef, breadcrumbs and spices and cooked probably one of the best burgers i have ever had with one of the greatest views in the world.

I caramelised some onions and melted some cheese onto the meat, toasted the buns and spread on a spicy mayo. That night the stars came out and revealed the majestic view of the Tsuchinshaun Atlas comet passing over the mountains and some van lifer buddies joined us for smores. Perfect evening.

*The view of the Tetons by night with the comet overhead. @*christiebrown_

What’s one of the most unusual jobs you’ve had while backpacking?

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Probably the lightbulbing.

Let me explain… I was extremely broke while travelling in Australia when I was 18. I was down to zero, when someone mentioned there was a job out there that hired backpackers to help introduce energy saving lightbulbs to the people of Victoria and paid you per bulb you installed. It involved literally knocking on basically everyone in the state of Victoria’s door with a trailer full of various bulbs and offering to swap all of their bulbs to energy saving ones.

I had the pleasure of meeting so many weird and wonderful Aussies from all walks of life - some even cooked me dinner. My partner in crime, Shelley and I quickly worked out a more efficient system to make more money off of the whole thing and eventually the bank account was looking a lot healthier!

Aside from that, I have worked in many, many different jobs that have helped me get from A to B - even if it was just for some free accommodation. Some of these included farming in Hawaii, cleaning hostels, washing boats, bartending, waitressing, signing people up for the “Obama Phones” initiative in East LA or even as a balloon blower upper in a supermarket! It’s funny what opportunities pop up on the road, you have to learn to just go with it.

*Getting some farming lessons in Hawaii @*christiebrown_

How have these diverse job experiences shaped your perspective on travel and adventure?

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It really does teach you to be adaptable. You can't ever make solid plans because you do not know how things are going to turn out. Sometimes you get to a place, or a job and it isn't what you thought, or you might meet people along the way who have a way better plan and you join them instead.

I think it has also taught me a lot about just general safety, especially when travelling as a solo female. You get good at reading people and situations and knowing who you can trust. I was very lucky that I never encountered any dangerous situations when I very easily could have with some of the probably stupid decisions I have made over the years. I have some great stories from some of the weird travel scenarios I've landed myself in, but I am also very aware that things could have turned out very differently.

How do you balance your love for adventure with the practical aspects of life?

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Up until now I have managed to make it work by applying the “work hard, adventure hard” method! For the past 12 years I have worked in an industry that really takes a lot out of you, but pays pretty well at the same time - the yachting industry.

I always set aside a chunk of the year to earn money so that when the time came to take leave or move on I have enough saved to travel wherever I got the urge to go. The van is also a good way of being able to move from place to place without having to worry about the increasing costs of accommodation - although that of course comes with its own expenses.

Now that I am trying to move away from the yachting industry, I am trying to formulate a new lifestyle that will still allow me to adventure even if I don’t have that same money coming in - like freelancing in order to maintain freedom. It helps a lot that when I do leave home for a trip my apartment is rented out on airbnb which really helps cover the costs of mortgages and bills and other boring things that come with adulting.

This year so far, since I am going through some major life adjustments, I have focussed more on short term trips rather than my usual mega trips that can last up to a year. It helps keep that travel itch scratched in the meantime while I formulate a more long-term life plan!

What advice would you give to someone looking to embark on a similar lifestyle of travel and exploration?

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Just do it. The more you think about it the more likely you are to talk yourself out of it or find a reason why it's “not a good idea” or “not the right time”. When I first signed up to go on my first gap year at 18, I couldn't even successfully catch a bus in my own hometown, and I was too shy to speak to anyone.

Travel changed me in all the ways I needed to be changed. I gained confidence, I can talk to anyone, I learned how to be on my own and think independently instead of just going along with the crowd, I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses and where my values lie. Travel and adventure is in my blood now and I don’t think that will ever change. Buy the ticket.

Are there any specific destinations or adventures you have on your bucket list?

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All of them. If someone could pay me to go, would that be great.

I specifically have South America in my mind right now. Patagonia and Chile look like a dream to me right now.

How do you think your perspectives or values have changed when it comes to travel after adventuring for over 15 years?

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I often say I wish I could start again and travel to all those many places with my now established set of values that travel, along with maturing and becoming generally more aware, have instilled in me. When it all started, I wanted to travel for no reason other than I wanted to learn to surf and I didn't want to be shy anymore.

But now, travelling in my 30s I see things very differently. I have real concern for our planet - climate change, biodiversity, big business vs local business, tourism vs conscious travel, culture and the loss of it, the effect of politics and corrupt leaders, the value of mental health and getting outside and being active, nutrition and food deserts, seeing a place for the essence of what it truly is over getting clicks or likes on an Instagram post. That pretty much covers my list of my constant inner monologue of concerns at the minute - it’s exhausting!

How do you envision your passion for road-tripping, hiking, and videography evolving in the future?

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Going forward I want to find a way of blending my values with my love for travel and my skills as a creative. I dream about one day being able to work alongside or develop my own initiative that helps serve nature, communities and cultures through sustainability and lifestyle projects/business ventures. I owe it to the planet after all it has given to me!