Traveler Tuesday – Bret & Mary of Green Global Travel

This Traveler Tuesday series has really allowed me to meet some of the most inspiring travel bloggers. And the travelers I am going to introduce you to today are the epitome of motivation when it comes to environmentally conscious journeys. As more and more natural disasters steal the headlines in our daily news cycle it is becoming increasingly important to think about how each and every one of us can fight the good fight when it comes to the planet.

Bret and Mary of Green Global Travel are on a mission to educate the world about ecotourism, nature/wildlife conservation, and cultural preservation. They encourage people to travel more adventurously, consciously and sustainably. I can get on board with that!

On a side note, I love how they live their brand. One of the other of these two amazing travelers is always wearing green!

Let’s meet travel bloggers Bret & Mary!

[1] When and how did you become a traveler?
Both of us fell in love with travel at an early age. Mary took a big trip to France and Switzerland with her family when she was nine. Bret did a life-changing 3-week tour of Italy with the Atlanta Boy Choir, turning 12 in Rome 4 days before singing for Pope John Paul II in the Vatican. But really, it was meeting each other and starting to travel together in early 2009 that ignited the passion that became Green Global Travel

[2] What kind of traveler do you define yourself as?
We focus primarily on ecotourism, which is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. For us, that includes nature/wildlife, outdoor adventure, indigenous culture and cuisine, and history.

[3] What do you love most about traveling?
Learning more about the people, animals, ecosystems, and history of the places we visit; making connections that give us a deeper sense of those places; and sharing those stories with our readers. We genuinely believe that responsible travel can help make the world a better place, and we love sharing our passion for ecotourism with people in a way that hopefully inspires them to travel more adventurously and consciously.

[4] What do you dislike about traveling?
Being away from home, Bret's daughter (who's with us half the time), and our two dogs. That's the most difficult thing for us, by far.

[5] Why should people travel?
There are so many reasons. First off, I believe that getting outside our comfort zone and exploring the world helps make us smarter and better global citizens. Too many people live in insulated, isolated bubbles that limit the scope of their worldview. Travel is the antidote to that, because it forces us to make connections with people and cultures who (hopefully) are very different from our own. To quote Mark Twain, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s life.”

[6] What famous person would you like to travel with?
For Mary, it's Jane Goodall, because of her perspective on mankind's relationship with nature. For Bret, it's Jimmy Carter, because of his humanitarian work and lifelong mission to make the world a better place. We're fortunate to have interviewed both of these icons for Green Global Travel!

[7] Travel essentials
We always travel with earplugs, multiple cameras, and snacks (usually protein bars and mixed nuts)

[8] If you’re a foodie, what's your favorite food city?
Mary loves Greece: We visited 7-10 islands and almost every meal was exceptional. Bret's a big fan of Asheville, North Carolina, which has an excellent Green Restaurant scene.

[9] What's one location on your bucket list?
Ethiopia (Mary), India (Bret)

[10] Do you have a piece of advice for bloggers starting out?
If you want to be professional and be a full-time blogger, treat your blog as a business from the very beginning. Learn about branding, set goals, network, keep learning and expanding your skill set, and seek advice/training from more experienced bloggers. The industry has become glutted in recent years, so figure out what you're so passionate about that you'd be willing to do it for free for the rest of your life if you had to. When we started out, we weren't trying to make money. We just wanted to write stories about ecotourism and conservation, which none of my many freelance clients were interested in. Over time, we carved out our own niche and wound up working with many of the brands we loved (National Geographic, World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy). Having a passion for travel is great, but you have to figure out what makes you unique if you want to stand out.

Bret & Mary's Lightning Round of Favorites

Airport: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. If we're there, it means we're traveling.
Mode of Transportation: Car. We love taking road trips together!
City or Country: This is an impossible question, but our most recent favorites include Scotland and Rwanda.
Travel Gear: Eagle Creek luggage and Ex Officio clothing.
Travel snack: Protein Bars. We never travel without them.
Book: Rick Steves' Europe (Mary) and Jon Krakauer's Into The Wild (Bret)
Movie: Indiana Jones trilogy (Mary) and The Princess Bride (Bret)
Song: “Feelin' Good” by Nina Simone (Mary) and “The Professor & la Fille Danse” by Damien Rice (Bret)

Thanks Bret & Mary!

You can keep up with Bret & Mary on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and of course on their blog. Wherever you catch them, I am sure you will enjoy their travel adventures!

How about you? What would you like to know about Bret & Mary?

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