A self-proclaimed “Southern hybrid” due to her Alabama roots and her time residing in Southern California, Heather is a multi-award-winning travel journalist. After repeatedly being asked for travel information by others, she created Trimm Travels in 2016.
In addition to her world travels across 6 continents, she enjoys rediscovering her home state of Alabama through the unique lens of both a local and a tourist. This led her to launch Alabama Bucket List in 2020. Who knew rediscovering your own backyard could lead to such amazing journeys?
Heather specializes in food and photography and has won several photography awards with both NATJA and IFWTWA. She truly believes if you aren’t discovering a destination via its food, you’re doing it wrong!
Heather also enjoys wildlife, architectural, cityscape, and nighttime photography.
Her recent travel interests include escape room travel and pet travel. She can often be found flying domestically with her two small dogs. If you spot them in an airport or on a plane, say hi!
1. What got you into travel journalism?
Travel journalism actually found me way before I knew it was a “thing”. After repeatedly being asked “where to go, what to see, what to eat” for so many destinations, I thought there had to be a better way than sounding like a broken record. I was late to the party, but Trimm Travels LLC was conceptualized in late 2015 and launched in 2016.
2. What’s the most challenging part of being a travel journalist?
Balance. There are several hats to wear within this ever-changing industry, in addition to those required of everyday life.
3. What is the most rewarding aspect of travel journalism?
There are so many rewarding aspects. For me, one is when someone says my work influenced or helped them travel to a destination of their dreams, where they made priceless memories. Another is personal growth and validation of my passion.
4. What is something you wish people knew about travel journalism?
It isn’t easy. It’s more than a full-time job. All readers see is the “front end”. So much more (and even many more hours) go into what we do on the “back end”. Working primarily for myself requires a lot of self-discipline, and that isn’t a complaint, just a grateful explanation.
5. How have your cross-cultural experiences shaped your point of view of the world?
To travel answers “the why”. Answering “the why” leads to awareness. Awareness leads to understanding. Understanding leads to patience. Patience leads to acceptance. Acceptance may not always lead to agreement, but it communicates love and respect for different points of view.
6. What have you enjoyed most about being a NATJA member?
Meeting and connecting with so many talented, down-to-earth, like-minded people (media and destinations alike). People who understand. People who get it. People who share my passion. Photography awards are awesome too!
