Colby Lee Burke
Colby Lee Burke is a distinguished travel writer who plies his trade in Portland, Oregon and Charleston, SC. His skill set includes good written and verbal communication, the power of observation and knack for problem solving and reasoning. Colby’s job has given him the opportunity to travel extensively inside and outside the US. The experience has seen him stay in different accommodations, use various means of transportation, visit several historical sites and meet many different people. Colby’s writing domain includes national and international periodicals discussing historical and cultural sites found all across the world.
His extensive traveling retinue has taken him to a number of countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Brazil, and Japan. Down in South Carolina. Colby Lee Hilton Head spends most of his time in Hilton Head, a resort town in South Carolina synonymous with breathtaking beaches and lush green golf courses. The other attractions here include beautiful topography and are wildlife such as the loggerhead sea turtles and manatees. For his holidays, Colby frequently travels to Scotland. The country has always been a great inspiration due to its rich culture, historical landmarks, and amazing humanity. During his free time, Colby Lee Burke enjoys swimming, hiking in the countryside and reading.
What are your favorite books?
I have read many books, but I really enjoyed reading “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho and “The Island at the Center of the World” by Russell Shorto. The latter is set in New York City. In the book, Russell Shorto explores the city’s humble beginnings at the hand of Dutch explorers and documents everything from wars to the cultural impact of Dutch and British settlers.
The book by Paulo Coelho is among the most widely read travel books. It papers the life of a young shepherd boy from Spain who follows his heart and travels to Egypt. The book is inspiring in many ways since it brings out several interesting themes, including love, wonderment and inspiration.
What’s your favorite type of food?
I would just like to reiterate that traveling means so much to me. It forms an integral part of my job and inspires me to go out and explore the world. My frequent travels to Scotland has drawn my attention to delicacies like the Scottish salmon, buttery shortbread and sticky toffee pudding, a popular delicacy and an all British stable. The sticky toffee pudding features a sponge cake, enriched with dates, toffee sauce and ice cream or an option of vanilla custard.
Describe your typical day.
When out of the office, I am usually on the road traveling to various places, camping and writing reviews. I am sort of open to whatever the job throws at me even though the expectations and what I actually encounter may be different. It is always interesting to find myself getting around unfamiliar places with people I barely know.
The budget I often receive is not unlimited, so I have to work within its confines. Because of the experience and demand for the job, I usually take time to perform background research to better understand my destination and map resources. Besides the knowledge, the research helps me craft a more practical and valuable itinerary.
What do you cherish most about working in your industry?
Travel writing is certainly not a holiday as what most people think. It is hard work that takes a lot of time and resources. Travelling to different countries and exotic destinations also requires good planning and connections. I am attached to a travel company, but also work as a freelancer thanks to the exposure my blog and Instagram account.
I was actually contracted because I was able to convince the editors that I could help grow the publication. I enjoy writing about new accommodations and festivals. These types of assignments give me the perfect opportunity to provide an accurate picture and first hand review of places and events while reveling at the happenings. Having said that, safety is obviously a concern to any travel writer, and I take very seriously.
What was your first job?
I started out as a copywriter for a small marketing agency before delving into the deep seas as a travel writer targeting travel websites, guidebooks and magazines. If you want to become a respected travel journalist, you obviously need to have much more than the passion to travel and the skills to fuse sentences. The competitive nature of the industry means majority of travel writers are freelancers, but this may not be an end to itself. I always keep myself on the top of the game by reading different materials and appreciating the varying travel writing clichés.
