When you have lived in a place, even a touristy place, all your life you sometimes forget that people love to visit it. When Alex and I saw Fie’s, from Departures Army, vlog on her road trip from Alex’s home off Highway 1 and my home we had to share it. It is always nice to see your home through someone else’s eyes and relive what makes your home great. We hope you enjoy this little slice of our home and check out Fie’s other videos on youtube.
My name is Fie, I’m a 22 year old traveller from Denmark. I have never been much of a writer, but I love to do creative stuff so I started my youtube channel about a year ago, documenting my travels and adventures. Hoping to inspire others to travel themselves. There is nothing more rewarding then finding yourself, which I believe I’m doing when I travel. At the moment I’m living in Southland, New Zealand and within the last 12 months I have been in Tanzania, England, Holland and on a 6 week road trip around Western USA. Don’t forget to be you, we are all creative spirits travelling through life.
{"html":"Why a Road Trip Along Highway 1 Works So Well
There is a reason the coastal highway is one of the most filmed and photographed drives in the world. The road hugs the edge of the continent, so the scenery changes every few miles: fog-wrapped headlands, open stretches of beach, cliffs that drop straight into the Pacific, and small towns that seem to have been put there purely for a coffee stop. For someone arriving from the other side of the planet, it feels like a film set. For those of us who grew up beside it, it is simply the way home.
Fie's vlog captures something that locals easily miss: the road itself is the attraction. You do not need a packed itinerary. Some of the best moments on a trip like this are unplanned, like pulling over at a viewpoint because the light looks good, or following a sign to a place you have never heard of. That is exactly the spirit of this site, and it is why her film felt worth sharing.
How a Trip Like This Comes Together
A six week road trip around the western United States sounds like a huge undertaking, and it can be, but it is built from small, simple decisions. Most travellers start with a loose route, pick a handful of must-see places, and leave the days in between open. Fie's approach, travelling light and filming as she goes, shows how much you can fit in without turning the journey into a schedule.
- Choose an anchor: decide on a starting point and an end point, then let the middle stay flexible.
- Leave buffer days: weather, tiredness and unexpected recommendations all deserve room.
- Drive in short stretches: distances look small on a map but coastal roads are slow, winding and full of reasons to stop.
- Keep a record: whether it is a vlog, a notebook or photos, you will be glad of it later.
If you are planning your own journey, our Travel Advice page collects more practical thoughts on getting started.
Seeing Home Through a Visitor's Eyes
It is a strange and lovely experience to watch a stranger discover a place you take for granted. Things you walk past every week suddenly look remarkable: the way the mist burns off by midday, the smell of the sea air, the friendliness of a roadside cafe. Watching Fie's footage made both of us stop and remember why people travel across oceans to see it.
It is always nice to see your home through someone else's eyes.
That feeling is at the heart of travel. Visitors bring fresh curiosity, and locals get a reminder to look up from their routines. The exchange goes both ways, and a good vlog can carry that warmth to people who may never have visited at all.
The Spirit Behind Travelling Solo and Young
Fie describes herself as a 22 year old traveller who never saw herself as a writer, yet she found a voice through video. That matters. Many people assume you need a professional camera, a polished script or years of experience before you can share your adventures. In reality, an honest view of the places you visit, and a willingness to be yourself on camera, is what makes people want to watch.
Moving between Southland in New Zealand, Tanzania, England, Holland and the western United States in a single year shows how travel can become a way of life rather than a one-off holiday. Each place teaches something different, from the wide-open quiet of the far south to the colour and bustle of East Africa. Her closing thought, that we are all creative spirits travelling through life, is a good one to carry on any road.
Keep Exploring
If this slice of the coast has you daydreaming, there is plenty more to enjoy across the site. Browse Where In The World Have We Been for more destinations, take A Glimpse of other places, see My Favorite discoveries, or check What We Are Craving for the food and flavours we keep thinking about. And of course, head back to Home for the latest stories.
Most of all, go and watch Fie's other videos, then pick a road of your own. There is nothing quite like finding yourself somewhere new, and sometimes the best adventure begins just down the highway from where you started.
What to Look For Along the Way
Coastal driving rewards patience. If you take the highway slowly, small details start to stand out: the colour of the water changing from grey to turquoise as the sun shifts, seabirds riding the wind along the cliffs, and wildflowers clinging to the roadside in spring. Fie's footage is a good reminder that the quiet moments between the famous stops are often the ones that stay with you.
It also helps to know that the weather on the coast is moody. Mornings can be cool and misty even when the afternoon turns bright, so layers are your friend. Pack a light jacket, keep a water bottle within reach, and give yourself time to stop whenever a view demands it.
- Viewpoints and pull-outs: use them rather than stopping on the road, both for safety and for the best angles.
- Small local cafes: they are often the best place to ask residents what is worth seeing nearby.
- Golden hour: early morning and late afternoon give the softest light for photos and filming.
- Slow stretches: when the road twists along the cliffs, enjoy it rather than rushing to the next town.
Why Sharing Stories Matters
Part of the joy of travel is passing it on. A single video, post or conversation can plant an idea in someone else's head, and that idea can grow into a trip they would never have imagined. That is why we wanted to feature Fie's work here. Her enthusiasm is honest and unpolished, and it reminds viewers that adventure is not reserved for experts.
So whether you are a lifelong local who has forgotten how special home can be, or a would-be traveller still dreaming over a map, take a moment to look again. The world, and the road right outside your door, is full of stories waiting to be told.
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