Why California?
My name is Chris Christensen. I moved to California in June of 1964 at the age of 3. Except for 5 years in college in upstate New York, I have been here ever since.
I love traveling the world, but California is still one of my favorite places. It has some of the best cities, best national parks, brightest and most talented artists, chefs, and nerds like me. Let me introduce you to my favorite state.
This California Travel site is an Amateur Traveler site. The Amateur Traveler podcast and blog are the creation of Chris Christensen.
Why should you trust me?
I have been an online travel journalist (blogger and podcaster) since 2005.
I have won awards and recognition, including:
- 2025 – Named to the Podcasting Hall of Fame, class
- 2024 – Travel Creator Award for Best Travel Podcast at TBEX North America
- 2018 – Amateur Traveler won a bronze for Best Travel Podcast in the North America Travel Journalism awards.
- 2016 – Amateur Traveler won a gold for Best Travel Podcast in the North America Travel Journalism awards
- 2014 – Amateur Traveler won the Travel+Leisure Magazine 2014 SMITTY Award Winner for Best Independent Travel Journalist/Blogger
- 2014 – Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award from the Society of American Travel Writers
- 2014 – Invited to the White House for the Travel Blogger Summit
- 2011, 2012, and 2013 – Podcast This Week in Travel won a North America Travel Journalism award
- Amateur Traveler is also used to teach English at Oxford University and is part of the English proficiency test for the Thailand Foreign Ministry
Amateur Traveler
Amateur Traveler is an online blog and podcast. The podcast focuses primarily on travel destinations and the best places to travel to. It covers everything from knowing what to put on your Chicago dog when you go to the Windy City to swimming with whales in Tonga.
More About Amateur Traveler
- Amateur Traveler About Page
- Working with the Amateur Traveler
- Amateur Traveler Media Kit
- How to Pitch an Episode for the Amateur Traveler Podcast
- Guest Post Guidelines for the Amateur Traveler blog
- Articles About Amateur Traveler
- The Amateur Traveler Manifesto
