About Ema
Welcome to VacationIdea.com. I have a great passion for travel that I like sharing with other people. That's why I founded this travel blog over 25 years ago. Keeping my website small and independent has allowed me to keep it up to date with my latest discoveries and photos while I travel. I hope that reading this inspires you to explore too.
About:
Ema Kisel, Founder and Owner
Ema's passion is creating inspirational pages based on personal experiences that all types of travelers can enjoy. Ema Kisel started the VacationIdea.com travel blog over 25 years ago has received many awards and media mentions, including: abc6 Morning Show, UMich, 7News, WA State Department, and many others.
Awards and Press:
Ema Kisel's writing has received many awards and press mentions. Here are some of them:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are you on social media?
You betcha! My blog receives most of the traffic from Social Media with my posts routinely going viral, for example my one-of-a-kind August 2026 video that I filmed underwater in Hawaii. Follow along on my VacationIdea.com Facebook page (370,000 followers) , VacationIdea.com X page (15,000 followers), VacationIdea.com Pinterest page (30,000 followers), or VacationIdea.com Instagram page, or TikTok . Click here to find my only Youtube channel @vacationidea.
Do I need to be an experienced traveler to go on these trips?
You don't need to be an experienced traveler to enjoy the trips and ideas on this site. My goal is to make travel accessible and inspiring for everyone, regardless of their experience level. Ifeature a wide range of options, from simple day trips and local adventures to longer vacations, so you can find an idea that fits your comfort level and lifestyle. The most important thing is a sense of curiosity and a desire to explore.
There are so many ideas on your site! Where do I start?
That's a great question! It's true that there are a lot of ideas to explore. The best place to start is by thinking about what you're looking for right now. Here are a few ways to begin:
- By Trip Type: Are you interested in a quick day trip, a weekend escape, or a longer vacation? You can browse our guides based on the length of your trip.
- By Interest: Are you hoping for a romantic getaway, or a fun family trip? We have sections dedicated to specific interests like beaches, destination guides, and seasonal activities.
- By Location: Do you have a specific state or region in mind? You can start by searching for ideas close to home to discover hidden gems in your own backyard.
- By Occasion: Are you planning a honeymoon, birthday or an anniversary trip?
No matter where you begin, the goal is simply to get inspired. Pick a place or a theme that sounds interesting to you, and start exploring from there!
Where do you travel most?
I've been chasing stories down backroads and city streets for years, so the answer to this question is always changing! I currently call Austin, Texas, home, so I spend a lot of time exploring the great state of Texas.
That said, I’ve been fortunate to live in many incredible places. I’ve called Manhattan, Hawaii, and various cities across the USA home for years or months at a time. I went around the world for five whole years! I based omyself in places one, two or sometimes three months at a time.
I believe the best way to know a place is to truly live there for a while. My personal goal is to inspire you to discover the local favorites in your own backyard, and perhaps rent your home and hit the road like we did for a truly life changing experience.
What is your editorial policy?
I believe in staying impartial in my travel writing.
Are you an independent content creator?
Yes, VacationIdea.com (VacationIdea LLC is my company) is (and always was!) completely independent. To me, independence is paramount. I am not (and never was!) associated with any other companies, channels, networks or marketing groups. "Vacation Idea" is a very common term in the English language and other companies are using it but I'm not associated with them in any way (and I never wwas!).
The original name for my blog was "VacationIdea.com - Dream Vacation Magazine". I've kept the original full name as a reminder of my roots because when I first started writing about travel in 1999, I printed a small quarterly magazine which I produced myself. While I quickly moved to the blog format as the Internet took hold, I kept the full name to remind myself of our journey and life-long passion for inspiring others to travel. I don't employ any freelance writers or editors.
How does your blog VacationIdea.com make money?
I use ads and affiliate links on our website. If you want to know more about how these ads are shown to you, please read the Privacy Policy and Affiliate Disclosure.
Contact:
Get in touch via email: social@vacationidea.com
Get in touch with me via Facebook or X
Mailing Address: VacationIdea LLC, 1530 PB Ln, K4554, Wichita Falls, TX 76302