We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Mandagie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Because we travel for work, my time outside of the house is “work” and my time at home is “vacation.” I used equate hours worked with money earned, but I have slowly realized that this may not be the right perspective for me. I’ve learned over the years that rest is just as beneficial as work, and there needs to be both in order for my business to thrive. Now, I structure my business to work like it would a 9-5: taking weekends off, logging out in the evenings, and being okay taking a sick day every once in a while!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a travel writer, sharing about the beautiful Pacific Northwest region of the United States. My husband and I run our PNW Travel blog called TheMandagies.com. I get most excited being a part of people’s trip planning, and their email replies as they are blown away by iconic PNW destinations for the first time. (Cue Mount Rainier, the Oregon Coast, and the Hoh Rainforest!)

I am most proud of my blog’s purpose and mission – we are dedicated to information equity. I believe the outdoors is for ALL people, and access to information about a destinations history, sustainability, safety, and enrichment should be available for everyone – regardless of how “outdoorsy” they are.

I’ve never had quick success in this field. It’s taken long, slow growing years of careful tending and consistency to get to the point I am now. I’ve always connected with the tortoise from Aesop’s fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare” because as I’ve seen others in this field find quick success on social media, I’ve been in the background taking small, but persistent steps towards my own goals. Throughout this journey, I’ve learned that a genuine love for writing and sharing is what is most important. That is the fuel that keeps me going!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d take then on a road trip around the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Here, you can experience the diversity of the state in one single trip, from oceans to rainforest, mountains to waterfalls! Here’s a short itinerary of what we would do:

Day 1: Take the ferry from Downtown Seattle to Bremerton. Make the drive to Port Angeles, and eat downtown at Jasmine Bistro. Watch the ferry boats take off from the waterfront!

Day 2: Drive up to Hurricane Ridge for sunrise. Have a picnic at the top. Drive to Lake Crescent and hike Mt Storm King and See Marymere Falls.

Day 3: Take the trail to Sol Duc Falls. Drive over to Cape Flattery (the most northwest corner of the contiguous USA!) Stay overnight in Forks, WA.

Day 4: Take a Twilight Saga book tour around town. Visit spots like La Push Beach (“It’s La Push, Baby!”) Jacob Black’s house, Bella’s red truck, and the surrounding spooky rainforest.

Day 5: Hike around Rialto Beach – make it 1.5 miles north of the parking lot to see Hole-In-The-Wall, a rock formation only accessible at low-tide!

Day 6: Wander the Hoh Rainforest. Take the Hall of Mosses Trail, and try and identify as many species of ferns and moss as you can.

Day 7: Drive back to Seattle, stopping at Olympia Coffee Roasters on the way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank my husband Berty! Berty has been a source of energy, encouragement, and excitement throughout this blogging journey. His positive attitude and consistency has been a beacon of light when things get tough, and I am forever grateful to have him as my life partner. He inspires me with dedication to his own passions, and shows me that work life can be just as fun as normal time. Thank you!

Website: https://www.themandagies.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themandagies/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mandagie/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/themandagies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themandagies

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/themandagies/

Image Credits
Berty Mandagie

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