In this edition of Celebrity Travel Addicts, we catch up with Wade Holland, an adventure personality content creator, and travel explorer from Montana. We chat with Wade about what inspires him to travel, what makes Montana such a special place, the special reason he recently traveled to Scotland, and much more. Check out his tips on things to do in one of his favorite travel destinations and find out what his next adventure will be!
I was lucky to have been raised by very adventure focused parents. Growing up in Montana, we’d always go on wild backcountry travel trips. When my friends were traveling to Hawaii and Disney Land with their families, I was retracing the steps of Lewis and Clark and exploring remote sections of wilderness with mine. That got my enthusiasm started for exploring new and off the beaten path places. Then in college, a few friends and I decided to travel around the state of Colorado for 500 days making a video a day featuring a different weird and bizarre adventure in the state. Needless to say, we saw and experienced a lot in a short period of time. It wasn’t until I traveled and lived overseas in Spain when I truly became enthralled with exploring all the wonderful sights, smells, and sounds of international travel.
I really try to travel as much as possible; if it can fuse it into my work and brand, even better! I’m lucky that I have a partner (Abby) who is on the same page as me. Therefore we’re constantly on the go. It’s usually 2 /3 weeks out of the month we’re traveling. We both love to visit places that are a little more off the beaten path. Don’t get me wrong, a beach resort and gourmet meal is always a treat, but I’ll always choose those off the beaten path adventures connecting with locals and finding those experiences that take a little more effort seeking out. Those ones stick with you forever.
I should say Montana is the worst place ever, as we still like to keep it a secret. Montana is called the last best place and I truly believe that. It is the 4th largest state in the country by size but has barely a million people total. So it truly is Big Sky country. It’s a special place because it still retains an authentic wild west feel with remote wilderness in all directions. Wildlife is abundant: Bear, fish, wolves, mountain goats. It’s the real deal. The state’s slogan used to be Get Lost…in Montana. So if you want to lose yourself in nature, Montana is the place. The people are real and genuine. If you go to Montana, support local. Go to local diners, dive bars, and get off the beaten path so you can sleep under the stars in the wild.
I want audiences to be inspired to live a full and exciting life. You have one life, so make it the best possible life, right? I also want to teach audiences about off the beaten path adventure experiences. There are so many amazingly weird and funky experiences out there, and eclectic people and stories that go along with them. You just have to seek it out. I also want audiences to care more for outdoor preservation and conservation. It’s an issue that one-way or another will affect all of us in the near future.
Chiapas, Mexico:
It was a project called “Not Your Grandfather’s Scotland.” My great-great-great-great grandfather grew up on an isle of Scotland so Abby and I went back to the old country to explore his old stomping grounds. But the goal was to seek out all the new and not so stereotypical stodgy Scottish experience and instead the wild vibrant ones. We went to underground dance clubs, stumbled onto hobbit style homes, and I even wake boarded the North Sea. It was pretty nutty! The country is way more electric than I would have thought and the people were so incredibly cool. That experience made me realize, if you look a little deeper, you might be surprised at what you find.
My dad is a unique breed. He first and foremost has taught me about hard work. His tough as nails attitude has pushed me to endure uncomfortable experiences and in the process has strengthened my will power to explore deeper and harder. He also has taught me to appreciate the moment. Take in the birds singing and the simple joys around you.
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In the southern Spanish town of Granada, I went to a restaurant that was more or less some guys house. He opened up rooftop seating literally on his roof. It was on a hill on top of the city so it overlooked everything. The guy was so hospitable and made you feel like you were an old buddy catching up. I think it was called LA CASA DE PEPE. I ordered the Paella, which is a staple to Spanish food. It was delicious!
This might be a little cheesy but Joe Rogan has a quote, “be the hero in your own movie.” So I always want to push myself to do things that I would want to see happen in a movie. That takes things to a whole other level and opens the door of possibilities. But in regards to an actual travel movie, I’d have to say The Beach. It’s a classic from my adolescence (plus its LEO)! I’m a huge fan of it because it’s all about taking risks to find those gems and the secret travel locations that not everyone is willing to put in the effort to go find!
I’d have to say Villahermosa outside of Tabasco, Mexico. It’s situated outside the jungle so it’s in a unique geographic region of Mexico and one of Mexico’s low budget airlines, Interjet, is based out of there. The reason this is so cool is because on any Interjet flight, you get free beer and they play old reruns of The Pink Panther lol. That’s right. The original pink panther combined with some Negro Modelo…count me in!
San Cristobal, Mexico
Without a doubt this is my lifetime partner, the queen herself…ABBY RUHMAN! She is an incredible adventure babe, loves to find all the same kinds of travel experiences as I do, and is frankly the coolest person I know!
Go to a local pub. Having a beer at the local watering hole sometimes leads to the most interesting conversations and travel experiences. It gives you a chance to interact and connect with locals.
The interior of Fiji.
Look what all the other travelers are doing and do the opposite. Make it your own. That’s what’s beautiful about traveling, you can customize the experience to exactly what you love and make it an original experience that will live with you forever.
Indonesia and compete in Water Buffalo Racing!
“The master in the art of living is the one who makes little distinction between his work and play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide if he is working or playing. To him, he is always doing both.”
We’re currently in Montana and are packing up to get ready for our move to LA. In the next few weeks we’ll drive out to Los Angeles from Montana, and on the way down explore through rural Nevada. We’ll jump on the extraterrestrial highway and take in all the weird and bizarre roadside attractions. Those are always great!
Wade Holland is an adventure personality content creator and travel explorer. Originally from Montana he grew up with a thirst for adrenaline competing in adventure sports and exploring the frontier west with his dad. He traveled to Fiji to compete in TNT’s survivor reality show, 72 HOURS. After getting out of the jungle and winning the show, he began creating lifestyle and adventure video partnering with brands, travel organizations, and production houses. He is currently developing several original series and moving to Los Angeles with his life time partner, Abby Ruhman and their dog Chance. He loves the outdoors and 90’s pop culture.
Connect with Wade via his website, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!
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