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Erin McGrady (she/her) and Caroline Whatley (she/her) of Authentic Asheville are content creators, writers, and photographers. We write and create content about our experiences as an interracial and queer couple. Asheville, North Carolina is our home base but we frequently travel in our small camper van for work where we share about our adventures with beautiful photographs and compelling words.

SELECT CLIENTS

Social Media

Our Creative Community Involvement

Contributor to Snow Peak’s DEI Committee Internal Open House for Pride (2022)
Panelist at Brooks Running’s Hyperion House for the Boston Marathon (2022)
Panelist for Columbia’s AAPI Month (2022)
Panelist for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Pride (2021)
Panelist for The Outbound Collective’s Writing Residency (2021)
Guest Lecturer w/ the Photography Department at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) (2021)
REI Photography Class: How to Take Better Outdoor Photos on Your Phone (2019)
Guest Speaker at Tech Talent South in Asheville (2018)
Guest Speaker at PhotoCon Lite: Be Connected (2018)
REI Photography Class: Basic to Better: How to Improve Your Adventure Photos (2017)
Hosts and Founders of the Asheville Instameet (2016, 2017, 2018)

Featured in:

Condé Nast Traveler – Women Who Travel Podcast

Erin McGrady was featured on Condé Nast’s Women Who Travel Podcast in their May 13, 2021, episode titled What It Actually Takes to Become a Van Lifer. She talks about some of the joys, learning experiences, and pitfalls of living a life on the road.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Most Beautiful Beach Camping in the U.S., From The Pacific Northwest to the Florida Keys

An article on the 16 Best Hiking Backpacks for Women included a recommendation from Erin McGrady on REI’s Trailbreak 60L pack.

Outside Magazine

Quoted in this article Everything You Need To Know About Staying Fresh on the Road!

Published Work:

• Writers Residency Spotlight: Erin McGrady
• A 200+ Mile Cycling Adventure in the Florida Keys
• Pronouns Matter, Especially in the Outdoors
• What One of Your Outdoorsy, Brown, Gay Friends Wants You to Know
• Pedaling Through North Carolina’s Scenic Yadkin Valley
• 8 Pieces of Gear To Elevate Your Next Outdoor Adventure
• The Osprey Heritage Simplex: Worthy of the Re-imagined Classic
• Erin + Caroline’s Very Good Day
• A Tropical Adventure in the Florida Keys
• For the Love of Dog: Tips for Traveling With Your Furry Adventure Buddy
• 13 Reasons You Should Make Greenville, SC Your Next Adventure Destination
• A Road Trip Through the Lowcountry
• 6 Urban Parks in Asheville, North Carolina
• Part I: Exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway Near Asheville – North
• Part II: Exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway Near Asheville – South
• 12 Tips for Beginner Runners
• 5 Awesome Trail To Town Adventures Near Asheville, North Carolina
• 7 Tips and Tricks For Your Next Road Trip
• Florida Panhandle Adventures
• The Case For Ditching Perfection in Your Adventures
• 10 Things I Wish I’d Known About Trail Running Before I Started
• 6 Tiny Adventures to Boost Your Mood
• An Outdoor Adventure Photo Scavenger Hunt

Men’s Journal

Travel & Lifestyle

• Aventon E-Bikes are The Ultimate Holiday Gift on Wheels
• 5 Ways We’ll Be Adventuring Post-Pandemic
• Neighborhood Heroes: Asheville, NC’s Bryan King, 12 Bones Smokehouse and Brewing
• Gear and Tips to Master the Art of the Campfire
• 5 Ways to Save Money on Travel
• The Best National Parks for On-Water Adventures
• Your Getaway Guide to the Best of the Outer Banks
• Why Everglades National Park Deserves Your Attention
• Gridding: How a Relatively Unknown Sport is Pushing Hikers to New Extremes
• 10 Reasons Why Nova Scotia Should Be Your Next Adventure Destination
• A Vancouver Island Travel Guide: Surfing, Craft Beer, Caves and Epic Hiking
• From Florida to Delaware: 14 Excellent Stops on an East Coast Road Trip
• 5 Great Low Country Bike Rides (and Post Ride Pit Stops) in Charleston, SC
• Weekends Washington, DC: Adventure Awaits in the Nation’s Capital
• A Guide to Urban Adventures in Baltimore
• Weekends Asheville: Climbing, Biking, Waterfalls and Breweries … All in One Place
• Southwest Road Trip Planner: The Best Campgrounds, National Parks and Hidden Gems
• The Ultimate California Road Trip Planner
• Plan Your Pacific Northwest Road Trip: The Best Trails, Beaches and National Parks
• Dispatches: An East-to-West Road Trip Through Some of Our Nation’s Most Iconic Public Lands
• Dispatches: Andros Island – Ecotourism and the Preservation of This Beautiful, Remote Archipelago

Running, Fitness, and Health

• A Case For The E-Bike Tour
• A Beginner’s Guide to Bikepacking
• 5 Apps to Help You Stay Sane During the Coronavirus
• How to Maximize Your Trail Running Fitness
• How to Ace Your First Climbing Gym Experience
• The Best Gear For Running in the Dark
• Six Tips (Plus One App) To Help You Stick To Your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions
• Beer Runs Asheville
• Is Denver the Best City in the Country for Runners?
• Why North Cascades National Park is the Perfect Place for Beginner Trail Runners
• 5 Spectacular Trail Runs in Banff National Park
• 5 of the Most Amazing Trail Runs in Jasper National Park
• 5 Great Trail Runs in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• 5 Great Runs in Atlanta (and Some of the Best Post-Run Pit Stops)
• 5 Epic Runs in Smoky Mountains National Park
• The 4 Best Urban Runs for Exploring Baltimore
• 5 Unique Urban Runs in the Nations Capital
• 5 Gritty Trail Runs in Saguaro National Park
• 5 Runs to Conquer in Big Bend National Park
• 5 of the Most Scenic Trail Runs in Yosemite National Park
• 5 Runs to Try in Death Valley National Park
• 5 of the Most Breathtaking Runs in Crater Lake National Park
• 5 Incredible Trail Runs in Mount Rainier National Park
• 6 Ways to Unplug On Your Next Run
• Tips and Tricks for Staying Fit on the Road
• 6 Tips for Buying Used Outdoor Gear

Food and Drink

• Level Up With the Loaded Whiskey Burger
• 6 Barrel-Aged Beers You Should Be Drinking Now
• How to Make Quarter Pound Sriracha Meatballs
• How to Make the Most Out of Instant Ramen Noodles
• 6 Best Tasting Beers That Smell Like Weed
• How to Cook the Perfect Filet Mignon (with Scotch Butter)
• 6 Craft Beers That’ll Add a Summer Vibe to Your Fall
• How to Pack the Perfect Camp Minibar
• Up Your Grill Game With Skewers: Tips and Tricks for Boosting Your Backyard Barbecue
• The Burger: How to Perfect an American Classic
• How to Make Beer ‘n’ Bacon Bread
• 3 Delicious Healthy Comfort Food Recipes (That Also Make Great Leftovers)
• How to Make the Best Damn Bacon on Earth
• How to Enjoy Skiing’s Favorite Snack: ‘Pocket Bacon’
• A Starter’s Guide to Sour Beers
• Minimal Ingredient One-Pot Recipes to Fuel Your Next Adventure
• 3 Delicious Fall-Inspired Cocktail Recipes
• Taste Test: We Tried 11 Sports Drink Mixes, Tabs and Caps at REI
• Good For More Than Just Drinking: 3 Ways to Cook With Beer
• 3 Cocktail Recipes Perfect for the Fourth of July
• 3 Camp Cocktail Recipes That Are Perfect For Summer
• Creative and Easy Breakfast Recipes to Keep You Fueled on the Road
• Recipes for Cooking on the Road

Van Life

• How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep in a Van
• Want to Build Out Your Van in 1 Hour? Try a Conversion Kit
• 10 of the Best Places to Park Your RV 

Gear Junkie

• ‘You Belong’: HOKA Ambassador Pens Stirring Letter for Anyone Who Feels Outside the Outdoors

Outside Business Journal

• Meet Erin McGrady, an openly gay Korean-American athlete, writer, and entrepreneur fighting for inclusion in the outdoors

snow peak

• The Endless Horizon: Coastal Carolinas
• Grilled Shrimp and Summer Vegetables

dapperQ

This is the most widely read style and empowerment website specifically for masculine presenting women and trans-identified individuals. dapperQ is the premier queer style digital magazine that leverages queer fashion as a form of visual activism. We volunteer our writing and photography to help produce queer travel guides for the LGBTQ+ community.

• TravelQ: Macon, Georgia
• TravelQ: Greenville, South Carolina
• TravelQ: Baltimore
• TravelQ: Best LGBTQ-Friendly Places to Visit in Asheville
• TravelQ: 48 Hours in Pittsburgh + Pittsburgh PRIDE
• TravelQ: Savannah
• TravelQ: St. Augustine
• The Florida Keys
• 7 Hottest Foodie Spots to Take a Date
• 48 Hours in Durham, North Carolina
• 24 Hours in Cleveland, Ohio
• 48 Hours in Amarillo, Texas
• 48 Hours in Phoenix, Arizona
• Road Trip in the Pacific Northwest, Part I: Oregon!
• Road Trip in the Pacific Northwest, Part II: Washington!
• 48 Hours in Flagstaff, Arizona

ROVA Magazine

• “Loving a Vintage Vehicle and Letting it Go” Adventure Issue #22 | December/January 2021
• “On the Side of the Road” Adventure Issue #21 | October/November 2020
• “Discovering Delmarva” | Adventure Issue #12 | April/May 2019
• “Ale on Wheels” Adventure Issue #13 | June / July 2019

MSN.com

• Plan Your Pacific Northwest Road Trip: The Best Trails, Beaches and National Parks
• A Guide to Urban Adventures in Baltimore
• Gridding: How a Relatively Unknown Sport is Pushing Hikers to New Extremes

Columbia Sportswear:

• Finding Yosemite

USA Today:

• Asheville Woman to Boost National Park Diversity

Redfin

• Expert Tips on How to Downsize Into a Smaller Home

Alaska

• Two Destinations for Independent Travel in 2021

Local Adventurer

A travel lifestyle blog and one of the Top 5 Travel Blogs in the US and world.

• Ultimate Asheville Bucket List (101 Things to Do in Asheville)
• 49 Best Places to Eat in Asheville
• Ultimate Beijing Bucket List (101 Things to Do in Beijing)
• Ultimate New Orleans Bucket List (101 Things to Do in New Orleans)
• 49 Best Places to Eat in Austin
• Ultimate Charleston Bucket List (101 Things to Do in Charleston)
• 49 Best Places to Eat in New Orleans
• 25 Free Things to Do in New Orleans
• 49 Best Places to Eat in Charleston
• 17 Free Things to Do in Austin
• Ultimate DC Bucket List (101 Things to do in Washington, DC)
• 11 Unique Things to Do in Beijing
• 9 Unique Things to Do in Urban National Parks
• DIY Camera Strap with a Climbing Rope Tutorial
• Where to See Cherry Blossoms in the US
• 15 Amazing Places to See Cherry Blossoms in the World
• The Best Places to Stay in Asheville
• 25 Free Things to Do in Philadelphia
• The Hardest Hiking Permits to Get in the US

Asheville Trails + Trailful

We test gear and write for one of the top online magazine that highlights western North Carolina’s best hiking, running and backpacking trails.

• Hoka One One Challenger ATR 3 Trail Running Shoe Review
• Hoka One One Clifton 3 Running Shoe Review
• LOWA Phoenix Mesh Lo Hiking Boot Review
• Coolcore Cooling Running Shorts and Shirt
• Patagonia Provisions Backpacking and Camping Meals
• Patagonia Women’s Barely Baggy Shorts
• Garmin Forerunner 235 Running GPS Watch
• Patagonia Women’s Nano Puff Jacket
• RV Camping Gear List
• Trail Running Gear List

Explore Asheville

The City of Asheville’s website for all things travel and tourism-related.

• LGBTQ+ Friendly Asheville: Inclusive Spaces Helping to Build Community, 2021
• Cover photo for the Official Asheville Visitors Guide, 2020
• A Local’s Guide to Running in Asheville

Huff Post

• VW on the Parkway – Instagram Takeover – Asheville 1
• Hole Doughnuts – Instagram Takeover – Asheville 2
• River Arts District – Instagram Takeover – Asheville 3

Eddie Bauer x ROAM

Outdoor Enthusiast and Photographer Erin McGrady – ROAM Report I

Asheville Date Night

• Free and Fun Things to Do in Asheville
• Couples of Asheville: Erin & Caroline
• 25 Asheville Instagrammers to Color Your Insta-Feed

FitWild

• Asheville to Beijing
• Erin McGrady’s #FindYourPark Expedition

WNC Woman

• Two Women and a Chinook: Erin and Caroline on the Road
• Finding Your Parks

Afar Media

• Asheville

Kuju Coffee

• Asheville and Beyond

And Seen On…

Brooks Running’s Blog:

Who Is A Runner: Erin McGrady

UPROXX:

• Let These VanLifers Be Your Inspiration as ‘Road Trip Summer’ Approaches
• Serious Travel Pros Name Their Top Road Trip Stops for Summer 2021 and Beyond
• UPROXX Fall Experience Guide

Huff Post:

• ‘This is Our Haven’: Meet the People of Asheville

Hipcamp:

• Women Who Wild: 2018 Community Awards

Unico Journal:

• Erin + Caroline

WNC Magazine:

• Photo Contest Finalist – 2017

rnnr:

• International {Badass} Women’s Day

Strangers Abroad Podcast:

• Stage 7: Amore

Interested in working with us, drop us a line, we’d love to hear from you!

The Authentic Asheville Community

Our followers and readers are outdoor adventurers, many of whom are interested in van life and travel in Asheville and beyond. They enjoy exploring national parks, running, photography, hiking, eating in new restaurants, and trying new craft beers.

Please contact us for more information.

To learn more about us visit our About page or send us a message at hello@authenticasheville.com and let’s get the conversation started!

Disclosure Statement:

This is a for-profit blog. All of the opinions are our own but we sometimes work with brands and businesses in exchange for a review. We also sometimes share content that contains occasional affiliate links where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. This helps us keep the content coming and keep the site running.

Thank you for supporting Authentic Asheville and the brands and businesses that make this blog possible!

We’re Erin McGrady and Caroline Whatley and we are are professional travel writers, photographers and the authors of Authentic Asheville.

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