We recently connected with Kelly Davis and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In the spring of 2020, I was a newly minted stay-at-home mom when the world shut down. I remember looking around our ground floor apartment (under very noisy neighbors) with my *spirited* toddler and thinking, “We have to get out of here.” The walls felt like they were closing in on us, and we had exhausted all the ways to entertain us at home. I threw a quick bag together, popped my son in his carseat, and set off for a hike in a local state park.

It was…a disaster.

I didn’t know the state park had zero cell service. I didn’t know there were no open restrooms. I didn’t know the trail I’d chosen was desolate and a little spooky when you’re on your own.

I decided to make a list of the highs and lows of that particular trail in case we visited again. I didn’t want to be caught off guard or ill-prepared in the future. That’s really where the mission of Frecklefaced Adventures was born, out of a desire to make getting out of the house as a family less stressful.

As we slowly emerged from pandemic lockdowns, the loneliness I had felt from being a Covid-parent really hit home. I had never been a stay-at-home parent before, and I lacked mom-friends who shared my new schedule. Online, I saw loads of mothers saying the same thing. We were together in our loneliness, but none of us knew how to fix it. Frecklefaced Adventures took on a new direction–I looked for ways to encourage meet-ups at local small businesses where children could play and parents could connect (places like My Gym Brentwood or the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center). I highlighted these places on my account and then planned playtimes for local families. The businesses benefitted, the parents benefitted…it was a win-win.

Going to new places with children can be intimidating. Worrying if you’ve packed the right supplies, figuring out where to park, wondering if you should have come at a different time…there is such a mental load when planning an outing. My hope is that my account takes some of that stress away and makes it easier for families to connect outside of the home.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Frecklefaced Adventures gives detailed reviews of kid-friendly outings across the Nashville area. We are different in that we share both the highs and the lows of each adventure site, and we give tips for how to make the day more of a success. For example, when you read a post of ours about a local story time, we will note which ages would find it the most captivating, where the easiest parking can be found, and where you can grab a bite to eat afterwards. We offer a more well-rounded view of outings with children.

We also work hard to provide a calendar of local events for families. Our website is updated regularly with both free and ticketed events from across Middle TN. Businesses can submit their events to the calendar and receive free advertising.

It’s really important to me that my account is an honest reflection of parenthood. When my kids and I have a difficult day, or an adventure I’ve planned is a complete flop, I share that with followers because I believe authenticity brings us together and creates meaningful connections. If the goal of Frecklefaced Adventures is to make it easier for parents to explore the city and build community, my honesty and transparency is vital to that work.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

About two years ago, I met Heather Griffin who was working as a publisher for Macaroni Kid Franklin. I thought she was brilliant, and I valued her work to build a calendar of events in Williamson County. In 2022, she announced she was stepping away from Macaroni Kid to spend more time with her family. I was devastated at the thought of losing her expertise in our area, so I begged her to partner with me and bring her knowledge to Frecklefaced Adventures. I didn’t have a clue how to compensate her, but I knew she would be invaluable to our community. I’ll never stop being amazed (and grateful!) that she said yes.

Months later, Heather revealed that she was originally afraid of me…afraid I would be competitive and feel territorial about covering kid-friendly activities in the Nashville area. She had been relieved that I was instead collaborative and supportive. Honestly, I can’t imagine feeling any other way. Even though in my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined gaining her as a business partner, I knew even then that what she offered was rare and indispensable. Having multiple voices of expertise will always be more beneficial than just one.

In the last few months we’ve added two more women to our team. These are mothers I met through my account who offer completely different skill sets than I do. Again, I see their partnership as proof that having multiple perspectives and knowledge sets is an asset to everyone.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think my willingness to share an unfiltered view of parenthood has helped build my reputation within the parenting blog community. There is no shortage of parenting accounts in the Nashville area, but not many of them share the story of the time their toddler ate a snail shell from the patio and contracted salmonella. Even fewer share the soul-crushing reality of a colicky newborn with oral motor challenges. As much of an oxymoron as it may be, my strength is my vulnerability. I can be trusted with my reviews because I don’t shy away from the hard things.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://frecklefacedadventures.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frecklefaced_adventures/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrecklefacedAdventures

Image Credits
KimWhin Photography