Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hope Nunnelley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hope, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I grew up in a small town in Central Texas. Nobody knew where it was … until it made Southern Living’s “Cutest Small Towns in America” list. Soon, my sleepy small town was PACKED with tourists, local businesses were thriving, and wineries were popping up left and right. My hometown? Fredericksburg, Texas.
Friends were constantly texting me for recommendations on where to stay, what to do and where to eat in Fredericksburg. I had copy and pasted so many times, I started a note on my phone.
One weekend, I had a friend tell me she had a margarita at ___ bar and it was just “so-so.”
“Well,” I responded. Appalled. “I would have NEVER recommended a margarita at ___ bar. I would have recommended Hondo’s. Their margaritas are top shelf and top notch.”
An idea was born. I would create a website to share my personal recommendations as a LOCAL, so that travelers would have a stellar experience, avoid tourist traps, and live (at least for a weekend) like a local.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Hope and I am the Content Creator of Living and Local, a travel and lifestyle brand. I love exploring the Southeast and sharing unique places, spaces, and experiences with my community. I grew up in Fredericksburg, Texas – eating peaches, climbing Enchanted Rock and shopping on Main Street. After finishing up my degree in International Studies from Texas A&M University, I made the journey back home to the Hill Country. Constantly curious and always itching to explore, I set out to find the hidden gems in my own backyard and felt called to write about my adventures. Living and Local was started as a travel site with a goal of bridging the gap between tourist and local. I share travel itineraries and recommendations! In 2018, I moved to Auburn, Alabama to be closer to my (now!) husband. The scope of Living and Local has since expanded to include the southeast.
Follow along for travel, lifestyle, fashion and millennial musings

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of ~becoming~ a content creator has been connecting with my local community. I’ve been able to meet and work with very talented local business owners, highlight the experience of staying as a guest in boutique accommodations, speak to local audiences on social media panels and meet other locals who LOVE where they live!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’ll be the first to admit: I have not cracked the code to social media fame. However, I think the biggest hurdle for me at the start of building an audience was: 1) putting myself out there (taking photos + video in public, posting selfies, writing personal captions, etc.) and 2) actually focusing on building a community (following accounts that bring you joy or help you learn, messaging creators who inspire you, commenting on local business’ posts, etc.). Social platforms are for being social. It took me a while to wrap my head around that concept.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.livingandlocal.net/livingandlocal-blog
• Instagram: @livingandlocal
• Other: TikTok: @hopenunnelley

Image Credits
Hope Nunnelley