About
Welcome to Alex on the Map, an outdoor adventure travel blog and news site with tips for national parks, camping, hiking, and outdoor activities!
My name is Alex Schnee and I am so glad you are here! I am the founder of Alex on the Map and a thirty-something girl who loves to get outside every chance she can get. I handle pretty much everything related to the site and social media, including writing, editing, photography, and more!
I had no idea that when starting this brand that it would reach over 1 million people a month and that I would help so many people get outside. It has been a dream-come-true to do what I love and connect with others who share the same passion I do for respecting nature and enjoying the outdoors.
I hope I can help you make the most of your time outside and to feel confident and prepared to take on your next adventure!
About me
I grew up in Kalispell, Montana about 30 minutes from Glacier National Park. I wasn’t a very outdoorsy kid at all–I would rather spend my time with my nose in a book than on the hiking trail.
Since I was homeschooled, I was often drug to the national parks in the United States as a kid by my parents (my dad was super obsessed with Yellowstone), but I usually was reading a novel rather than enjoying the scenery.
I had no idea that my love of words and writing would eventually lead me to climbing mountains, taking on some of the toughest hiking trails in the world, and road tripping across the United States multiple times!
After my first major experience abroad studying in Venice, Italy, I studied creative writing and English in college at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. I graduated from there with a Liberal Arts degree (which no one thought I would use) and published a historical fiction novel about the Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets, Shakespeare’s Lady.
After college, I started freelance writing for a number of publications including USA Today 10Best, Elite Daily, Huffington Post, and many others.
I moved back to Italy and spent the next few years traveling around Europe solo. I lived in the cities of Florence and Lucca as the USA Today 10Best Expert on the area and ate a lot of pizza. And I mean, a LOT of pizza. Traveling alone and living abroad by myself gave me a lot of confidence to take on new ventures.
During this time, I also ended up dating a guy who would eventually become my husband. Daniel and I connected over our love of travel, reading, and where we went to school (he’s a Sarah Lawrence grad too).
The next few years were a whirlwind! We lived six months in Granada, Spain and traveled whenever we could. We were on a tight budget, but we somehow managed to make it work and had a blast while doing it.
While we were spending a month in South Korea, Daniel and I decided to take on the Baegundae Peak hike in Bukhansan National Park. Somewhere in me it clicked and I realized that I could combine my love of travel, the outdoors, and writing into a career.
I decided to test this out by taking on the Everest Base Camp hike with Daniel. Along with some of the most beautiful views in the world, I began posting on my social media pages in earnest and was surprised that so many people wanted to come along with me! At base camp, Daniel and I proposed to each other, which was a particularly epic proposal in my opinion.
Daniel and I moved back to New York (while still making time to travel, of course), and were married in my home park–Glacier National Park.
We spent our honeymoon in Peru and Bolivia biking down Death Road and hiking the Inca Trail. I finished my Master’s in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University online while we traveled.
At that time, I also got an in-office job as the Editorial Manager at Passion Passport, where I managed a team of writers and collaborated with brands on campaigns with companies such as American Airlines, Expedia, and United Airlines.
All this was great, but I missed working for myself. I had been working on a blog for the past few years, but decided to give it a real go. I quit my job and launched this site in March 2020–right before a global pandemic hit and no one was traveling.
I started to focus on what I knew, which was those national parks that I grew up right by or that my parents took me to when I was young. It also gave me a new challenge–to visit all the national parks in the United States!
Daniel and I now spend our summers exploring the American West taking on new hiking trails and climbing routes along the way. We also picked up a goldendoodle puppy, Gravy, who we introduced to the trail as soon as she was old enough. She’s always up for adventure and loves to munch on a stick she might find when she comes hiking with us.
Since 2020, Alex on the Map has grown into a premier outdoor adventure travel brand that aims to inspire and help you plan your next trip, whether that’s on the local trails near home or an epic journey of a lifetime.
How I can help you
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions of how I can help–always love hearing from readers!
After over a decade of writing and editorial experience, you know that the information, news, and tips you are getting from my site and social media pages are thoroughly researched. I do not write about places I haven’t been, and as one-woman team, every article, video, and social media post is created by me. I like to dive deep and give you information that is actionable so you can use it on your outdoor adventures.
Join the community!
Along with the content I offer, I also have a community on Facebook, Outdoor Adventurers on the Map, which has over 3k members. There, I share national park information, outdoor job opportunities, and organize hiking and meetups so you don’t have to get outside alone.
Custom national park itineraries
Having trouble planning your national park trip? I offer a custom itinerary service where I personally plan everything for you. After an individual call, I craft your trip under your specifications while adding my own expertise and recommendations. This way, you can have the adventure of a lifetime without the hassle of planning!
⭐CHECK OUT CUSTOM NATIONAL PARK ITINERARIES AND BOOK YOUR CALL HERE⭐
Visited countries
I’ve been to over 50 countries over the course of my life (sometimes visiting more than once or living there), and hoping to check out many more!
Africa
- Egypt
- Kenya
- Morocco
Asia
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Europe
- Albania
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Czechia
- England
- France
- Georgia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Vatican City
Middle East
- Israel
- Jordan
North America
- Bahamas
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Guatemala
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- United States (home country!)
South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Uruguay
Oceania
- Australia
- New Zealand
Antarctica
- Antarctica
Visited national parks
I’ve been to 35 national parks so far and have a number of guides on them on the site. I also post about national park news on my TikTok page! If you need help planning your national park trip, I also offer custom itineraries to fit with your budget, time frame, and the number of people traveling!
- Acadia National Park
- Arches National Park
- Badlands National Park
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Congaree National Park
- Denali National Park
- Dry Tortugas National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Gateway Arch National Park
- Glacier National Park (my home park!)
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Haleakala National Park
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Mount Rainier National Park
- New River Gorge National Park
- North Cascades National Park
- Olympic National Park
- Redwood National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Shenandoah National Park
- White Sands National Park
- Wind Cave National Park
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Zion National Park
Hikes and adventures
I’ve had more amazing experiences than I can count, but here are some of my favorite hikes and outdoor adventures I’ve had over the years. These are just a few, so feel free to email me if you want some suggestions!
- Hiking the Inca Trail on my honeymoon.
- Hiking Angels Landing.
- Hiking the Camino de Santiago with my mom.
- Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle with my dad.
- Proposing to my husband at Everest Base Camp.
- Kayaking the Amazon River in Peru.
- Rock climbing at Custer State Park in South Dakota.
- Rock climbing to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain in Brazil.
- Kayaking with penguins in Antarctica.
- Hiking the Grinnell Glacier Hike in Glacier National Park and fending off a grizzly bear.
Published articles
I started out my career in journalism and freelance travel writing and I still write for a number of publications regularly. I am also a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the North America Travel Journalists Association. Here are some of my recent articles on the outdoors and travel.
Everything you should know about Bryce Canyon National Park | National Geographic
10 Best National Parks in the United States for Solo Women Adventurers | Explore Mag
What You Need to Know About Glacier National Park’s Reservation System in 2024 | OutdoorsNW
The 13 Most Iconic National Park Attractions in the United States | Fodor’s
Help! Is There Anything I Can Do to Make Camping in the Heat More Tolerable? | Fodor’s
These National Parks Are Requiring Reservations in 2023 | Fodor’s
A Local’s Guide to Glacier National Park | The Blonde Abroad
How to Recreate Responsibly in America’s National Parks This Year | Coalatree
Collaborations
Here are some of the brands and tourism boards I have worked with on campaigns.
Destination New Brunswick
Camelbak
West Virginia Tourism
Visit Oslo
Backcountry
Press mentions
Here are some of my more recent press mentions.
A Journey Through LA’s Green Spaces: 9 Gardens in Los Angeles to Add to Your List | Redfin
Yellowstone Closes Due to Record Rainfall | Washington Post
Best Hiking Backpacks for Your Summer Adventures | CNN Underscored
Navigating National Parks | KLAS 8
Alex Schnee Shares Tips for Navigating National Parks | KTLA 5
How to Navigate the National Parks Reservation System | Advture
The Best U.S. National Parks to Visit in August | Bestlife
9 Best Trails and Other Spots for Dogs in U.S. National Parks | Expedia
Public speaking
I’ve spoken at several conferences and events on adventure travel and getting outdoors. Here are some recent conferences and organizations I’ve spoken at.
Travel and Adventure Show Boston 2022
Travel Blogging Summit Nashville 2023
Social media
Want to connect? You can find me on a number of social media platforms.
Outdoor Adventurers on the Map Facebook Group (3k members)
Want to work together?
Are you a brand, tourism board, or blogger looking to work together? Feel free to email me at [email protected] and we can discuss details. Also feel free to download my media kit for more information about my blog and business here.