Carlie Hoke
School
Virginia Commonwealth University
Expertise
Traveling With Children, Bizarre Attractions & Hidden Gems, Destination Deep Dives
- Carlie has visited all four corners of the United States, many places in between, and a few outside its limits.
- Day or weekend trips to undisclosed locations are a regular occurrence for her.
- Carlie has never had a supernatural experience despite visiting a different creepy destination every October — knock on wood.
Experience
Having grown up in a tiny town that's actually a popular destination for people all over the world and lived in a state capital for the duration of her adult life, Carlie has had a taste of both country and city living. After moving to the city, she began her path toward a writing career, working as a freelance content and copywriter, helping small, woman-owned businesses thrive. Carlie has since written for online entertainment sites like CinemaBlend and Looper. She started writing features for Explore in 2022, combining her love of travel and the written word.
Education
Carlie has a bachelor's degree in creative advertising with a focus in copywriting from Virginia Commonwealth University. She graduated in 2017 and began freelancing in 2019.
Explore’s content is created by qualified and experienced writers and editors, bolstered by outside field experts. Our mission is to provide readers with well-rounded and accurate information by way of entertaining and engaging articles that deliver a diversity of content, including everything from detailed guides for exotic locales to easily accessible information on domestic travel.
Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Carlie Hoke
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On a budget but still want to hit the road? Check out our list for some of the best and cheapest vacations within the continental United States.
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Don't waste your time fighting crowds to sightsee or book accommodations. These 14 locations are worth traveling to during the off season next year.
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Applying for your U.S. passport requires submitting an acceptable photo. Here's our breakdown of the requirements, according to the U.S. Department of State.
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It's not just over-the-top actions that can get you on a hotel's bad side. Sometimes, even the mildest rule-breaking can get you booted from your room.
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While these locations might not be unknown to travelers, they might not get as much love as Miami, Paris or celebrity vacation hotspots like Aspen or Ibiza.
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Scenic beauty draws tourists to and from all corners of the world, and some of the world's strangest natural wonders are also some of the most beautiful.
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The best part about the holidays is spending time with loved ones. The worst part? Traveling. Make your holiday travel a breeze by avoiding these mistakes.
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There are still plenty of old hotels across the country where you can rest your head, and most of the following are recognized by Historic Hotels of America.
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The U.S. is jam-packed with popular big cities, but these magnificent yet underrated small towns deserve plenty of love. This is your new bucket list.
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Flight attendants are not the passengers' servants. They are there to help travelers, but their job description is much longer than this one task.
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Go out there and make your friends jealous: These are some of the most Instagram-worthy travel locations around the world to add to your bucket list.
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Campers will want to check out these parks, which have kept their natural nightscape and preserved the awe-striking experience of stargazing.
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Ready for adventure? These quotes by those who see the absolute beauty that exists outside are sure to whisk you out the door and into the Great Outdoors.
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To optimize your experience, check out this ultimate guide to stargazing at Cherry Springs State Park, whether you're a professional or novice sky-searcher.
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Finding a great pair of boots to trek through the great outdoors is sadly easier said than done, but we've hand-picked some of the best ones.