Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrissa Karnes
Hi Chrissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The idea of starting my YouTube channel all began with a trip to Iceland. I’ve always loved planning trips, and since this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, I dove headfirst into researching itineraries. That’s when I really started watching a ton of YouTube videos. They were game-changers and really helped me plan an incredible itinerary that made our trip unforgettable. On the flight back to Orlando, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Living in a vacation destination like Central Florida, I realized there was so much I could share, too. By the end of that flight, I was convinced—I needed to start a YouTube channel.
When I got home, I went all in, and obsessively watched videos on how to create content and learning the process. I felt like I had a bit of a head start because of my background as a family photographer—I already understood composition, lighting, and how to use a camera. But there was always something holding me back, and that was….work. Then COVID hit, and like so many others, I found myself furloughed with plenty of time on my hands. I decided there was no better time to start than now.
My first video? Let’s just say it wasn’t great. I cringe thinking about it now, but back then, I was so proud. It’s still up on my channel today—a video about Mount Dora—and while it’s far from perfect, I’ve kept it as a reminder of how far I’ve come.
Fast forward four years, and I’ve learned a lot. Do I know everything? Absolutely not. YouTube is always evolving, and we’re constantly learning and adapting. But I’m proud to say we give our best to every single video.
In the beginning, it was just me—filming, editing, doing it all. But, about two years ago, the channel started doing well enough that my husband was able to step away from his job as an implementation engineer to work as my full-time editor. I taught him what I knew about editing, and he jumped right in. He even took some Udemy courses on editing and animation, which have helped take our videos to the next level. The maps in our videos now? Chef’s kiss.
These days, we’re a team. I still work full-time remotely, but we partner together to keep it all going. We’re always working on ways to improve and make better content for our audience. This journey has been wild, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Being a YouTuber comes with its own unique challenges, especially because the platform is always changing. The algorithm shifts, audience preferences evolve, and there’s more competition every year. It can feel like you’re constantly trying to keep up.
We’ve had our fair share of struggles. There have been times when we’ve poured months of work into a video, only to have it fall flat in terms of performance. That’s tough to swallow. Being a YouTuber has a lot of ups and downs—you can feel like you’re on top of the world one summer and come crashing down the next. Those crashes? They humble you real quick.
But for us, the key has always been to just keep going. We’ve had film days that don’t go as planned, equipment that refuses to cooperate, and videos that didn’t land the way we hoped. When that happens, we try not to dwell on it. Instead, we ask, Okay, that didn’t work. How can we do better next time? It’s about staying adaptable, learning from every experience, and never giving up.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a travel YouTuber, and my channel, Chrissa Travels, is where we bring adventure and planning together. I also have a blog that I’ve been focusing on more since May of this year. We specialize in creating video itineraries and guides that inspire and help people plan their trips. Our most popular videos are our Absolute Guides, where we walk viewers through absolutely everything they need to know about a specific theme park—like Magic Kingdom or Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The guide that’s really stood out is our Wizarding World of Harry Potter Universal Orlando Guide, which is getting close to a million views! We couldn’t be happier with how it’s been received.
What sets us apart is the variety we bring to the table. While we love theme parks and cover them in depth, we also highlight things to do outside the parks. It’s not just about the rides and attractions—it’s about exploring everything the destination has to offer.
Lately, we’ve been diving into full trip itineraries. Remember how I mentioned loving to create itineraries? Well, we recently put together a 7-day itinerary for the Canadian Rockies for Banff, Jasper, and the Icefields Parkway that included stops, hotels, and tips. The response was amazing—we got close to 200K views on the video, and around 500 people downloaded the free itinerary. That was a big moment for us, kind of like a proof of concept. Now we’re working on creating even more itineraries with video guides so people can watch our videos, get inspired, and download our exact trip plans—for free. I’m really proud of that.
Eventually, we’d like to expand into creating more detailed, paid guides for our website. But for now, we’re focused on giving people the tools to have their own amazing adventures.
How do you define success?
This is such a great question! How do you define success? For me, the ultimate success would be for both of us to do YouTube full-time. Our dream is to eventually buy an RV, hit the road, and travel the country creating content. That would be incredible.
But right now, we find success in the little things. When a viewer reaches out to say how much our video helped them plan their trip or leaves a thoughtful comment about how much they loved the video and how they can’t imagine the effort that went into it—those moments mean everything to us. Those are our little wins, and they keep us motivated to keep doing what we love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chrissatravelsflorida.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissatravels
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrissaTravelsFlorida
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrissatravels
