Vacationers of the Week: Steph and Katie Burlton, Lez See the World
Steph and Katie Burlton, also known by their handle and blog Lez See the World, have been together for 12 years but married for seven years. Steph was born in Ottawa, Ontario, and moved to British Columbia when she was five years old. She was raised in Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver, whereas Katie was born and raised in another suburb of Vancouver called Langley. So, it’s not surprising that the happy couple still resides in “Hollywood North”.
Although these full-time content creators took a hiatus from traveling due to the pandemic, they are extremely excited about their upcoming travel itinerary for 2023! But before they jet off to their next desired travel destination, we wanted to connect with them.
Vacationer Magazine: At what age did you receive your first passport? What was your first trip?
Steph Burlton: I was lucky enough to travel a lot with my family when I was young, and the first trip I can remember was to the UK when I was 4.
Katie Burlton: I received my first passport when I was 7 or 8 to fly down to the US, but my first real trip was to Europe when I was 17.
What trip or travel experience sparked your passion for travel?
Steph: I did a big train trip through Europe with my family when I was about 10. We visited a lot of different countries, and I experienced an array of cultures. It really opened my eyes to how big the world is and how much there is to explore.
Katie: I discovered my love for travel when I took my first overseas trip in high school as part of a student program. It was in Italy that I decided I wanted to spend my life adventuring around the world. I had read a story about Venice as a kid and it sounded magical to me, seeing it in person definitely sparked my passion for travel.
What inspires you to travel?
We both feel invigorated by new experiences and getting out of our comfort zones. We’ve never felt like we want to stay in one place for too long, and we are always craving adventure! Both of us are passionate, curious people, and we love learning about the world. Traveling allows us to continue growing into the best versions of ourselves.
Please tell us how you identify yourself on the LGBTQIA spectrum. Tell us if how you identify influences the way you travel. If so, how?
We both identify as lesbians and queer women. Our identities definitely impact the way we travel, although we are very aware of our privilege as white, cis, straight-presenting people. Unless we are actively showing PDA, most people don’t assume we’re a couple, so we never really feel unsafe when we’re traveling. That being said, we prefer not to closet ourselves and we really enjoy choosing our destinations based on how LGBTQ+ friendly they are! We love to feel comfortable being ourselves, holding hands in public, and being out and open wherever we go. Because of that, we haven’t traveled anywhere that is explicitly unwelcoming or dangerous for queer people.
Is there a travel destination that most queer travelers would think isn’t safe to visit, but you’ve visited and enjoyed it? If so, where? What made it a memorable experience?
It feels like South America isn’t always on the radar of a lot of queer travelers, but South American countries actually have some of the most progressive LGBTQ+ laws in the world – specifically Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay! We did a South America trip in 2019 and loved our time there. We were really impressed with how queer-friendly it was and we can’t wait to go back.
How long have you been traveling together? What was your first trip together? Would you recommend it to other LGBTQ+ travelers?
The very first trip we ever took together was a road trip from Vancouver to Seattle and Portland after we’d been dating for about two months. They are still two of our favorite US cities to visit, and we can recommend both to other LGBTQ+ travelers! We traveled as much as we could in the early years of dating, but we didn’t start traveling full-time until after we got married at the end of 2015.
Was it naturally easy to start traveling with one another? What are the perks of traveling as a couple?
It was very easy to start traveling together! We have very similar travel styles, and we work really well as travel partners. We love going on adventures as a couple because it’s so fun to share these once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Our favorite perks of traveling as a couple are that we know each other so well that it makes everything feel really comfortable. Also, it makes every trip feel full of romance and love.
How would you describe your travel style in three words?
Romantic, adventurous, and easygoing.
What are your top three favorite places to visit? Why?
We love traveling to big cities, and three of our favorite city destinations are New York City, London, and Paris. Every time we visit, we can’t wait to go back!
What three places are still on your bucket list to visit? Why?
There are still so many places on our travel bucket list that we can’t wait to check out! The top 3 destinations that we’d still love to visit are South Africa, New Zealand, and Thailand. They all have so many unique things to offer, they’re all LGBTQ+ friendly, and they all look absolutely beautiful.
What’s one thing you never forget to pack in your suitcase?
We never go anywhere without our camera gear! We love documenting our travels together. It feels really special knowing we’re capturing all these memories to look back on one day.
You’re going on a road trip or a long-haul flight. What singer or band is always on your playlist?
Taylor Swift is always on our playlist!
