Meet Chelsea Davis | Journalist & Founder of Cannescape

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is something that’s absolutely necessary to level up in any aspect of life. Without taking risks, you’ll always question whether or not something could have been done successfully, had you went for it. What’s important, however, is making calculated and educated risks. I think being afraid of the outcome of doing something different or betting on yourself is what holds most people back from achieving great things in life.

As a journalist I’ve interviewed a lot of successful people, and in addition to being ambitious, they simply were willing to take some risk because they believed in their product, goal or vision. Most of them aren’t geniuses, but rather, they don’t accept failure and are willing to pivot if things don’t work out for themselves the first or second time.

In my career, I credit my ambition and willingness to just go for it — despite the what ifs and what other people tell me — as reasons I’ve achieved what I have so far. Had I not taken the risk of becoming home schooled in 7th grade in efforts to train more to become a professional tennis player, I never would have given myself the option of becoming the best player I could have possibly been. Had I chosen to stay comfortable and decided to not move to New York City to attend Columbia University, I would have never grown up and figured out what I wanted to do in life. Post-graduation I risked my financial stability to become a freelance journalist after having good paying jobs in live television, finance and public relations. That was one the best decisions of my life.

I’ve been a successful journalist and content creator for almost a decade. I get to travel the country and world telling the stories of incredible people, places and cultures — and when I’m not traveling, I’m covering the best things to do, see and eat in San Francisco and beyond.

My most recent risky decision? Launching Cannescape, the first travel centric cannabis dining company. The goal is to provide guests with an inimitable experience that combines overnight travel at a charming Northern California destination with a cannabis-centric dining event in a safe, lively and fun atmosphere with which to indulge, imbibe and enjoy fully and unabashedly. It’s extremely risky, but I know it’s a great idea and if I don’t do it, someone else will. I believe in this idea and overall concept, as well as myself and the people who support me. Cannescape has thrown two successful overnight events so far, and despite this being a tough industry to break in to, we’re doing it. Cannescape is pioneering a new frontier in the world of cannabis.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up with the goal of becoming a professional tennis player — a very lofty endeavor that required most of my childhood to accomplish. Because it was something I loved and that I was good at, my parents and I took a risk and decided that I would be homeschooled from 7th grade up until college. I traveled the world training and competing in tournaments and eventually reached the pro-level before deciding to attend and play tennis at Columbia University in New York City. It was this level of dedication, hard work and commitment to success that I took with me as an adult after I graduated.

Within the first 4 or so years of graduating, I had tried my hand at several industries, including jobs as a Segment Producer at Fox Business and a Financial Advisor at Bank of America. I refused to stay at a job that I hated and decided that I wouldn’t settle in a career that I didn’t see myself in long term. At one point, I broke out in head to toe hives because I was so incredibly stressed out. My body was physically rejecting the insane amount of stress, anxiety and pressure work was putting on me. After trying my hand in public relations, a tech start up, finance and tv production, I decided to take a year off of corporate life and teach tennis. For a year I taught tennis at one of the most prestigious co-ops in New York City and it was while working here that I started a blog for fun. This just-for-fun-blog, eventually led to me applying to work as the Restaurant Editor and City Guide Manager at The Daily Meal.

This job launched my career as a food and travel journalist. I’ve been a freelance journalist for almost a decade now and it’s brought me to some of the most unique destinations in the world and at the tables of some of the most sought after restaurants. I would have never imagined that after graduating with a degree in political science and hating writing, that I would end up covering destinations, hotels, experiences, food and drink, in major publications for a living.
I like to say I cover all the fun stuff, and while being a journalist isn’t easy, I’m my own boss and I’m paving my own way. Over the last 4-5 years I’ve grown my social media presence and now also am a paid content creator, influencer and social media manager. I’ve managed to create my own brand (Chey Chey From The Bay) and voice that produces both editorial and social content for tourism boards, restaurants, wineries, hotels, websites… and more.

After helping to launch the Napa Valley Cannabis Association’s social media platforms in 2020, I took a keen interest in the world of cannabis. Particularly the intersection of cannabis and food within the world of travel. After continuing to hear and learn more about various cannabis dining events in California — a place where cannabis tourism is only continuing to grow thanks to its legalization in the state — I realized the potential for an all-inclusive, travel-centric, cannabis-driven, fine dining concept.

And so earlier this year I launched my own company called Cannescape, the first travel centric dining company. It’s been a super exciting journey pioneering a new frontier of tourism in the world of cannabis and we’ve already garnered a lot of interest and media attention. It’s scary but worth the risk.

Throughout my journey, which is no where near finished, I’ve learned that you have to bet on yourself and trust that you have what it takes to accomplish any goal you set your mind to. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. The biggest obstacle in my career path has been just starting. Just doing it. I’ve written countless stories about successful business owners and something that they all had in common was that they had a good idea or concept and they went for it. I’ve learned that setting the wheels in motion without over thinking seems like a small thing, but it’s actually a make it or break it moment that makes the difference between doing something incredible and missing an opportunity for greatness.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting, you can bet we’re going to be eating a lot! I would make sure to show them the diversity of San Francisco, along with some of the touristy spots (which I argue are a must for those visiting for the first time); vista points; hidden gems and local spots. Here’s a little round up of each neighborhood we’d visit — and what we would ideally do in each!

– Mission District is a colorful neighborhood filled with murals; nightlife; boutique shopping; great restaurants and bars, but specifically Mexican food; and Dolores Park, a favorite, outdoor local hangout. I’m here the most often! We’d definitely go to Foreign Cinema for brunch, La Taqueria for El Dorado burritos, Dandelion Chocolate and Craftsman and Wolves for coffes and desserts, and Curio for dinner, drinks and live music.

– San Francisco Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest Chinatown in the U.S. We’d come here for dim sum, authentic Chinese restaurants and bakeries, cultural landmarks, tea shops, herbal shops and more. For dinner we would go to either China Live and hit Cold Drinks Bar or Empress By Boon for something a little fancier.

– North Beach has countless Italian eateries, gelatorias, bars and cafes and a lively, party atmosphere. There are so many great spots here, but we’d definitely be eating and drinking at Capos Pizza, Original Joe’s, California Fish Market, Vesuvio Cafe, Stella Bakery and more.

– The Marina District is a scenic area great for nightlife, bar hopping, fine dining, shopping and being bougie. It’s also home to Crissy Fields and the Palace of Fine Arts.

– Haight Street is the birthplace of the counterculture movement. Think all things psychedelic, hippy and cannabis.
Union Square is one of the biggest, most all encompassing shopping areas in the country. Department stores, fancy boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, designer stores, brand names and more all can be found here.

Other points of interest: Coit Tower, Painted Ladies, Museum of Modern Art, Alcatraz, Japantown, Exploratorium, Lombard Street, Legion of Honor, Asian Art Museum, Sunset District, Hayes Valley, Presidio and more.

Golden Gate Park, Twin Peaks, Grandview Park, Ocean Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge are places we’d also check out for the views.

If we had time and could snag tickets in advance, we’d hit a Warriors game at Chase Center in Thrive City! Thrive City is home to not only the Warrior’s Stadium, but also shopping and worthwhile restaurants including Chef Tyler Florence’s upscale steakhouse, Miller and Lux; Dumpling Time where you can get feast on all the handmade dumplings you can eat; and Gott’s Roadhouse for some killer burgers.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my parents who always support me in my life, whether it be in my career endeavors or personal choices. They’ve always made the time to listen, understand, encourage and help me in any and all the ways that come up in this sometimes hectic, unpredictable life.

Website: www.chelseadavis.com; www.cheycheyfromthebay.com

Instagram: @cheycheyfromthebay

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsealdavis/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cheyday514

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheycheyfromthebay/

Other: www.cannescape.com