Meet Mikaylee | Mikaylee’s Munchies

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

Hi Mikaylee, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

At the core of who I am, I’ve always had a passion for storytelling. From a young age, I was writing short stories, and creating & editing videos for fun. I’ve always loved travel – the thrill of discovering new & unique places, trying different cuisines, and meeting people with heartwarming stories. I knew that in the future, I would like to pursue things that would allow me to express my creativity – and that led me to start my food & travel Instagram blog, Mikaylee’s Munchies. (@mikayleesmunchies) It’s an outlet for me to share, create, and learn. And I became motivated to help inspire others to discover new places, foods, and cultures, too.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m so grateful that I’m able to share my passions for food & travel with others. My Instagram @mikayleesmunchies specializes in showcasing San Diego-based restaurants & activities, but I also share global foodie finds, like where to get the best gelato in Florence, Italy, or must-visit eateries in NYC! I love to share cuisines from ALL cultures, and even try new recipes, too!

It always feels so incredible when someone tells me they loved a place I recommended, enjoyed a video I made, or followed a recipe I created. It reminds me of why I started in the first place – to share, create, and learn with a community.

At first, I was nervous to start a food blog, film myself talking, etc. I think I was a bit afraid of what other people would think. Starting from zero, sometimes self-limiting beliefs can get in your head telling you “Someone is doing it better than you,” “You’re going to embarass yourself,” etc. Pushing through those fears allowed me to jump in and let my creativity bloom at full force. It’s led to so many amazing opportunities and memories. And even more so, working through those fears & self-limiting beliefs in starting my blog allowed me to bloom & grow in other aspects of my life, too.

If I could leave you with one piece of advice, is to just go for it. Take that leap – start that podcast, post those videos. Don’t let the fear of what others may think of you hold you back from pursuing your hobbies & dreams. That dream of yours was set in your heart for a reason. Start now!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hey, bestie! Let’s explore San Diego together!

In the mornings, we will wake up & grab some some coffee or tea – Bird Rock Coffee Roasters & Better Buzz are great choices for a latte or two, and Yerba is great for some traditional maté & empanadas.

Then we’ll go on one of many beautiful hikes in San Diego. Torrey Pines, Mission Trails, Los Penasquitos – each providing their own unique views.

A sunny afternoon leaves us with endless options of outdoor fun. Let’s head to the beaches in La Jolla or drive over the bridge to Coronado to check out that quaint beachy town. We can also stroll through Balboa Park and have a picnic! On many days during the week, there are also farmer’s markets we can peruse through. My favorites are the Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and the Little Italy Farmer’s Market on Saturdays!

Feeling hungry? A San Diego trip is not complete without Mexican food! If you’re looking for something quick, incredibly delicious, and rich in history – hit up El Indio on India Street for a burrito, which has been serving up Mexican fare since 1940. Want a sit-down restaurant? You must visit Pueblo in Pacific Beach. Huge portions, delicious margaritas, and all-around 10/10 vibes.

San Diego is also BIG on their breweries. With over 150 to choose from, there’s plenty of options for us to choose from. Some of my faves are Pure Project, Nova Brazil Brewing (for kombucha lovers!) Mikkeller, and Modern Times.

We’ll catch the sunset over at Sunset Cliffs, but not before stopping at Hodad’s right next door in Ocean Beach to get some juicy burgers and fries.

Dinner options are endless. If you are craving Asian cuisine, there is no shortage of deliciousness over in Convoy. Some of my fav spots are here…Manna for all-you-can-eat KBBQ, Tasty Noodle House for Chinese food, Chon Ju Jip for Korean food, and Menya Ultra for ramen.

At night we can walk around Little Italy, stopping into an Italian restaurant, like Barbusa or Allegro, or a lively spot for drinks & dinner like Kettner Exchange. And if you’re up for it, let’s hit the town in North Park, Downtown, or Gaslamp.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Long before I actually started my food & travel blog, I was toying with the idea of it forever, a little apprehensive to make the jump. I grew up watching people like Anthony Bourdain and dreamed of one day having a job where I could travel the world and discover great food for a living.

It was the support of my friends and family that encouraged me to start this journey. (Shoutout to Adam for pushing me to create my Instagram back in the day. Shoutout to Ayman who is always there to help me with content, and give helpful critiques or words of encouragement along the way. And shoutout to my Mom, who is my #1 fan, always supporting me!)

Instagram: @mikayleesmunchies

Other: TikTok: @mikayleesmunchies