About Coastal with Kelly

Hi there, I’m Kelly – thanks for stopping by! I’m a blogger who turned her love for all things coastal into the ultimate resource for ocean lovers.

Coastal with Kelly is your one stop for all things coastal living, waterfront travel destinations, get-wet adventures – all while prioritizing ocean-friendly options.

I fell in love with the water at a young age, making a habit of walking off the edge of the dock or into the neighbor’s pool before I could swim (I was put in swim lessons shortly after…sorry Mom and Dad!). This love for the water led me to Washington College and Duke University, where I learned everything I could about the coast. What made it even better was having fun traveling stateside and internationally for hands-on learning.

I loved learning how to communicate ocean science, and received a certificate in communications during my time in graduate school. These hands-on adventures included traveling to Hawaii to help with Laysan albatross conservation, to Belize for mangrove surveys, and Peru to learn about sustainable fisheries.

The most important things I learned are that we know how to protect the ocean, and the best way to get people to help is to get them to care about it. And the best way to do that? Get them to visit the waterfront!

At Coastal with Kelly, I encourage get-wet adventures, like snorkeling and diving. Here, you’ll find recommendations for places to stay, things to do, and how to live your best salty life (and the products that make that easier, too).

I’m based out of Old Town Alexandria, so you’ll always find the local happenings in the DC area on my Instagram. You’ll find a lot of East Coast recommendations like how to plan a girls trip to Charleston, but you’ll also find recommendations for traveling abroad to coastal getaways like the Bahamas.