I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Charleston, SC, with a lovely group of food bloggers, and it was an incredible experience!

All photos were taken by Amanda Kamppinen photography.

I started this food blog in 2010 and it became my full-time job in 2019. I absolutely love I get to be creative in the kitchen — and I enjoy making recipes, practicing photography, shooting videos, and learning the ins and outs of SEO. But I’m also an extrovert, and spending all day as a solopreneur can be a bit lonely. So one of my favorite parts of running the business is meeting other content creators!

This year, I had the opportunity to go to a Fresh Air Retreat and spend 3 days in Charleston, South Carolina, with eight other food bloggers. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other creators in the industry, share insights, meet sponsors, learn about new tools, and collaborate on solving various problems.

This was the 13th Fresh Air Retreat, and Liz of the Lemon Bowl and Lauren from The Curious Palate are so intentional and thoughtful about the way they craft these experiences. From curating a list of bloggers with diverse experiences and backgrounds, to creating an itinerary that facilitates collaboration, they think about all the details.

The Attendees

The best part was connecting with the other bloggers. While I’d never met any of these ladies in person before the retreat, we all became fast friends!

From left to right: Elizabeth, Me, Annie, Kylie, Lauren, Liz, Monique, Hetal, Eden.
  • Everyday Elizabeth. Elizabeth Van Lierde combines her SoCal vibes with creative food styling and photography. Her recipes and lifestyle blend seamlessly into engaging, approachable content.
  • Sweet Peas and Saffron. Annie’s built a successful empire of food sites around healthy meal prep, gluten-free, keto, and wholesome dishes. She’s inspiringly business-savvy!
  • Cooking with Cocktail Rings. Kylie crafts restaurant-quality recipes inspired by global travel. Her New York life, charcuterie skills, and approachable recipes make her a standout.
  • The Curious Plate. Lauren is all about fresh, adventurous recipes inspired by her curiosity. Her Modern Comfort Cooking cookbook gives classic dishes a fun, flavorful twist.
  • The Lemon Bowl. Liz has a healthy food and travel blog that focuses on global flavors and her Lebanese heritage. She’s appeared everywhere from TODAY to Good Housekeeping—definitely a seasoned pro!
  • Ambitious Kitchen. Monique blends global flavors, healthy indulgences, and real-life balance effortlessly. Her recipes are bold, inspiring, and delightfully authentic.
  • Milk and Cardamom. Hetal, a Masterchef alum, infuses Indian-inspired flavors into her stunning recipes. Her food creativity has caught the attention of major culinary outlets.
  • Sugar and Charm. Eden makes entertaining stylish and approachable. Her expertise in hosting charming gatherings is featured in top magazines and brands, and she truly values community and cozy moments.

The Sponsors

One of the coolest parts of the retreat was getting to connect with the sponsors. We got to spend time with Mediavine, Grocers List, The Happy Egg, Explore Charleston, and Sabrina Loyer.

Mediavine has been my ad network since 2017, so it was fun to get to spend time with them! They helped us think about our business strategies and how to maximize our revenue. We asked a lot of questions about the state of the industry, what to be thinking about next, and how to improve our businesses overall.

In the afternoon, we met with Sabrina Loyer, a social media coach who takes a unique approach to tapping into your creative side. She led us in a meditation which was both calming and insightful. It was a treat to meet her because I have lots of friends who have used her coaching services!

On Thursday, we enjoyed a 5 course brunch with Happy Egg! We learned about their farming practices and how their chickens are raised. As someone who cares a lot about animal welfare and environmental sustainability, it was great to be able to ask a lot of questions.

We learned about the differences between organic, free-range, pasture-raised, and heritage breeds. I’ve been a fan of their eggs for a long time, so it was great to get confirmation about how well they treat their chickens!

On Thursday afternoon, we met with Ben — the founder of Grocers List. This is the service I use to send you recipes via Instagram and he helped us think about some new ways we could serve our audience. I previously used ManyChat, but after meeting Ben, I switched to Grocers List because it has a lot more tools and is easier to use.

I loved how he was so open to questions and feedback. The tool is really geared towards food bloggers, so if you’re a fellow food blogger, definitely check them out! And if you follow me on Instagram, then you’ve definitely gotten a link or two from me via Grocers List!

The Learning

One of my favorite parts of the retreat was the “lighting round,” where each person would have 2-3 minutes to explain a problem they’re trying to solve. Then each person would have 90 seconds to give ideas and solutions. It was such a great way to learn from each other! I have so many notes on my to-do list that came from these sessions!

The Food

Chef Trimell prepared incredible meals for us while we were at the house. He always had creative vegetarian options for me and Hetal. He kept us so well fed. From healthy snacks to a fancy multi-course dinner, we were always taken care of! It’s hard to pick a favorite dish from the lineup, but I loved the cornbread he made as part of the egg breakfast and the mango salad that I’ll be dreaming about for the next few weeks. He’s incredibly talented, and it was so fun to get to know him!

We also got to explore a bit of downtown Charleston! Alex and I actually went to Charleston for our honeymoon so it was fun to go back. Our crew went to a rooftop happy hour at The Vendue, followed by dinner downtown at Frannie & The Fox. I loved this pesto pizza from Frannie & the Fox! How are my hand modeling skills?

On Thursday, we had lunch at Sullivan’s Fresh Seafood & Bar, hosted by Explore Charleston. I’m headed back to Charleston in May, so it was fun to get to learn more about the city!

The whole retreat felt like a dream! I try not to do a lot of traveling for work because I have a 4-year-old at home, and it’s hard to be away from him. But this trip was absolutely worth the time investment. I learned so much from the other creators, and it really felt like the perfect opportunity to rest, recharge, and get re-energized with my work. If you’re a food blogger looking for an opportunity to learn, grow your business, network, and celebrate your accomplishments, definitely apply to attend a Fresh Air Retreat!

All photos were taken by Amanda Kamppinen photography.