About Jessica and Ismail Jessica Serna of My Curly Adventures and her husband Ismail met in college over a pickup soccer game where they both went for a ball in the air. Ismail, being taller, managed to get the ball and knocked Jessica over in the process. That was the start of a love story that led to their marriage in 2018. Together, they love finding new adventures, connecting over amazing meals, and getting out in nature. Their goal is that everyone can live a travel lifestyle no matter their situation. Whether it’s finding unique experiences in your own city, exploring the best weekend getaways, or planning that two-week vacation- they’re here to help you make the most of every day! About Jessica Serna I’m a native Texan born and raised in San Antonio, TX! A Latina who has spent her entire life growing up in Texas. As the original Texas Travel Influencer (and named #1 Texas Travel Influencer), it’s been amazing to hear all of the incredible stories of how I paved the way to inspire people to travel and support local Texas businesses, inspiring a new generation of Texas travelers and Texas content creators. When I first started blogging, all of the social media accounts were focused on how to travel the world by featuring far off exotic destinations that often weren’t accessible to the typical 9-5 worker. By focusing specifically on Texas travel, I have been able to help thousands of people discover exciting activities and destinations nearby while supporting local and Texas owned businesses. What Makes Her an Expert in Texas Travel My husband and I spend nearly every week traveling to different Texas cities, to create in-depth travel guides on her website and provide resources to her community. It’s a little crazy, but Texas is big and there’s so much to explore! I’m always looking to uncover hidden gems, waterfalls, and highlight places that not everyone may know about while inspiring people to visit places they haven’t considered before. In addition to writing blogs on her website and posting on social media, I have served as a Texas spokesperson for brands such as Lonely Planet, spoken on new stations about different Texas destinations, written her own Texas travel guide (which sold out of its first edition and is now carried in stores across Texas), and guest writes on different publications such as Dallas Observer, Travel Texas, Texas Lifestyle Magazine, Texas Living, and more (see all of her press features). Beyond Texas Travel Although I primary focus is on Texas travel, a niche that has helped me grow a community of over 1 million Texans, I do occasionally like to travel outside of Texas for fun getaways to places like the Maldives, Santa Fe, and more. As a Mexican American, I especially loves visiting Mexico and other Spanish speaking destinations. It’s fun to mix in regular Texas travel with those exciting out-of-state and out of country destinations. I also serve as a resource to businesses and other aspiring content creators through hosted seminars, her social media and business strategy courses, speaking engagements, corporate social media trainings, guest speaking opportunities, and more. How Jessica Serna Started Jessica started her blogging journey after returning from a 5 month’s stay in Granada, Spain because of a scholarship she received in college. When she returned to Dallas, Texas, she didn’t want to give up that lifestyle, but couldn’t really spend every weekend jetting off to another country with a 9-5. Soon she started taking trips to nearby towns and sharing about her adventures on Instagram like most people her age and quickly learned how much there was to do in Texas for weekend trips! Before long, she realized there was a need for local travel resources and MyCurlyAdventures began. She enjoys travel, crafting, and learning any new sport she can. She’s currently trying to learn aerial silks and getting back into pickup soccer. She regularly uses her page to feature small and Latino/BIPOC owned businesses on social media, @mycurlyadventures_. Learn more about her journey here Watch her Tedx Talk Follow on LinkedIn About Ismail Ismail was born in Kitwe, Zambia where he lived until he was 12 when he moved with his family to Dallas, TX. Originally Congolese, he came to the US a refugee. Jessica always jokes about one of their first encounters, where she asked what he liked to do, to which he replied”Play soccer, watch soccer, and play FIFA”, and that was it. In college, he studied engineering, but travel blogging took over quickly after graduation. Turns out Ismail has other hobbies than just soccer. He enjoys cooking and likes to incorporate his mom’s cooking styles into the foods he creates. People often mistake his nickname “Chief” to be chef. While not an official chef, he does dream of starting a culinary creation in the future that incorporates the cuisine he grew up on. His page, @myculinaryadventures_ fuses travel with food and he is always looking for different African restaurants and cultural cuisines when traveling. About MyCurlyAdventures On MyCurlyAdventures you will find Texas Travel guides, resources for direct flight destinations, and fashion for the traveler. They have been featured in Texas Monthly, Business Insider, Buzzfeed, Modern Texas Living, and more that you can read here. MyCurlyAdventures has also been featured on Good Morning Texas, Good Day Fox 4, and other shows across Texas. You can trust MyCurlyAdventures as a full resource as a Texas Travel Blogger. They have even written a travel guide, now on its second edition, 55+ Texas Trips Under $50. My Curly Adventures Airbnb – Casa Kumwesu Additionally, Ismail and Jessica recently launched Casa Kumwesu, a rental property that will come to house multiple unique short term rentals starting with their first project, an ice cream themed house. Casa Kumwesu was a blend of their two cultures for a Spanish-Bemba mix of words that essentially translates to “Our House”. Of course things never perfectly translate and it’s hard to fully share how deep … Continue reading About MyCurlyAdventures