About
Adam and Kathryn Frazer, the principals behind the digital travel brand ‘Adventures of A+K,’ have built a strong media business on a simple premise: practical, authentic, and accessible travel. Operating primarily from a self-converted Sprinter van with their dog, Kona, they have cultivated an audience of over a quarter-million subscribers by focusing on the nuts and bolts of North American road trips and outdoor exploration. While their on-screen persona is one of down-to-earth adventurers, their back-end operation reveals a well-organized, multi-channel media company that stands as a example of professionalizing a passion project without sacrificing the audience’s trust.
Adventures of A+K: History and Growth
The foundation of the Adventures of A+K brand was laid long before a camera ever rolled. Adam and Kathryn Frazer first met in 2011 while working at a Mighty Fine burger restaurant in Austin, Texas. After a year of friendship, they began dating in May 2012 and were married on October 12, 2014. Both pursued conventional careers; Adam spent six years as a public school teacher and coach before moving into web design, while Kathryn worked in event marketing for a technology company.
The catalyst for their transformation arrived in 2016 in the form of what Kathryn has termed a “well timed job layoff,” which they now consider a “blessing in disguise.” The event prompted them to relocate from Austin, their home for over a decade, to Seattle, Washington. Immersed in the Pacific Northwest, they dedicated their weekends to exploring the region, igniting a passion that would redefine their lives. This new focus led to the decision to pursue a nomadic lifestyle, facilitated by the purchase and conversion of a 170 WB Sprinter van they named “Brisket.” With no prior building experience, they spent seven months transforming the empty vehicle into a mobile home, complete with a kitchen and shower.
Their digital presence began to formalize in June 2018 when they secured the ‘Adventures of A+K’ YouTube channel. They published their first video in October of that year, supplementing an existing blog, and began traveling on a mostly full-time basis in August 2019. For nearly two years, they balanced their growing brand with their day jobs. The final transition occurred on June 25, 2021, when Kathryn left her corporate role, marking the moment Adventures of A+K became their sole, full-time business enterprise. Their journey was significantly bolstered by their dog, Kona, a Pit Bull, Jack Russell, and Dachshund mix they adopted from Austin Pets Alive! in December 2013, who became a central figure in their brand identity.
Adventures of A+K: Content and Style
The brand’s content is anchored in utility. Their stated mission is to “help travelers spend less time (and stress!) planning their trip and more time enjoying it.” This ethos shapes their output, which centers on detailed guides for North American van life, hiking excursions in national parks, and explorations of local food scenes. Their lighthearted search for the best coffee, tacos, and ice cream—describing themselves as a “5+ taco and 2+ scoop household”—adds a layer of relatable personality to their practical advice.
Recognizing that their target audience consists of “busy, budget conscious, and adventurous travelers,” much of their content is structured around itineraries for long weekends or limited vacation periods, making their advice actionable for working professionals. This practical approach distinguishes them in a crowded field, positioning them less as aspirational figures and more as a reliable, informative resource.
How Adventures of A+K Makes Money
Behind the easygoing vlogs is a carefully constructed and diversified business. The central nervous system of their operation is the website, adventuresofaplusk.com, which Adam built using his web design skills. It serves as a hub for long-form travel guides, an extensive affiliate marketing network, and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop.
Their revenue streams are varied. Direct-to-consumer sales include physical merchandise like an “A+K STICKER PACK” ($10) and an “A+K CAMP MUG” ($16), with fulfillment handled by Shop Good, a small business in Oklahoma City. They also sell high-margin digital products, including a series of $22 eBooks with titles such as “The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Vietnam” and “The ultimate guide to driving the Alaska Highway.”
A robust affiliate marketing program generates significant passive income. The Frazers hold partnerships with a wide array of travel and outdoor brands, including Tripadvisor (offering code APLUSK10), AllTrails (code aplusk30), Harvest Hosts (code HHFRIENDS15), and Booking.com. High-value B2B partnerships, primarily with tourism boards, represent another critical revenue pillar. Their professional “Work with Us” portal has attracted major clients, leading to successful campaigns with South Dakota Tourism (a seven-part series generating over 612,000 views), Visit Redding in March 2022 (two videos with over 138,000 views), and Visit Bend in April 2022 (one video with over 86,000 views).
This commercial activity is supported by a professional technology stack. They use Adobe Premiere Pro for editing, source licensed audio from Musicbed (code APLUSK), manage SEO with Keysearch (code KSDISC), schedule Pinterest content with Tailwind, and retain the services of Cookie Finance, a bookkeeping firm specializing in content creators.
Adventures of A+K's Collaborations
The Frazers are active participants in the creator community. They have documented collaborations with fellow full-time travel creators “Scho & Jo,” a common practice for cross-promoting and sharing audiences. They have also openly acknowledged being inspired by genre leaders ‘Kara and Nate,’ even attending a fan event they hosted early on. This engagement demonstrates an understanding of the collaborative nature of the digital media landscape and their place within it.
Adventures of A+K: Public Reception
The brand enjoys a remarkably positive public perception with no evidence of major controversy. Within discerning online communities, such as the r/KaraAndNate subreddit, they are frequently praised for their authenticity. Viewers use phrases like “real down to Earth” and “not corrupted by $$$” to describe them. They are often positioned as a “great Kara and Nate alternative,” perceived as embodying the “good old days” of travel vlogging before a shift toward luxury content alienated some viewers. This sentiment is reinforced by audience comments noting that the Frazers are “very targeted with whom they do sponsorships,” a selective approach that has built significant trust.
Minor critiques are nuanced. Some viewers find the heavy focus on hiking can become “played out.” One commenter offered a particularly sharp observation, describing their well-researched style as akin to “going on a trip with the HR person from your office, for better or worse,” highlighting that their organized, drama-free presentation may not appeal to all tastes.
Adventures of A+K: Philanthropy
While their primary focus is content and business, the Frazers have integrated philanthropic efforts into their commercial activities. In a past initiative, they sold a limited-edition shirt and committed to donating $1 from each sale to the Leave No Trace organization, an environmental non-profit dedicated to responsible outdoor recreation.
Adventures of A+K Today
Adventures of A+K is a thoroughly modern media company. Adam and Kathryn Frazer have successfully parlayed their professional skills, a passion for travel, and a disciplined approach to content into a stable and growing business. They have masterfully occupied a valuable niche, capturing an audience that craves practicality and authenticity over aspirational luxury. Their greatest strength—the deep trust they have cultivated with their community—is also their most critical asset to protect. As they navigate the future, which includes managing the acknowledged risks of creator burnout, their primary challenge will be to scale their enterprise without eroding the genuine connection that defines their brand.