Meet

Cristie Anne

Cristie Anne is the founder of The Traveling Red, a luxury travel and lifestyle brand where travel, Disney, family, home, and everyday life come together. What began as a passion project in 2015 has grown into a full-time creative business and a community of more than 500,000 followers across social media.

Based between Miami and Disney’s Golden Oak, Cristie Anne shares everything from incredible destinations and luxury resorts to Disney experiences, favorite finds, family adventures, and everyday moments. Through it all, her goal is simple: to inspire people to explore more, make incredible memories, and have a little more fun along the way.

A Little

Disney Magic

One of the most distinctive parts of Cristie Anne’s story is her family’s second home inside Disney’s Golden Oak, the residential community located within Walt Disney World Resort. Designed by Disney Imagineers and inspired by Belle’s cottage from Beauty and the Beast, their home, affectionately known as Belle’s Cottage, has become a signature part of The Traveling Red and offers followers a rare glimpse into Disney living beyond the parks.

A Life of

Adventure

Travel has always been at the heart of Cristie Anne’s life. She has explored 47 countries and has always believed that having children doesn’t mean putting adventure on hold. She and her husband began traveling with their daughter, Charlie, from infancy, visiting four continents by the age of one. Today, Charlie has traveled to 21 countries, and their adventures continue to show families just how much of the world can be experienced together.

Their travels haven’t always looked the same. From luxury hotels and faraway destinations to transforming a retired school bus into a family home on wheels and slow-traveling across the United States, each chapter has shaped The Traveling Red. For Cristie Anne, the best adventures aren’t defined by how luxurious they are, but by the experiences and memories created along the way.

The Business

Behind the Brand

Behind the creative work is a strong foundation in business. Cristie Anne earned both her undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Miami and brings years of marketing experience to her work as a creator. She approaches partnerships from both perspectives, creating content that connects naturally with her audience while understanding branding, strategy, audience behavior, and long-term business value.

Today, The Traveling Red reaches more than 500,000 followers across social media, with an audience that follows along for trusted recommendations, family travel inspiration, luxury destinations, Disney experiences, beautiful homes, favorite finds, and everyday life.

Partnerships &

Collaborations

Over the years, Cristie Anne has collaborated with leading brands including Disney, Disney Cruise Line, Amazon, Fairmont Hotels, Pottery Barn Kids, Lilly Pulitzer, Pepsi, andtourism boards across North America. Every collaboration is thoughtfully selected to feel natural within her life and content while maintaining the trust she has built with her community.

The Story

Continues

Whether she’s sharing life inside Belle’s Cottage, exploring a five-star resort, sailing aboard Disney Cruise Line, discovering somewhere new, or simply bringing her audience along for everyday life, The Traveling Red continues to evolve right alongside her.

There is always another destination to discover, another experience to share, and another chapter of the story still to come.

MY JOURNEY

A timeline of passion, purpose & adventure.

2007

PAGEANTRY

Miss Miami USA & Miss Coral Gables USA

2010

MBA

One-year accelerated MBA, University of Miami

2015

THE TRAVELING RED

The beginning of my creator journey

2019

SCHOOL BUS ERA

32 states in our vacation home on wheels

2020

GOLDEN OAK

A new chapter begins with a home in Disney World

2022

MEDIA RECOGNITION

From social media to national press

GIVING BACK

The Magic of Giving

The Magic of Giving is my foundation, built around a simple idea: teaching children that the holidays can be just as magical when you’re giving as when you’re receiving. Through it, we’ve collected more than 1,000 toys for children spending the holidays in the hospital.

THE SANTA PARTY

What started as a tiny Santa party six years ago has grown into one of my favorite traditions of the year. Every child who attends brings a new toy for a child spending the holidays in the hospital. In return, they get to enjoy a special visit with Santa, complete with professional photos, holiday fun, and plenty of Christmas magic. It's become a day our family looks forward to every year, made even more special knowing the celebration brings joy far beyond the party itself.

A COMMUNITY EFFORT

The event has grown thanks in large part to the generosity of local vendors who donate their time, talents, and services to help bring the party to life. In return, I use my social media platforms to highlight their businesses and share their work with my audience. Together, we're able to create something special for local families while supporting small businesses and collecting hundreds of toys for children who need a little extra joy during the holidays.

TEACHING WHAT MATTERS MOST

One of the most meaningful parts for me is having my daughter, Charlie, and my niece, Ava, involved every step of the way. They see the toys arrive one by one at the party, help us gather them afterward, and then come with me to personally deliver them to the hospital. I want them to grow up understanding that the magic of the holidays isn't only about what you receive. Some of the best memories come from what you give.

Delivering the Magic

After the party, we load every donated toy into our Sprinter van, packing it from the seats all the way to the ceiling. Then Charlie and Ava join me as we head to the hospital to deliver the gifts in person. Seeing the entire van filled with toys and watching the girls take part in delivering them is always my favorite way to end the event. Over the past six years, The Magic of Giving has donated more than 1,000 toys to children in the hospital.

2023

2024

2025

6

YEARS
of The Magic of Giving

1,000+

TOYS DONATED
to children in the hospital over the past six years

400+

TOYS
donated last year alone

LARGEST

NON-CORPORATE DONOR
to the hospital last year

“Every child arrives with a gift for someone else and leaves with a little Christmas magic of their own.”

LET'S CREATE SOMETHING AMAZING

Your brand. My creativity.

A story worth sharing.

The best partnerships turn great ideas into content people genuinely want to watch, share, and remember. Let’s create something that makes your brand stand out and leaves a lasting impression.

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Career Highlights

2007

Miss Miami USA

Miss USA Organization • South Florida
The Beginning of My Public Career 
Long before founding The Traveling Red, my journey in media, public speaking, and brand representation began through the Miss USA Organization.
After being crownedMiss Coral Gables USA in 2007, I spent the year representing my community through charitable initiatives, public appearances, and local events across South Florida. The following year, I earned the title ofMiss Miami USA, expanding those opportunities while representing one of South Florida’s largest cities. 
What began as pageantry quickly became much more. It introduced me to working with the media, building relationships within the community, and representing organizations with professionalism. Those experiences sparked a passion for storytelling and public engagement that continues to shape my career today.
Beyond the Crown
While many people associate pageants with competition, my experience focused on service, leadership, and community involvement.
Throughout my years in the Miss USA Organization, I represented both Coral Gables and Miami at charitable events, community programs, business functions, fashion shows, promotional campaigns, and public appearances throughout South Florida.
Those opportunities also led to local media coverage, including being featured on the cover of my community newspaper’s Neighborhood section while modeling in a charity fashion fundraiser. I also participated in television productions and media opportunities, including appearances associated with the E! Network.
Looking back, those experiences gave me my first introduction to representing organizations, connecting with the media, and using my platform to support meaningful causes. 

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How It Shaped My Career 

Looking back, this chapter was never just about earning titles. 

It taught me how to confidently represent organizations, communicate with the media, speak before audiences, and build meaningful relationships within the community. Those experiences became the foundation for everything that followed, from launching The Traveling Red to partnering with global brands and serving as accredited media at major travel and entertainment events. 

Career Highlights

Career Highlights

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2010

MBA

University of Miami 

Building the Foundation 

Education has always been an important part of my journey.
I earned my bachelor’s degree inBusiness Managementwith a minor inAccountingfrom the University of Miami before being selected asone of only 19 studentsaccepted into the university’s accelerated MBA program. 
The program condensed two years of graduate studies into one intensive year, allowing me to earn my MBA in 2010 while developing the strategic thinking, leadership, and business skills that continue to shape my career today. 

More Than a Degree 

While my career has evolved into travel, media, and entrepreneurship, the principles I learned at the University of Miami remain at the core of everything I do.
Building a successful brand requires far more than creating beautiful content. It takes strategy, financial planning, marketing, negotiation, relationship building, and long-term vision. My education gave me the foundation to transform a passion for travel into a thriving business while creating authentic partnerships that deliver value for both brands and my audience. 

How It Shaped My Career 

My education taught me to think like both a business owner and a marketer. 
Building a successful brand requires far more than creating beautiful content. It takes strategic planning, marketing, financial understanding, relationship building, and long-term vision. My background allows me to approach every partnership with both creativity and business strategy, ensuring the content not only resonates with my audience but also supports a brand’s marketing objectives.
Rather than viewing collaborations as individual campaigns, I see them as opportunities to build lasting partnerships. Every project begins with understanding a brand’s goals, target audience, and overall marketing strategy, then creating authentic content that delivers value for both the brand and my community.
That balance of business strategy, marketing knowledge, and authentic storytelling has become one of the defining strengths of The Traveling Red. It continues to shape every decision I make, every campaign I create, and every partnership I build. 

Career Highlights

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Career Highlights

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2015

Founded The Traveling Red

Travel • Family • Photography • Storytelling 

Where It All Began 

Long before The Traveling Red existed, I had a passion for travel and photography. 

I was constantly exploring new destinations with my camera in hand, capturing beautiful moments and documenting the places that inspired me. What began as a personal creative outlet eventually became something much bigger when I launched The Traveling Red in 2015, creating a space to share those experiences with others. 

As my life evolved, so did the platform. After becoming a mother, travel took on a whole new meaning. I wanted to show families that exploring the world with children wasn’t only possible, it could become one of life’s greatest adventures. By the time my daughter was just 15 months old, she had already visited four continents, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. That belief in traveling together as a family transformed The Traveling Red from a travel blog into a lifestyle brand built around family, adventure, photography, and authentic storytelling. 

Growing With My Audience 

One of the things that has always defined The Traveling Red is that it has grown naturally alongside my life. 

From newlywed adventures around the world to traveling internationally with my daughter from infancy, living in a converted school bus, and eventually sharing life inside Disney’s Golden Oak, every chapter has become part of the brand’s story. 

Rather than following trends, I’ve focused on sharing the experiences that genuinely shape my family’s life. My audience has grown alongside me through every season, from newly married travels to motherhood, family adventures, home, and luxury travel. That authenticity has built lasting trust and meaningful connections that continue to define The Traveling Red today. 

How It Shaped My Career 

Founding The Traveling Red transformed a lifelong passion into a business built on creativity, strategy, and meaningful storytelling. 

Photography has always been one of my favorite ways to tell a story, and this platform gave me a place to share those stories with the world. As my family grew, so did the brand, evolving naturally alongside the experiences we were living. 

Today, I combine my passion for travel, family, photography, and storytelling with my background in business and marketing to create campaigns that are both authentic and strategic. Every partnership is built around genuine experiences that resonate with my audience while helping brands tell their stories in a meaningful and memorable way. 

That balance of creativity, business strategy, and authenticity has become the foundation of The Traveling Red and continues to shape every collaboration I create. 

Career Highlights

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Career Highlights

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2019

The School Bus Adventure

Family • Adventure • Simplicity
A Different Way to Travel
Travel has always been at the heart of our family.
After years of exploring the world internationally, we wanted to experience travel in a completely different way. When Charlie was just one year old, we purchased a retired yellow school bus with the dream of transforming it into a home on wheels.
Over the next seven months, my husband completely transformed the bus from the ground up. He built every aspect of the renovation himself, including the framing, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, flooring, and every custom detail that turned an empty school bus into our family’s home on wheels. While he brought the vision to life through incredible craftsmanship, I designed the interior to create a warm, functional space that reflected our family’s style.
When Charlie turned two, we set off on our first adventure.
Life Beyond the Destination
What began as a renovation project quickly became one of the most meaningful chapters of our lives.
Over the next five years, we spent a combined eight months living in the bus while exploring the United States as a family. We completed two unforgettable cross-country journeys, traveling from South Florida to the northwestern corner of Washington State while discovering national parks, scenic highways, charming small towns, and countless hidden gems along the way.
The bus gave us the freedom to slow down and truly experience each destination. Some of our favorite memories came from quiet mornings in nature, campfires under the stars, scenic drives, and waking up somewhere completely new.
It reminded us that travel isn’t always about reaching a destination. Sometimes the journey itself becomes the greatest adventure.
How It Shaped My Brand
The School Bus Adventure reinforced one of the values that continues to define The Traveling Red: meaningful travel isn’t measured by how far you go, but by the memories you create along the way.
By inviting my audience into one of the most personal chapters of our lives, I built deeper trust through authentic storytelling. Rather than simply sharing destinations, I shared the excitement of designing and building our dream bus, the challenges of life on the road, and the unforgettable moments that made the journey so rewarding.
Those years expanded my storytelling beyond travel alone. They became a story about family, creativity, resilience, and embracing adventure in unexpected ways. Even today, that chapter continues to influence how I travel, create, and connect with my audience.

Career Highlights

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Career Highlights

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2020

Golden Oak

Where Home Became Part of My Story

A Home We Never Expected
Sometimes the biggest chapters of our lives begin when we’re least expecting them.
While searching for a family vacation home, Disney wasn’t even on our radar. My parents happened to tour a home that had just become available and immediately called us. The moment we saw it, we fell in love.
In 2020, my family purchased a home in Disney’s Golden Oak, the only residential neighborhood located on Walt Disney World property. Designed by Disney Imagineers and inspired by Belle’s cottage from Beauty and the Beast, it quickly became much more than a vacation home. It became one of my family’s favorite places to create memories and one of the defining chapters of The Traveling Red.
A New Chapter of Storytelling
Golden Oak became more than a place to call home. It became the backdrop for a new chapter of The Traveling Red.
For the first time, I was able to combine my passions for travel, photography, home design, and Disney into one cohesive story. From the Imagineer-designed details throughout Belle’s Cottage to seasonal decorating, family traditions, and everyday moments, my home naturally became an extension of the experiences I was already sharing.
That evolution helped define a niche that felt authentic to my life while creating content that resonated with families who share a love for travel, Disney, and thoughtfully designed spaces.

How It Shaped My Brand

Golden Oak became a defining part of The Traveling Red.
Before purchasing our home, my content focused primarily on travel. Golden Oak naturally expanded that story by introducing home, design, Disney, and everyday family life into the brand. It wasn’t a planned shift, it simply reflected what my life looked like.
Over time, Belle’s Cottage became one of the most recognizable parts of my platform and introduced new opportunities to collaborate with brands across travel, home, family, and lifestyle. Today, it remains one of the pillars of The Traveling Red and continues to shape the stories I share.

Career Highlights

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Career Highlights

2022

Media Recognition

Where Storytelling Opened New Doors
Opportunities That Opened Doors
As The Traveling Red continued to grow, opportunities extended well beyond content creation.
I began receiving invitations to exclusive media events, movie premieres, destination previews, brand launches, and industry experiences. Publications also started reaching out to feature my story, request interviews, and highlight my work.
With my daughter’s school always a priority, I carefully choose the opportunities that best fit my schedule while continuing to document experiences that align with my brand and audience.
Behind the Scenes
Media invitations have provided opportunities to experience attractions, films, destinations, and brand launches before they were available to the public.
These experiences have also introduced me to talented creators, public relations teams, brand partners, and industry professionals, creating meaningful relationships that continue to shape my career. Being behind the scenes has allowed me to share moments my audience wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to see, bringing them along for experiences long before they officially open or launch.

Media Resources

How It Shaped My Brand

Media and press opportunities marked a turning point for The Traveling Red.
For the first time, my work was being recognized beyond the audience I had built. Journalists, editors, brands, and public relations teams began discovering my content and reaching out to collaborate, feature my story, and invite me to experiences designed for media.
Those opportunities expanded my professional network, introduced me to industry leaders, and opened doors to collaborations that continue to shape my career today. They also reinforced something I had believed from the beginning: authentic storytelling creates lasting relationships.

Career Highlights

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Instagram Videos