- Photographer
- Member: U.S. Press Association
- Published: Huffington Post, JustLuxe, Vacation Rental Travels Magazine, My Itchy Travel Feet, Gone to Carolinas, Luggage and Lipstick, Getting on Travel
Kary Kern was born in the farmlands of Terre Haute Indiana. His father, wanting to get away from the cold Midwest winters, moved the family to sunny South Florida. As a college professor, his father had the entire summer off, so the family was whisked away each year to a variety of destinations unknown, thus sparking the wanderlust that now motivates him to travel the globe.
In his young adult years, Kary joined the Marine Corps with the desire to travel to exotic places around the world. Stationed in California, he explored a good portion of the western United States but did not make it overseas. After four years, he left the Marines and headed to college with the desire to educate himself in the finer art of Parks Recreation and Tourism Management.
Kary worked his way through school as a Park Ranger at Payne’s Prairie State Preserve and a Technical Director at The O’Connell Sports and Entertainment Center. He completed his degree and went to work around the United States in the Tourism field as a Park Ranger.
Kary with sons Montana and Karson
He finally settled in Clemson SC, where he raised his two sons. He went to work for Oconee Nuclear Station, a lucrative job that would help finance a number of adventures throughout the world.
TSgt. Kery Kern with the 169th MXS at McEntire JNGB, S.C., receives an F-16 incentive flight on January 12, 2012, with Maj. John Buster Wilcox.
After 911, Kary joined the Air National Guard. The combination of the Oconee job and military allowed Kary to travel to 5 of the 7 continents, and experience many cultures and countries outside of the USA, including five deployments including Iraq, Qatar (twice), South Korea, and Okinawa.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
An avid hiker, Kary has several impressive climbs under his belt including reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, hiking to Machu Picchu in Peru, Pike’s Peak in Colorado, Hallasa Volcano on Jeju Island, Korea, down into the Grand Canyon, and various hikes throughout the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains close to where he lives.
Diving at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Kary is also a certified scuba diver. His three favorite dives are the Great Barrier Reef, Sea of Japan, and the springs in Northern Florida.
On the ancient walls surrounding Suwon, South Korea
Over the last five years, Kary Kern has honed his skills as a freelance photographer. In 2016, Kary met Patti Morrow, founder and editor of Luggage and Lipstick. Together they have teamed up their writing and photography talents, and are now in the process of checking off every possible destination and adventure possible. They co-founded the regional travel blog, Gone to Carolinas.
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“I’m the luggage, she’s the lipstick!” says Kary. “The best is yet to come!”
Paronella Park, Queensland, Australia
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1 comment
Comment by Sue McCarthy
Sue McCarthy June 7, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Kary and Patti make a great journalistic team. We have interviewed Patti many times on our Travel Planners Radio Show and admired photos taken by Kary at destinations where they have traveled together.