5 Minutes With Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub

For McCool Travel’s 164th travel interview, I am pleased to present Kevin Wilkerson from PubClub. My internal McCool Travel mission for 2018 is to focus on Cool, Happy, and Fun Travel. Kevin Wilkerson embodies this mission. My wife and I were honored to hang out with Kevin at PubClub HQ in Hermosa Beach, between our visits to Conejo Valley and Torrance. We shared a rum drink (or two!) while experiencing a glorious California sunset. He does this every single day. Sign me up!
Kevin Wilkerson’s bio: “Kevin Wilkerson is the publisher of PubClub.com, a website and blog that blends nightlife with travel. He does PR for clients and major events; he has worked with Dr. Drew and on the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. He started PubClub while doing extensive travel as Advance PR Representative for the IndyCar World Series. He is a contributor to CultureWithTravel.com, freelances for AP Sports in Los Angeles, and is a contributing writer to a new magazine published by The Distillery Channel. You may have seen him pedaling his bike along the beach on The Today Show; on the side he gives tours on bicycles in the Los Angeles Beach Cities of Hermosa, Manhattan, and Redondo Beach. He usually has a drink in his hand, too. Rum is favorite beverage.”

McCool Travel interview with Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub.
Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub in Hawaii

Kevin Wilkerson: PubClub

HOMETOWN …
Hermosa Beach, CA, is my current residence. I am from Knoxville, TN, where my parents and sister still live.
ALWAYS IN MY LUGGAGE …
Laptop (I like to write posts when I travel because that’s when the inspiration is at its highest point), magazines/newspapers to read on the flight, various shirts with the PubClub logo, shorts—hey, I’m a beach bum!—and my “signature” white shades, of course.
3 FAVORITE HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME PLACES …

  1. The Greek Islands, especially Mykonos and Santorini
  2. San Diego
  3. New Orleans
  4. Actually, Jimmy Buffett concerts should be in there somewhere, too.
McCool Travel interview with Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub.
Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub in Santorini

A FAVORITE TRAVEL MEMORY …
Jumping on top of the bar in a jumping Mykonos bar—I had to do this in order to talk to the bartender to get a drink—and making my way past other people toward the bartender while girls were taking off my shirt and yes, shorts! One girl threw my shorts across the bar and they landed on the rotating ceiling fan. I eventually recovered my shorts but not my shirt so I bought one from the bar that was pinned to the wall. When I say the Greek Islands are fun, I mean they are FUN!
3 FAVORITE TRAVEL BRANDS …
I don’t really have any, tho I try and stick with American and Delta or their partners when flying due to Frequent Flyer miles.
3 MONEY-SAVING TRAVEL TACTICS I USE …

  1. Avoiding a sit-down restaurant for lunch; instead I grab a sandwich and sit on a bench or beach at a scenic location.
  2. Happy Hours! These are great not just for discounted food & drinks but when I find a good one, I meet locals and find out about other good bars/places in town.
  3. I don’t go shopping or buy souvenirs. I have enough stuff at home.

3 WAYS THAT I HAVE FUN WHILE TRAVELING …

  1. Going to Happy Hours and bars to meet locals.
  2. Getting out and exploring. If it’s a new destination I love to walk around and see what’s there, or when in a familiar destination I go back to the places I know while seeing if/how it’s changed since my last visit.
  3. I really like to take photos, so that’s something I spend time doing when traveling.
  4. BONUS: If there’s a sunset, I’m watching it, either from a scenic spot or in a bar. A recommendation for the latter is Tropical Bar on Santorini.

8 WORD (OR LESS) TRAVEL MANTRA …
I’m Somewhere South Of Somewhere.” That’s the title of a song by a TropRocker friend, Eric Stone.

McCool Travel interview with Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub.
Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub at Fandango

FAVORITE NON-TRAVEL WEBSITE …
AL.com, for Alabama football stories. This is seasonal, of course. You know, during football season. Which in the South includes spring football! Roll Tide!!!
FAVORITE SOUVENIR …
A friend gave me a miniature tiki bar, complete with bar stools, and it even says “Kevin’s Bar.” It’s sitting on top of my real tiki bar.
FAVORITE CHEAP EAT …
When in Waikiki Beach, I like the plate lunches. Two scoops of rice, meat (I usually get chicken), macaroni salad and a big slice of Hawaiian sweet bread for less than 10 bucks. I also really like burgers, so when I find a place with character that looks like it might have a good burger, I try it. I do NOT do overpriced gourmet burgers, tho.
RECENT DISCOVERY …
A cool little beach town along the Central California coast near Hearst Castle called Cayucos.
I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE MET …
Charles McCool! And @FunInFairfax too, of course.
I WOULD LIKE TO MEET …
All the other travel bloggers on all those Twitter chats we do on a regular basis! As well as Jimmy Buffett.

McCool Travel interview with Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub.
Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub with The Blonde

Thank you so much, Kevin, for sharing your travel inspiration and tips.
Follow Kevin Wilkerson on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and PubClub.


McCool Travel presents tips from travel experts in our 5 Minutes travel interview series—featuring travel industry giants, super frequent travelers, and adventurous persons. Check out McCool Travel’s previous travel interviews. Previous 5 Minutes travel interview: Anna Faustino.


Follow McCool Travel on FacebookTwitterInstagram, PinterestFlipboard, MediumLinkedIn, and Bloglovin.

Sharing is caring!

2 thoughts on “5 Minutes With Kevin Wilkerson of PubClub”

  1. Nice interview, Charles. And Kevin, nice to get to know you more through this. Cool that you came from Tennessee, as we now live in North Carolina. Hopefully, we’ll all get to meet in person someday!

Comments are closed.