It was 1987 and I was 13 years old when I boarded and took my first Amtrak train across the country. The trip consisted of 15 young teenage Girl Scouts and three chaperones as we headed west from Rochester, NY to Omaha, NE on a 2-week long adventure. That was the trip that started it all. No one would have ever expected my life to turn out the way that it has, especially me!
Two years later I boarded my first ever flight with that same group of girls as we made our way to Europe. Traveling around so many countries with those same chaperones at the wheel of our big vans exposed me to new vibrant cultures, exotic (to me) cuisines and history like I only ever knew from textbooks. I was intrigued to learn more.
I went on to study Travel & Tourism in college with the goal of making travel my lifestyle. I spent summers working at various camps around New York and Maine alongside international staff. Counselors were coming from Australia, New Zealand, UK, Germany and with each new person I met, wanting desperately to visit their country. Fortunately, in 2000 I did just that.
Leaving my job in the tourism industry, I began planning my first solo trip around the world for 3.5 months. Doing something like this as an American was unheard of! By then I had met enough international friends who were willing to give me tips and tricks to look for flights and begin my planning. The internet was still new and finding time to sneak research through my parents dial-up connection was time consuming. Little by little the trip was planned, tickets were purchased and my backpack and hiking boots were ready to go. Off I went on my trip to New Zealand, Australia – including the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa) and finally Germany.
Feeding my addiction to travel was my life purpose. I applied to a budget tour company called Trek America to be a Tour Leader and was hired! For the next 4.5 years I spent three seasons a year driving a big white van full of international 20-40 year olds around the US and Canada. Camping and hiking through the areas most beautiful parks, driving scenic byways that eventually lead to remote paradise – this was the life for me! After Trek America, I spent the next 4 years as a Tour Guide at an active travel company called Backroads. Backroads offered a high-end experience where I led hiking, biking and multi-sport trips around the globe. I still drove that big white van and adopted road biking through the winding hills of Tuscany, hiking massifs in Slovakia and Poland and eating fresh seafood in Sicily. Some of my favorite memories will be singing Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) with my co-workers while on trips in Hawaii! I will always love Hawaii ❤
In the winter months when I wasn’t leading groups on trips, I spent my time fulfilling my personal goals of traveling. Exploring 3rd world countries, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass me by. Countries will continually evolve, tourism will steadily increase and my willingness to sleep in cheap hostel dorm rooms with people snoring all night will eventually fade. I used to say that I spent my 20’s and 30’s living my retired life because I had my health, a strong passion and curiosity to explore the world without hesitation. There’s certainly a lot of truth to that and now more than ever, I’m so grateful for my worldly experiences!
After a long and much needed break from living out of a suitcase and backpack, I settled down first in Austin, TX and later; Oakland, CA. In 2016 after many years of trying out stability, I made a New Year’s resolution to travel once a month to anywhere. It could be close to home or far away but it required that I spend at least one night not sleeping at home. I was happy that I was able to achieve that goal and set it again for 2017. At this point, it looks like I’m on track for another year of success! Some highlights from 2017 include visiting my 50th state – North Dakota and my 45th country – Lithuania.
Follow along with me as I begin my newest adventure to south-central Europe! The last time I took a lengthy trip was back in 2009 when I spent 5 months traveling through South America (Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru). This trip is currently scheduled for only 6-weeks (my shortest solo trip ever) and I can’t wait to see how traveling – and I – have changed!
Come on, let’s go!
Inkleined To Travel 