The Story Behind My Desire To Travel:
Some of my earliest travel memories are packed vans with the family headed north to Georgia, North Carolina or Tennessee—but nothing compares to the day my Dad surprised us with a motorhome instead. That trip felt magical, and I didn’t know it then, but it planted the travel seed early. I was born and raised in Southern Florida, and the fifth of six kids which made growing up very eventful.
My first plane ride came at 16, flying to New York City with my childhood friend group and one very brave mom. I loved everything about it—the airport buzz, the feeling of takeoff, and landing somewhere completely new. At 24, I took a two-week road trip from Florida to San Francisco with two girlfriends, and that’s when travel started to feel like something I needed, not just something I enjoyed.
Then came the summer of 2015—the summer that changed everything. In one nonstop stretch, I traveled to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Denver, Las Vegas, London, Paris (my very first time in Europe), Chicago (Lollapalooza), and Key West. That was the moment the travel bug fully bit—and it never let go. Since then, I’ve kept trips on the calendar at all times and have spent the last 10 years exploring the world.
At 28, I packed up my Toyota Corolla and set off on my second cross-country drive—except this time, I wasn’t just road-tripping. I was moving to Southern California to begin my career as a pharmacist and fully lean into a new season of life.
I’ve now visited 33 countries and 42 U.S. states, and I still call Southern California home. Moving here made road trips and adventure feel endless—with mountains, deserts, national parks, and international borders just a drive or flight away.
I’m most excited on scenic road trips and in mountainous places. I’m not the best hiker, but if there’s a view at the top, I’ll do the hike—no matter how steep or sketchy. I tried snowboarding twice (it went terribly), switched to skiing, and never looked back. Add a hot toddy or hot cocoa with Baileys at après-ski, and thats a perfect day.
And with every trip comes a new keychain to add to the collection. This blog is where I can share stories, tips, and itineraries—with the hope of encouraging you to stop waiting, book the trip, and go while you can.