Travel Has Always Been Personal to Me

May 7 is Global Travel Advisor Day, organized by the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), to recognize the important role travel advisors play in creating meaningful, memorable experiences. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share a bit about my own journey and why I am so passionate about what I get to do every day.

My love of travel started early. After my freshman year of college, I spent a week in Paris exploring iconic landmarks and soaking up the culture. A few years later, my mom and I celebrated my college graduation with a trip to London. That unforgettable mother-daughter adventure helped shape my passion for travel that creates lasting memories and deeper meaning. May 7 is Global Travel Advisor Day, organized by the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), celebrates the vital role travel advisors play in creating exceptional travel experiences.

When my husband Steve and I got married, we made a commitment to focus on experiences over things. Our honeymoon was a 14-day journey through Hawaii and Los Angeles, and it ignited a shared love of exploring the world together. For our third anniversary, we took our very first ocean cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas. That cruise sparked what has now become more than 30 ocean voyages and counting.

As our family grew, travel became the way we celebrated life’s special moments. From multigenerational beach vacations and exciting city getaways to graduation trips and milestone birthdays, we always chose to create memories rather than collect more stuff. We explored London and Amsterdam, and experienced something truly profound during a visit to Israel while our daughter was studying abroad. One of our favorite family traditions is taking parent-child trips. A weekend in New York with my son to see Saturday Night Live (even though we didn’t get in) and annual trips with my daughter, from road-tripping through Oregon to an upcoming visit to Maine, are some of the most treasured times we’ve shared.

Once we became empty nesters, we knew it was time to fully embrace our love of travel. Our first trip in this new chapter was a Mediterranean cruise through Spain, France, and Italy. After that, we slowed down and connected more deeply with each destination on a European river cruise from Paris to Normandy. It was a beautiful way to experience the heart of France at a more relaxed pace.

To celebrate our 35th anniversary, we wandered the romantic canals of Venice before setting sail on a breathtaking cruise through Greece and Turkey. We were surrounded by ancient history, vibrant culture, and spectacular scenery. Most recently, we joined a guided group tour to China, where we explored landmarks like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will never forget.

This summer, we are looking forward to an Alaskan cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ SS Explorer. I’ll be traveling with fellow Gifted Travel Network Advisors and meeting with my Regent representative to learn more about the brand and what they offer. For my birthday, we will be sailing on Royal Caribbean’s exciting brand-new Star of the Seas. And next year, we hope to check off a long-time bucket list destination with a trip to Japan.

All of these adventures have shaped how I serve my clients today. I bring the same joy, curiosity and care to every trip I design. I understand that travel is more than just a vacation. It is a way to celebrate, to reconnect and to create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.

Schedule a time to meet with me to start planning your next adventure.