Wanderlust is my compass. For several years in my early 30s I traveled the world. I went on
safari in South Africa, hiked to Machu Picchu in Peru, searched for Orangutans in Borneo,
volunteered to do hurricane relief work in the Bahamas, rode gondolas in Venice, swam with a
superpod of dolphin in Costa Rica and summited volcanoes in Guatemala. No destination is a
no for me. Now one year shy of 40 (ahhh!) and the mother of a newborn daughter, I find myself
taking adventures closer to home in Georgia. The best advice anyone ever gave me: “Live like a
tourist in your own town and you’ll never get bored.” That is my guiding motto. As an arts and
culture journalist by profession, I am always on the lookout for a good story. I let my curiosity
guide me.
What’s your travel style?
I make a sketch in pencil — meaning I have a vague picture of the highlights I want to hit, with
room to change plans and lots of blank spaces to color in spontaneously. There’s nothing worse
than stumbling upon an epic adventure you want to take but not being able to squeeze it in. I
leave room to improvise.
What Georgia spot feels like ‘home’ to you?
Blue Ridge. I am a Colorado girl who grew up vacationing in the Rocky Mountain town of Estes
Park. Blue Ridge reminds me of Estes, with its charming mountain Main Street, forests,
waterfalls, lakes and wildlife.
What’s one thing you always do when you travel?
Talk to locals. Everyone has a story, and some of my richest experiences have come from
hearing tales from the lives of people I meet along the way.