Hello and welcome!
My name is Tina and I have a serious case of wanderlust.
I started this travel blog to document my experiences, share my bucket lists with others, and inspire women over 50 to venture out into the world.
How it all began:
I’m not sure when I caught the travel bug. Growing up with a single, hard-working mother, money did not come easy.
As a child, I often visited our local public library. It was during these visits that I became fond of National Geographic Magazines. I spent countless hours reading articles about far away places. This was the beginning of my bucket list.
As I grew older, my mom would send me to Europe and Asia in the summers to visit with family. These visits only fueled my love affair with travel.
My adult years:
Once I was able to earn my own money, I saved every dime I could. Weekend hiking trips across the Southwestern part of the United States temporarily medicated my travel addiction.
During my college years, I worked full-time. Travel became limited to daydreams.
Marriage, career, and raising a family took precedent. I was content with my choices. Yet, in the back of my mind, I often thought about my bucket list dreams. My wanderlust heart was always there.
Family Travel:
As my children grew, I ventured far and wide with my two young boys. My boys became my favorite travel companions.
Solo Travel:
In between family trips, I found a new passion: solo travel! It was during some of these solo trips, I learned more about myself than I ever thought possible. Solo travel became my therapy, and I loved it.
To date, I have traveled to over 70+ countries. My goal is to visit every country in the world and complete the bucket list I started many years ago. Join me as I explore this amazing planet.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below you’ll find some of the most frequently asked questions.
Q: How many countries have you visited?
A: The simple current answer is 75. Unfortunately, I visited many countries as a child, so I am making it a point to revisit many of these fabulous destinations over the next few years.
Q: What is your favorite country you have visited?
A: This is a tough one. It’s like asking which of my two children is my favorite. Each place is special in their own way. My “favorite” country for natural beauty is Iceland. My “favorite” foodie country is Vietnam. My “favorite” country for national parks is the USA. My “favorite” country for cultural experiences is Thailand. My “favorite” country for historical sites is Greece.We recommend buying your favorite toothbrush at super low prices with free shipping, and you can also pick up your order at the store on the same day.
Q: How do you fund your travel?
A: This one is simple. I fund my travel by saving and prioritizing travel. Of course, I use travel hacking tips and tricks, but ultimately, it comes down to money saved.
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: After working almost 40 years of my life, I recently retired. After 25 years as a classroom teacher, I called it quits to pursue my passions. Like many others, the global pandemic taught me about the importance of living our best life while we can. I prioritized happiness over constant work chasing the “American” dream. I continue to work on a couple of side businesses, but this travel blog and enjoying life is my number one goal.
Q: What is your travel style?
A: It all really depends on several factors. I enjoy traveling with friends and family when I just want to have fun and enjoy their company.
My real passion is solo travel. Solo travel allows me to really understand a place and learn about the world. I don’t care for group tours and I’m very picky about cruises. If I can visit a destination on my own, I would choose that any day. I’m a “bougie” budget traveler. What does that mean? I have no problem spending a few nights at a five-star resort if the resort is the destination. However, I prefer to spend my money on experiences over high-end accommodations. Over the years though, I prefer quality accommodations over price. Simply, I’m too old to sleep on a couch or in a hostel.
Q: What does my family think about your travels?
A: I am beyond blessed to have a husband and two boys who support my wanderlust. If I am traveling solo, I share my itinerary and location with my family and I check in with them often.
Q: How often do you travel?
A: When I was working full-time, I traveled domestically 3-4 times a year and internationally 1-2 times a year. Now that I’m retired, those numbers have gone up significantly.
Q: Do you use a travel agent?
A: In 99% of my travels, I plan my own trips. I have a nightly ritual of looking through Pinterest and Instagram at travel destinations. When I’m not traveling, I am planning my next travel destination.