Beach club in Viareggio, Italy
Every December, we would leave our hometown of Santa Cruz, California, and fly from San Francisco to paradise for three weeks– and the anticipation brought so much excitement! We had traveled together as a family for as long as I could remember, including long trips in our RV where my sister and I mastered many things together–playing the game of Uno, singing along to the best of ‘80’s country, and trying out the latest hairstyles on each other.
Our Christmas vacations were spent on Kauai every year, which included missing a week of school. One year, I had a brilliant teacher who asked me to forget all of the homework and write a research paper on the culture and history of Hawaii. This research fascinated me and was the beginning of my interest in world cultures.
Kauai is a special place- beautiful, relaxing, fun, and adventurous… When we traveled, we only ate where “the locals” ate. We listened to the local music and made local friends as well as developed friendships with other travelers from all over the world.
Every day was a new and exciting adventure that was taken to a new level when we were old enough to go and hang out with our local friends. Body surfing on waves we shouldn’t be anywhere near, hiking through a remote jungle and jumping into a pond over a waterfall, snorkeling with sea turtles, spending a day at the local high school to really get some culture- there was always something fun and interesting to do.
My travels continued as I went off to college. I would go anywhere and everywhere I could. One summer, I worked on Oahu as a lifeguard on a 95-foot catamaran! A persuasive assignment in my Speech class was focused on why everyone should travel, and started with “Just get up and GO!” I truly believed that everyone should be traveling (my professor actually disagreed with me and didn’t like my angle), and I still believe this today!
Seminyak, Bali photo session
After college, my career started with the largest corporate and leisure travel agency in downtown San Francisco. It was there that I furthered my travel planning and worldwide knowledge by helping anyone on staff that I could so that I could learn more.
During my time at this company, I had the opportunity to write a comprehensive travel and hotel directory for a major corporation in Silicon Valley. I learned a lot about cities and hotels around the world and couldn’t wait to experience them for myself. I was fortunate to be able to take off a lot of time with some pretty amazing travel benefits.
I excelled in my career as a Regional Sales Manager at Park Hyatt San Francisco (for the five Hyatt Hotels in San Francisco) and worked with Fortune 100 companies. It was there that I learned an appreciation for the finer things– and that 5-star hotels really do live up to their reputation! I moved up and on to further my experience with a worldwide tour company and was educated on destinations all around the world.
The amazing Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, California
I was later self-employed (co-owned a dental practice with my former husband) and attended business school. This enabled me to close the practice 6-7 weeks a year to travel. I continued to be fascinated with countries all over the world and became passionate about planning trips abroad. I quickly learned the value of having a good travel credit card and how amazing points are. I love points!
I had my first baby, Lucas, and we were on an airplane four months later. Two years later, I had Aiden, then two years after that, I had Gavin; three amazing boys (who are now men) who love to travel! I have traveled all over the world with them– learning about the history and culture of all of the countries. This always includes eating incredible food- a priority for being a foodie and health enthusiast. I have a certification in holistic nutrition, so I always look for the best local food that is healthy too. Wellness is a passion at home and when I travel.
Family fun in Santorini, Greece
Travel can be a great opportunity for family bonding. It is fun to talk to my sons and laugh about all of the experiences we have had!
All of my travels have been filled with adventure and fun, as well as rest and relaxation. I have met incredible people from all over the world, and some of the trips I have planned were the recommendations of these interesting people.
I have traveled all over Europe, Central America, Southeast Asia, North Africa, and North America. Where I have stayed and the level at which I travel (from high end to budget and everywhere in between), depends on the country, in order to have the best experience.
Elephant kisses (it was very wet and sloppy!) in Northern Thailand
Some of my favorite adventures with my family include spending the day with elephants in Northern Thailand, racing on the original Olympic track in Greece, riding camels in the Sahara Desert and sleeping at a Berber camp under the stars, cave tubing, and zip lining through a rainforest forest in Belize, riding luges down a mountain after touring a prominent castle in Bavaria, staying on an oceanfront cacao farm and processing chocolate in the rainforest of Panama, spending the night on a “junk” and kayaking on Halong Bay in Vietnam, and hiking the spectacular Cinque Terre in Italy.
My best solo travel experiences have been spending 2 months going to language school in Italy, my 3-week solo health retreat in Bali, and the experience of spending 3 months in France. With a long-stay visa, I now live in Paris, with regular visits to California to visit family.
Leonardo da Vinci Italian Language School in Milan, Italy (I passed into the 2nd level on my first day!)
I created Designs For Travel to encourage people to travel. Traveling with kids of any age, as a couple, or with friends is a great way to connect through having new experiences and fun together. Traveling solo is an excellent way to connect with other travelers from around the world and with the locals. Traveling and learning about other cultures expand perspectives- it’s great for everyone to be challenged and see different ways of living.
There are important steps that need to be taken to successfully plan a trip. I will show you how, teach you everything I know, and help ensure a memorable and special experience. My expertise has come through years of travel. I have helped many friends, friends of friends, and my family, plan special trips all over the world. I’m so happy that you have chosen to read my blog- I’m excited for you to begin or continue on with THE best hobby…Travel!
Let’s go!!!
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Morning run to the Temple of Apollo in Naxos, Greece