Why Travel Beyond

My biggest passion is traveling and sharing the travel bug with others. I’m always thinking about what my next adventure will be, as I love to experience new things and explore the world while learning about other cultures. There is so much you can learn from traveling and every place is different. I’m very happy to be surrounded by people who share my passion, and give me new ideas for my very long and always growing bucket list!

Destinations Visited

Africa: Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Antarctica
Latin America: Argentina, Ecuador (including Galapagos Islands)
Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
Additional Countries: Aruba, Austria, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Vatican City,

Education

Bachelor’s in Business Administration with emphases in marketing and entrepreneurship – Bemidji State University

Career History

I was in the events and hospitality industries working and planning various events from corporate meetings/trainings to incentive trips at third party meeting planning companies. I am always planning something, so I wanted to use my skills and follow my passion to help others go on their dream vacations!

Where I’ve lived abroad

I studied abroad in Oxford, England and then traveled around Europe.

Most Memorable Travel Experiences

Very hard to pick just one! In New Zealand, I did an overnight cruise in the Milford Sound (beautiful fjord) where we went kayaking. I also went skydiving in Queenstown, New Zealand over the white snowcapped mountains. Completely breathtaking!

Visiting the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana was a breathtaking experience for me. I have never experienced deafening silence or seeing nothing for miles and miles, like I did while sitting in the salt pans a good distance away from people, watching the sun set, with a cocktail in hand. It was magical. The activities in the salt pans, including quad biking and visiting the habituated meerkats, were big highlights for me as well.

In South Africa, having the opportunity to see a black rhino with her baby, African wild dogs with their pups, and being parked in the middle of an elephant herd watching a large female’s stomach move around from her baby inside. One evening on safari while we stopped and got off the vehicle for a “sundowner,” a couple white rhinos approached us quietly and kept getting closer to check us out. Bit of an adrenaline rush to get so close to these strong and large animals on foot! Experiences I will never forget!

Most Recent Trip

December 2024: I went on an expedition cruise to Antarctica and absolutely fell in love with the continent. Its raw, untouched beauty was just incredible to me. From seeing various species of penguins and seals to watching humpback whales and orcas, every moment felt so special. Everywhere you look is a picture, but photos truly don’t do it justice. The enormous glaciers, icebergs, and the blue hues of the ice almost seemed out of this world. I love to kayak and was fortunate to do so on this trip, which was another dream come true.

May 2023: I enjoyed my first visit to Zimbabwe and Botswana and it was a trip I will never forget. From Victoria Falls and its massive amounts of water flowing over the cliffs, to the water activities in the Okavango Delta and seeing it from above in a helicopter, the views in both countries were endless. I also felt very fortunate to see an endless amount of baby animals including each of the Big Five. We encountered a cheetah mother who had six cubs, wild dog pups, and many baby elephants (my favorite!). It was absolutely incredible. We also went to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans which was a breathtaking experience for me. I have never experienced complete silence like I did while sitting in the Salt Pans, watching the sun set with a cocktail in hand.  It was magical. The activities in the salt pans, including quad biking and visiting the habituated meerkats, were big highlights for me as well.

Favorite Properties

Tswalu the Motse

Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve, South Africa

Tswalu the Motse and its five bedroom villa, Tarkuni, are located in the Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve. The guiding and service are excellent, and each booking gets its own private guide and vehicle. The terrain, with its red sand and arid climate, is different than what you would experience in Kruger. While here, you’ll experience very few, if any, mosquitoes which made searching for unique animals such as pangolin, meerkats, sable and aardvark even more enjoyable. The “Walking with Meerkats experience,” offered was a highlight for me; and many clients have enjoyed the nearby fly-in restaurant called Klein Jan owned by a Michelin-star chef.

Le Lyrial

Antarctica

Abercrombie & Kent do a great job in Antarctica, and I loved my time on the ship Le Lyrial – an excellent choice for an Antarctic expedition! This well-designed luxury ship offers a smaller size that allows it to access remote areas and deliver a more personal experience. Guests enjoy comfortable cabins, great dining, and a professional expedition team providing informative lectures and guided excursions. From exploring icebergs by zodiac to seeing penguins up close, Le Lyrial combines adventure and comfort, making it a solid option for exploring Antarctica.

Leeu Estates

Franschhoek, South Africa

Leeu Estates has a similar feeling to a luxury bed and breakfast, one surrounded by beautiful landscaping and views. You feel right at home with the soothing and cozy décor. It is far enough from town to have quiet and relaxation, yet close enough to town to visit if you choose and dine at local restaurants.

Shinde Camp

Okavango Delta, Botswana

This camp offers such an excellent overall experience and all for a great value. There are many activities to do both on land and water (depending on water levels) including boating, mokoro, safari drives, fishing, night drives and walking safaris. The staff are so welcoming and friendly, and make you feel right at home. The treehouse setting is very cozy and overlooks the water. The food was excellent including sausage and chicken that was cooked over a braai during sundowners.

Tuludi Camp

Khwai Private Reserve, Botswana

Located in the Khwai Private Reserve, this is a beautiful luxury tented camp. The tented rooms have a soothing natural décor with a full wall of screens and glass doors to take in the views from your bed, bathroom, or outdoor shower and tub. The staff and food are excellent – one of my favorite meals of the trip! They also have a very special sundowner spot that I can’t wait to visit again someday!