Why Travel Beyond

I’m always learning! On my own time, I love to dream, research and plan my next travel adventure. To now have the opportunity to see what others create for their once-in-a-lifetime journey is a perfect alignment of my passion for being a lifelong learner and explorer.

Destinations Visited

Africa: Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Egypt, Botswana
Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico
Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam
Additional countries: China, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Israel, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, France, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Aruba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, The Bahamas

Education

BA in Psychology, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
MA in Nonprofit Management and Business Administration, Hamline University

Career History

I kicked off my career in the nonprofit sector where over the course of seven years, I worked in grantmaking, fundraising, and communications. I’ve always had a passion for travel as my parents were avid adventurers and fortunately for me, I was able to go with them throughout my childhood. When the opportunity to join Travel Beyond crossed my path, it was something I couldn’t pass up, and I am thrilled to make the career change.

My Most Recent Trip

In July of 2023, I traveled to Brazil for the first time and the best part was unquestionably the jaguars. Whether luck was on our side or not, we saw five on our land safari (staying at Caiman Ecological Refuge in the South Pantanal) and five on the river safari (North Pantanal). We also learned about all that the community is doing to increase the jaguar population, including advocacy, research and education. By encouraging people to work in eco-tourism and to preserve the land, the number of jaguars will hopefully continue to thrive.

Two particularly special moments were observing two sets of mothers and cubs. The first occurred when it was nearly pitch black outside. Under the stars and half-moon, we were able to watch the cub, about one year-old, frolic and chase its mother in tall grass, while the mother played along before they eventually meandered out of sight. The second sighting was on our way back to the lodge, when we spotted a mother and cub just after they caught an armadillo. The one-and-a-half-year-old took her dinner into some brush and out of sight while her mother continued on her pursuit for more food.  Seeing these animals in the wild was truly magical.

Favorite Properties

EOLO, Argentina

EOLO, located outside of El Calafate, Argentina is an oasis with views that are second to none- Torres del Paine on one side and Argentina’s biggest freshwater lake, Argentino Lake on the other. This Relais & Chateaux is elegant, quaint and feels like home. The dining competes with any major city restaurant and the onsite sommelier will find you the perfect complementary wine to pair with your meal.

Palacio Nazarenas, Peru

Palacio Nazarenas in Cusco, Peru has charm, culture and style all in one. It’s built on Inca foundations and has a chapel on site. Rooms are gorgeous, with every detail addressed, including homemade soap, oxygen-enriched air and bath salts. Located just two blocks from the main city square, this hotel is in the center of the action while also tucked away from the city’s noise and bustle with peaceful courtyards and patios.