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Part 1: AI as Your Trip-Planning Assistant Travel planning is fun… until it turns into 28 open tabs, conflicting advice, and the feeling that you’re missing something important. This is where AI can be a game-changer. Not because it replaces your judgment—but because it helps you get organized fast. Think of AI like a planning assistant that can take your ideas and turn them into structure. You can use it to narrow down destinations based on weather, budget, and vibe. You can

If you’ve ever landed after a long flight feeling dehydrated, disoriented, and vaguely feral… same. Over the years, I’ve learned that a few small essentials can be the difference between “never again” and “okay, I can do this.” Here are the 8 things I always travel with: 1. A portable charger I always pack a portable charger (mine is 20,000 mAh, but I recommend at least 10,000 ) and it lasts for days. I prefer one that can charge multiple devices at the same time. When I was

How I Choose Where to Go Next When I Want to Go Everywhere Instead of throwing darts- try this. If you’ve ever found yourself with 37 tabs open—flights to Italy, a reel about Japan, someone’s “hidden gems” list in Mexico City, and a random safari video you can’t stop watching—welcome. This is me on a Tuesday. I love the dreaming stage of travel planning… but choosing the next  destination can be weirdly hard. Not because I don’t have ideas (I have too many), but because I wa

If I want to spend a year traveling, I need to save money. That sounds obvious, but for me, it’s actually a pretty big deal. I have never been a saver. I’ve always spent my money until there was nothing left. Trips, food, clothes—if it was there, I used it. And honestly? That system worked for me… until it didn’t. How Our Finances Work Let me start here, because context matters. Ben is in charge of our family finances. We both contribute to shared expenses, and I have my own

What would you do if you could not fail? It took me about 30 seconds to answer that question. I would travel full time. It took about one second after that to come up with all the reasons it wouldn't work. Even though I talked myself out of it- I couldn't stop thinking about it. Suddenly there was a way it could work. At some point in the next few years Ben will have to go on an unaccompanied one-year assignment. Both of my kids will have graduated high school. There is an op

We begin. 2026. When I sat down to reflect over the last year, one thing became increasingly clear: life isn’t guaranteed, and because of that, I want to live it fully and thoughtfully. I don't want to be rushed or impulsive- I want to live with intention. This year I don't want to set resolutions that I wouldn't stick to more than a few weeks. I want lasting change that will shape who I am becoming and supports the life I want to build. So I came up with three things to focu

Either the most magical idea I've had, or the most ridiculous. A few months ago, my husband and I decided to take a December weekend and head to New York City to soak up the Christmas lights, the energy, and whatever holiday magic we could squeeze into two days. The weekend before Christmas felt like a gamble — crowds, cold, chaos — but also like the perfect time to lean into the season. Saturday morning started early. We have the option of taking either the bus or the train

Somewhere in my forties, travel stopped being a “someday” dream and started feeling essential. Time feels precious, and I’ve learned to be intentional with it. For me, travel is a priority I choose deliberately. This didn't start recently. My love for traveling has been unfolding for most of my life. I'm in the middle with the blue shirt. It began when I moved to Moscow, Russia my senior year of high school because my dad worked at the US Embassy in Moscow, and suddenly the w

If you found your way here, welcome. I find myself squarely in midlife, standing at a point where reflection and possibility seem to meet. So let me tell you a little about how I got here. I had both of my kids before I was 30. At the time, all I wanted was to stay home with them and be a mom—and I did just that. For twelve years, I was a stay-at-home mom. My days were filled with kids, PTA meetings, carpools, and probably a little too much time wandering the aisles of Target

Hi friends! I'm glad you're here! I hope you settle in, feel at home, and stay awhile. I've dreamed about creating a space like this for years: a space where I can share my love of travel, my photographs, my reflections, and all the things I learn as I wander the world. If we haven't met yet, I'm Emily, a woman in my 40's who found joy, empowerment, and a whole lot of growth through getting on planes and exploring new places. I'm naturally curious, a little introspective, and