I am a lifelong Minnesota girl. I live with my husband and two children (15-year-old son, 12-year-old daughter) in Savage, a southern suburb of Minneapolis. When not hustling my family travel blog World is Wide or its online store, I work on a part-time contract for Action for Healthy Kids, a national nonprofit organization focused on getting every kid healthy, active and ready to learn.
What is the passion that drives you to collect adventures?
Our family loves to travel! We have created a set of five travel goals; to visit all seven continents, to visit all 50 states, to experience as many zip lines and national parks as possible, and to explore more of our own back yard. Having a set of travel goals drives our family to be more intentional about where we go and how we spend our limited travel resources (time and money). I’m so passionate about travel goals that I have made it the focus of my family travel blog!
How did you discover this passion?
When I was growing up, my parents (who owned a main street business) closed it up for two weeks every summer to take us on road trips around the US. I know what a sacrifice that was for our family, and it really instilled in me how important it is to see the world. Subsequent trips as a young adult to Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada, Europe and around the US solidified my passion for seeing the world.
What is your favorite memory from one of your adventures?
Just one?! That’s like having to choose between my children! I guess I’d have to pick our trip to Italy and France a few years ago. My husband and I were married in Florence, so we brought our kids and niece back with us for our 15-year anniversary. It was so cool to see one of our favorite places in the world through their eyes.
If you could give someone advice about pursuing their passions and collecting adventures, what would it be?
Make travel goals! Following people’s Instagram feed to find your next destination might be fine for some families, but if you’re serious about wanting to help your family see as much of the world as you want before they’ve launched into adulthood, you need to make goals. Travel goals help you focus your travel resources (time and money).
A favorite quotation is the one that inspired the name of my blog: “Since life is short and the world is wide, the sooner you start exploring it, the better.” ~ Simon Raven
What are your top 3 life goals or bucket list items?
- To achieve our family’s travel bucket list.
- To turn my love of travel into a full-time income.
- To create a life that allows us to live out our passions.
If you had to plan an adventure with little or no budget, what would you do and why?
One of our family’s travel goals is to explore more of our own back yard. I would pile us all into our Jeep, and head up to the north shore of Lake Superior to explore the many state parks that have jaw-dropping views of waterfalls, river gorges, and the lake. We have enough camping gear to be dangerous, so we’d be fine.
What are 5 fun facts or quirks that not many people know about you?
- I grew up in my family’s jewelry business. I know how to size and repair rings as well as how to clean and oil clocks (though it’s been awhile).
- Our family has six furry creatures: a dog and five guinea pigs. We humans are outnumbered!
- I love listening to audiobooks or podcasts while driving, doing housework, etc. They have given me an opportunity to learn and to consume books I’d been putting off for years.
- I am a light packer. I took a four-week trip to Europe, as well as a three-week wedding and honeymoon trip to Europe (with my wedding dress, veil, etc.) all with only carry-ons!
- I don’t drink coffee or any other caffeine. Mostly because I don’t like the taste of coffee. I gave up my former caffeine source of choice, Diet Coke, because of all of the horrible ingredients.
Are there any blogger or groups that really inspire you?
I do network a lot in Facebook groups, especially the Midwest Travel Network, which connects bloggers with destinations in the midwestern US. It’s a very supportive, helpful group.
How can people find you?
You can find me here:
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