Howdy There, I'm Nicole! 

Inspiring you to get out and explore!

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I’m a travel writer, storyteller, and midlife adventurer on a mission to inspire curiosity, courage, and connection through the places we explore. After years as a professor and communication professional, I traded in the classroom for the open road, traveling part-time by RV trailer with my husband (and our dog, Luke). I'm writing about national parks, culture, and the hidden corners of the world and sharing my story along the way.

 

During my graduate program, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Peru for my thesis project, a journey that was far more about human connection than it was about marketing a company. Our team’s focus was Peruvian Hearts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young women through education.

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We spent time listening to their stories, learning about their dreams, and seeing firsthand how access to resources and support could change the trajectory of their lives. That work left a mark on me far deeper than the pages of my thesis, and it is a reminder that travel is not only about landscapes, but also about people and possibility.

 

We traveled to Cusco, perched high in the Andes at over 11,000 feet, where the altitude greets you before anything else, instantly nauseated upon landing, and every breath a little shorter. It was there that I indulged in Coca Tea, a traditional herbal infusion made from coca leaves, which the locals swear by to help combat the high altitude adjustment.

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That trip continues to remind me why I travel. To see. To listen. To learn. Peru wasn't just an educational trip; it was a doorway into the kind of travel that transforms both visitor and host, where the altitude takes your breath away but the people give it back through resilience, generosity, and heart.

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Through my work, I help others see travel not just as a trip, but as a way to live more fully, whether that’s through guidebooks, stories, retreats, or simply slowing down in nature. Here, you’ll find resources to plan your own adventures, reflections on mindful travel, and a community full of midlife, empty-nesters who believe it’s never too late to chase big dreams.

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Before I ever stepped into a classroom as a professor, I spent fifteen years working as a travel consultant, helping people craft dream cruise vacations, design itineraries with land packages, and discover the joy of becoming a world traveler and not simply a tourist.

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Travel and education have always been more than a career for me. In fact, it’s been a lifelong calling. Over the years, I’ve traveled on more than 19 cruises (20 if we count the Nile River Cruise), explored 18 states, stamped my passport in 23 countries, and I've wandered through 19 of America’s National Parks, each one adding a little spice and something different to my story.

 

​These experiences have shaped not just the way I see the world but the way I share it. I believe that travel and culture are an amazing bridge into how we view our humanity and our place in the world.

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Thanks for being here. I look forward to sharing my journey with you,

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Nicole 💕