Feed your soul with travel!

Traveling with Purpose

Explore the USA

I’ve visited every region of the United States and beyond and can help you find the perfect destination for your next adventure.

USA Travel

Travel Inspiration

Find uplifting travel quotes, ideas, stories images, and more to inspire your journeys and fuel your wanderlust.

Get Inspired

Travel Planning Tips

Get the best travel advice and trip-planning tips that I’ve gleaned from over 30 years of travel in the USA and Europe.

Get Travel Tips

What can I help you discover?

A Blog about Meaningful Travel

Hi! I’m Nancy, a lifelong learner and perpetual adventurer. I’ve been traveling around the USA and 20 countries (so far) in Europe for over 30 years. My very first blog post was way back in 2006. I started writing as a hobby, then transitioned a few years later to focus on traveling with purpose and meaningful adventures. I love sharing what I’ve learned about travel for active adults and can’t wait to share tips for your next journey.

“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.”

If a small-town girl from the Midwest like me can explore the world, then you certainly can too. Traveling with purpose often means finding ourselves in unfamiliar places with people who may seem different. But with a little preparation, curiosity, and an open mind, we can have a fantastic time while gaining valuable insights about ourselves and this wonderful world around us.

Interested in learning about my personal journey and how I became a travel expert? I’d love to share my story of traveling with purpose.

Find out more here!

Blonde woman with black coat and black and white scarf sits in a row of chairs in a massive cathedral with soaring arched ceilings. A large round intricate stained glass window with shades of blue and red sits high on the wall behind her. National Cathedral in Washington DC

Where will you explore in America?

USA Travel Destinations

I’ve lived in nearly every region of the United States and traveled to all but one of the 50 states. I can’t wait to inspire and prepare you for your next great American adventure! Which region would you like to visit next?

Rugged California coastline with green rocky shores and turquoise blue water

West

Region

The majestic Grand Canyon in northern Arizona at sunset. Canyon walls are shades of purple and orange.

Southwest Region

Giant metal arch in Saint Louis, Missouri Gateway Arch with trees on both sides and water in the foreground with reflection of the arch

Midwest

Region

Two Chestnut brown wild horses. A mother and foal eating grass while standing on a sand dune in Corolla North Carolina. The mother's tail is draped over the foal's back.

Southeast

Region

Mountain stream bordered with bright yellow trees in fall. Stowe Vermont

Northeast Region

What’s new?

My Latest Traveling with Purpose Posts

A vibrant image of Shenandoah National Park during leaf-peeping season. The foreground is covered with a carpet of richly colored fallen leaves in shades of yellow, orange, and brown. Two prominent trees frame the left side, their trunks showing signs of age and strength. The background reveals a misty forest with varying tones of green and hints of autumnal colors peeking through the fog, suggesting a cool, damp atmosphere. The perspective from ground level adds depth to the scene, highlighting the natural beauty and serene ambiance of the park in autumn.

You’ll Never Believe These 10 Best National Parks for Fall Colors

A black pug dog lies on a small wooden bench with its head resting on the edge, looking directly at the camera. The pug’s expression suggests it might be feeling bored, There's a softly blurred background.

15 Fun Things to Do When You’re Bored

View of trees and church tower from Bath Spa England Train Station

Travel to Bath England Without a Car

Massive boulder balancing on another. Many rock formations and mountains in the distance at Chiricahua NM

Chiricahua National Monument – A Complete Travel Guide – Part 1

Four women smiling and preparing food -The International Kitchen Cooking Class

Where to Find Thousands of Lifelong Learning Travel Adventures

Green Google Map of route from Norfolk, Virginia to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. The route goes through Fayetteville and Hendersonville, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee. Great road trip in the southeast states.

Our American Road Trip-Southeast States

How to Store Fresh Parsley for a Month or More

A beautiful kitchen with a rustic stone wall, white beachy cabinets and a wooden table for 4 in the center. A beautiful light fixture with silver fish cutouts hangs above the table and a window on the far walls allows light to stream in. Port-en-Bessin - lodging near Normandy Beach, France

Best Lodging near Normandy Beaches

Overhead view of cooked turkey in a roasting pan

How to Cook a Turkey Upside Down – Amazing Every Time!

See More Posts

Where will you go next?

Europe

Is visiting Europe on your bucket list? I’d love to inspire you to plan your next adventure there.

I first visited Europe with a small group back in 2010, but now I do all my own trip planning. I keep going back because it offers such a rich blend of history, spectacular architecture, exceptional cuisine, and so much more. It has expanded my worldview and nurtured a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures. Traveling with purpose in Europe is more than just a vacation—it’s an inspiring encounter that feeds your heart, mind, and soul. That feels like the definition of travel with a purpose.

Visit Europe!

France

The two towers of Tower Bridge in London with drawbridge open. Blue skies with fluffy clouds

England

Let me help you plan

Expert Travel Planning Tips

I’m here to help you learn every step of planning your next journey – from figuring out what kind of traveler you are to finding hidden gems for your next destination.

Do you have trouble fitting everything in your luggage? My secret weapon, compression packing cubes can help with that.

Maybe you’re planning a trip to the United Kingdom, but you’re afraid of what it might be like to drive on the “wrong” side of the road. Well, I can help you figure out how to get around without a car in England.

I have lived in the USA on the shores of the Great Lakes, on both the East and West Coast, and in the Arizona desert, so I’m quite familiar with this country. I’ve enjoyed dozens of cross-country USA road trips. Some have been solo and others with my husband, friends, and family. Our years of experience on the highways and byways of America will help you prepare for your dream trip and avoid road trip planning disasters.

Are you a fan of U.S. National Parks? We’ve visited 40 of the 63 national parks, plus dozens more national monuments, battlefields, and historical parks. I can help you find ways to save money and travel with the purpose of making the most of your visits to all these amazing treasures.

My Best Travel Planning Tips