New Year, new travel reading list: Happy reading, exploring, and remember “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” ~ Maya Angelou

Happy New Year to all! Kicking things off down south in Savannah, Charleston & Nashville 🥂 As always, my photos & stories can be found on my Instagram page

With deep roots in Santa Fe, I return often for the feel of magical New Mexico

The holidays are officially here! It's my favorite time of year mostly because I love being cozy, slowing down, getting creative, dreaming up new plans, connecting with dear friends & family and giving gifts + giving back. So pour some wine, bake some yummy treats, turn on some Ella, pull out the cashmere, put up the Christmas lights and let’s get to it!

After taking some time off from storytelling, and processing my last few years of experiences & conversations, I have found myself renewed, aligned and more passionate than ever about the cross-section of culture, travel, education, and women of all ages, and how we can explore & learn together. Travel Oracles, let’s begin…

With roughly 1 in 4 American students having participated in a climate change protest, and the millions around the world who marched in solidarity with Swedish teen activist Greta Thurnberg recently, the kids - burdened with the mess older generations have made - are taking charge and definitely alright.

I finally made it to the Fixer Upper mecca in the small town of Waco, Texas. Watch your back Joanna & Chip Gaines, I’m coming for ya!

Consider this my warm up to the big Round Top Antique show in the Fall: I recently spent a few weeks back in Austin, but this time took to the road to explore the many small towns outside of the City in search of treasure.

I was recently in one of my favorite places Santa Barbara for some business, some friend time, and to partake in the celebration of the City’s annual Fiesta, or “old Spanish days” that has been a tradition for 95 years.

Santa Barbara has always been one of my favorite places to escape LA for, and it offers plenty of beauty, activities and wine.

Our culture continues to be starved for real connection and generational relationships that would impart the cultural & experiential wisdom we so desperately need. Why does the West still fight this fact and perpetuate stereotypes? With an aging population - lead by women, who are more active than ever and wield more spending power - we have an opportunity to harness the power of experience.

I recently returned from an incredible all-women trip to Bermuda with ‘Women Who Travel’, an exciting new program from CNT to encourage global exploration in carefully curated trips for women. The island was beyond beautiful and held history that was largely unknown to me previously.

With the return of HBO’s ‘Deadwood’ movie, it had me thinking about why I connected with the series in the first place and how it reminded me of family in Cripple Creek, Colorado

If you follow my writing, you know that I have recently spent a considerable amount of time traveling around the Southwest over the past few years. While it’s true I spent my childhood summers in Colorado and New Mexico to see family - miles away from where I grew up in Western Canada - to visit my wonderful Grandmother and family friends, but did not understand how deep our roots went here - and in America - until research and genetic revelations much later in adulthood. It’s funny how some places have always felt so familiar, without logical explanation.

Exciting news to share today: I have a newly upgraded monthly travel newsletter AND I will be joining Conde Nast Traveler’s inaugural #WomenWhoTravel group trip to Bermuda!

Though I have been to Paris many times, the fabulous The George V Hotel Paris has always been at the top of my list

It turns out that hospitality - from boutique hotels to vacation homes - are proving to be the ideal showcase for many talented designers around the country, amateurs and professionals alike, offering spectacular and unique results.