Real people going places.

I guess you could call me a “late bloomer” when it comes to world traveling and seeking adventure. Growing up, I went on a lot of family vacations. We traveled to Hawaii, Florida, New England and as a California girl, we took frequent trips to Lake Tahoe, Oregon and Disneyland. However, it wasn’t until I was in my 20’s that I finally left the U.S. and truly appreciated the value of exploring different cultures.

My first experience was a cruise that traveled along the Pacific coast with stops in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Despite terrible weather, it was an eye-opener. However, with only one day to explore each of the cities, it was a tease for my soon-to-be husband and myself. So, for our honeymoon a couple of years later, we returned to Cabo San Lucas. It didn’t take us long to realize that we both enjoyed traveling. Since then, we have made exploring a priority and have developed a new outlook on life.

If I had all the monies, I would travel the world every second I could. However, not all of us are that lucky. I currently work full time at a creative services agency (think Mad Men but a little less booze and everything is digital). My husband also works full time and we live in Sacramento, California. We are fortunate to have taken several trips as a married couple but these have only been possible due to some creative planning.

While researching for our own trips, I noticed that a lot of information is geared towards either luxury, five-star travel or going to hostels with nothing but a backpack. What about us average people? Those of us who want to take a 1-2 week vacation without spending 6 months salary, and stay in a hotel with a real bathroom. My goal for this blog is to show everyone that traveling and experiencing adventure is possible. It is a common misconception that taking a real vacation is just too expensive. This is not true. Traveling to exciting destinations is completely doable if you take the time to research and plan.

Occasional Explorer will feature beautiful destinations, exciting adventures, tips for traveling and how to plan according to your budget. Dreaming big is possible for everyone.
Cheers!