Supported Solo Travel Coach
So you’re interested in the idea of solo travel?
I’d love to help you out!
You can scroll down to read my full story below, but in a nutshell… I would have loved to have someone by my side to encourage, coach, and support me as I took to solo travel & exploration in my 40s.
So now I want to be that person for you.
When I started solo traveling, I was a little overwhelmed by the logistics of planning, ideas of where to stop, how to trust my lodging choices, and the safety of it all. I learned by doing and I trusted my gut. I never wanted to drive into a town and look like an easy target, so I instituted a few tricks to help me build confidence and faith in my own instincts.
With my Supported Solo trips, you get:
some of the logistics (reservation, food, activities, etc…) planned for you so you only need to focus on getting there
Zoom call coaching sessions with the group you’re traveling with so that you aren’t surprised later
packing lists, planning tips, local resources, activity options, guided journals, and shared documents to support your new independent journey
a hype girl ready to encourage you into your new favorite life chapter
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Seeing parts of the world through your own eyes is important to building empathy and compassion. And getting there on your own develops a strength and confidence you can’t gain while traveling with others. When you’re responsible for your happiness, for your choices, for your own goal-setting and goal-meeting, the word “travel” starts to become synonymous with “power,” “strong,” and “capable.”
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Day Trips: For the woman who’s new to traveling to a new city with the sole aim to just explore that area. These are held in Wisconsin and combine some solo time in nature, solo exploring a city, and meeting up for a group meal to reflect on how to take on solo travel the next time! (These are FREE trips!)
Camping Trips: For the woman who is new to solo camping or wants to try car/tent camping (as opposed to the RV you’re used to). I coach you through your setup, your travel, your plans, while I cover camping reservation, meals, local resources, and activities. Solo camp but in a group site with other likeminded women who are learning alongside you! (These run $75-$100)
Solo Travel Itinerary Coach: For the woman (or duo team) who want to plan their own road trip, but would like some coaching. These are a series of Zoom calls to walk alongside as you research, decide, plan, and reserve your own solo trip. (These run $100-$300.)
National Park Girls Trips: For the woman or girl team (sisters, mom/daughter, girlfriends, etc…) who want an all-inclusive trip to explore a nearby National Park. Spend 4-10 days with a group of women drawn to solo travel, nature exploration, city discovery, and history. (These run $300-$1200, dependent on location.)
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Because I didn’t grow up “outdoorsy.”
Because I wasn’t a Girl Scout.
Because I had no clue what I was doing until I decided to just do it. And I want you to have that same feeling of empowerment and personal growth.
As a solo traveler in my 40s, I feel like my gut instincts won over the impulsiveness of my 20s. And what a great combo for a solo traveler vibe!
I’ve felt intimidated by younger gals who grew up outdoorsy and don’t allow any room for late bloomers.
You won’t get that from me!
Are you a Wisconsin-area girlie looking to connect and learn about the trips I’ll have coming up in the near future? Fill out the form below, and I’ll connect you to the resources you’re looking for!
My Story:
Self-Proclaimed Adventure Girl
Though my parents raised us on Sunday afternoon drives and the occasional (but affordable) road trip, I didn’t really develop a sense of wanderlust until 2019. That was the year my mental health took a dive and I was diagnosed with situational depression and suicidal tendencies.
I remember this being a time where I severely struggled with my own sense of purpose and belonging. I didn’t feel like I had any impact in a software-driven classroom. My work life left me lacking and aimless. I did not feel included or valued in my family situation. Ultimately, I was faced with defining my own identity - not knowing what was important to me, what I believed, or who I was important to.
That winter was the final time I attempted to take my own life. But at the last minute, the thought of the women in my life having to clean up my mess was enough to make me swerve the car, drive straight home, and call my doctor.
I was set up with anti-depression meds, a counseling connection, and a referral for a weight loss clinic, believing my current slump could be proactively supported.
When covid kicked us all out of the classroom in 2020, I found that I was able to focus my health efforts on myself and my family. School was a nominal factor then. I was already in the pre-approval stages for gastric bypass surgery and had a teenage daughter at home who loved the outdoors and saw the value nature would have in my own healing.
I remember lying in bed one day, struggling to even conceptualize getting up. She came into my room and said, “C’mon. We’re going to the river.” I did not want to sit in a car for three hours driving to the Mississippi, even though I loved the Driftless Area. She finally compromised and said, “Okay, then, we’re going to the Lake. Let’s go. You need to be by something bigger than you. “ She literally pulled me out of bed, helped me get shoes on, and drove us to Lake Michigan.
There at Lion’s Den Gorge, something clicked in my brain. Standing on a bluff, overlooking the massive ocean-like lake made me feel small. But it also gave me room to breathe.
Climbing down the stairs through what I donned as a “cedar rainforest” breathed life into me. I felt surrounded by life, beauty, and a quiet that seemed to reset my brain.
At the base of the trail, feet in the water, I felt a natural connection like I never had before. This was the first time I felt that I had a place in this world.
My purpose was to drive others to discover themselves and their connection to the world while out in nature.
Since then, I have had to joy to learn, grow, and experience life through:
losing 135 pounds after gastric bypass in 2020
taking to hiking and kayaking in 2020
learning to solo travel in 2021
starting solo camping in 2022
challenging myself to adventure at all 72 WI state parks, forests, & rec areas 2022-23
starting my children’s book series in 2023
traveling to promote book series in 2024