Our Story
Travel is a word that Francesca and I hold sacred, brimming with adventure, mystery, education and romance intertwined. This common passion connected us instantly when we first met in New York City over 20 years ago.
I like to think our wanderlust stems from our backgrounds - both our mothers were immigrants, mine from Norway and Francesca's from the Philippines. Perhaps observing their resilience and openness left an imprint. Though, strangely, none of our six siblings were bitten by the travel bug quite like we were.
But for Francesca and me, insatiable curiosity and longing for the unfamiliar has always bound us together. Through endless late night conversations dreaming over maps, saving up for epic excursions while budgeting to pay rent, missing trains and getting lost in foreign cities only to laugh about it later...we created a realm that was wholly our own.
Now, 15 years into our marriage with kids in tow, we still venture out to discover hidden pockets of beauty across the globe whenever we can. We find through travel that our love expands, realizing how connected we all are in this human experience. Yes, travel has always been and remains our shared passion and our sacred place in this world.
Inspired by the incredible six months Francesca and I spent exploring the far corners of the world shortly after we were married, we have long envisioned embarking on a similar odyssey with our children someday.
Now finally feels like that perfect moment - our kids are mature enough to appreciate such far-flung adventures and remember them vividly when they themselves are grown and yet they still delight in family togetherness at this age before teenage aloofness kicks in.
And so we eagerly prepare to launch this dream journey abroad - to discover foreign lands beyond what our children have seen growing up in California, to tear them away from devices and expose them to foreign cultures, peoples, traditions, foods, and ways of living. We want to nurture openness, curiosity and reverence within them for how beautifully diverse this world is and yet how connected at the same time.
They’ll taste exotic cuisines, hear foreign tongues, and practice photography capturing new vistas every day. Adventure and quality bonding await at every turn, from an elephant sanctuary in Thailand to mountain treks through the Andes. We envision this trip will profoundly shape their worldviews and self-confidence through embracing the unfamiliar. Not to mention strengthen our family bond through adventures no smartphone could hope to replicate - although we'll certainly have those with us!
Join our family as we consciously disconnect from routine and immerse ourselves in unfamiliar lands. Who knows what impact on their young minds and futures may unfold through embracing this great, big, beautifully diverse world together? We can’t wait to discover and grow!
- Dan
THE TEAM
Our crack team of explorers each has his/her own superpowers that make for a formidable travel unit.
Dan aka "the extrovert"
Born with a silver tongue and the gift (curse?) of gab, Dan has the ability to engage anyone at any time in any language (including ones he doesn't speak). He also has a thirst for adventure that straddles the line between acceptable risk and recklessness. This special ability can lead to amazing encounters that would otherwise not occur....or death.
Francesca aka "The Logistics Expert"
Francesca has a black belt in travel planning. She can find amazing flights and accommodations at steep discounts. Her meticulous planning will serve us well in our travels. She is also the one who will keep Dan's adventurous spirit in check to help keep us all safe.
Ryan aka "The Problem Solver"
Ryan is a precocious 7th grader with a passion for veracity. He is a super analytical thinker and is our go to guy to troubleshoot almost anything. This will be a clear asset on our travels in strange lands.
Austen aka "The Empath"
Austen is a quiet, sweet tempered 10 year old whose compassion and empathy know no bounds. She will help keep us grounded, inclusive and empathetic as we encounter people and cultures strange to us.
Finley aka "The Jester"
Finley is our 8 year old energetic spitfire. Her cleverness is matched only by her quick wit. She has a knack for the well timed quip that always has us in stiches. She'll help us keep things light when we struggle with any frustrations we encounter from living in these foreign lands.