Welcome!

Welcome to TREXposé — I’m glad you’re here! I have been an avid traveler, writer, and amateur photographer my entire adult life. Friends kept saying, “You should start a blog.” But honestly, the idea always seemed too intimidating from the technical side of things. (Until recently I knew nothing about running a website.) But three things happened in the span of one week that convinced me to take the plunge and become a blogger.  

Birth of a Blog 

A good friend, Toni, mentioned she and her husband based an upcoming trip to Scandinavia on pointers I gave them a few years ago. (I forgot all about the conversation, but she said she took notes!) 

A few days later another good friend, Scott, called for help planning a visit to Northern Ireland this month. (I was smitten with Belfast and County Antrim during a visit there in 2017. My first novel, Born of Bombs and Bullets, is about Northern Ireland.) Judging from the photos and texts he sent from the road— and the generous gift he delivered to say thanks— Scott and his companions had a blast!

But my youngest brother is the one who finally convinced me to launch this blog. He and my sister-in-law want to travel more internationally, and Doug said he has a lot of questions for me. Really?! My baby brother— the one who usually ignores what I say and loves to push my buttons—  wants my advice?  

Together Toni, Scott, and Doug convinced me I have something worthwhile to share with fellow travelers. So this blog unites my passions for writing, travel, and photography in a way I hope will inspire you to travel. And because I minored in history, it includes some interesting tales from the past. 

But my approach to travel comes with a twist… 

Travel Packages Are Okay But…

I used to sign up for travel packages and for five years even led student tours overseas. There’s no doubt, group travel can be fun. More often, though, I want the freedom to explore a new place on my own terms.

Explorative Travel

I call it “explorative travel”. Taking the time to wander without an agenda or time constraints. Away from the crowds, on the lookout for less common experiences that make a trip truly unique and especially memorable. Like dining with a Dutch family in their home, exploring an active lava flow in Iceland, or watching sea turtles come ashore to nest in Costa Rica.   

My all-time favorite travel memories almost always emerged from unscripted encounters and random discoveries. That’s really what I want to focus on with this blog. Helping you find those under-the-radar moments to set your trips apart from the ordinary.  

General Travel Advice

But I get it. Having a set schedule and confirmed itinerary can be comforting for a lot of people. Even if explorative travel and under-the-radar discoveries aren’t your thing, stick with me. I’ll be interspersing my blog posts with articles designed to benefit all types of travelers. 

My Promise of Original Content

This blog is my original work, and I write only from first-hand experience. There are no canned articles or ghost writers, and the photos in the gallery are entirely my own. On very rare occasions and with written permission, I may supplement individual articles with images produced by other photographers. Photo credits will distinguish those photos from my own. 

You can check out some of my photography in the ever-expanding Photo Gallery. If you see a shot that especially intrigues you, let me know— I’ll share the story behind it.          

Stay in Touch

Feel free to post comments for each blog post. Or use the Contact page to send me a private question or suggestion. If you like what you see, I’m happy to take all the credit. And if you don’t, well, blame Toni, Scott, and Doug!  ; )  

Again, welcome to TREXposé. Now, let’s get started!       

(Curious to see how the blog fared in its first 100 days? Just click here!)

The legal team tells me I’m required by the Federal Trade Commission to make this disclosure.  Some of my blog posts may contain “affiliate links” to a third-party vendor.  If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.  I will only include links to products or services that I believe (from personal experience, unless otherwise stated) will be of interest/use to you as a fellow traveler.  Commissions help defray the costs of maintaining this website, including the fees charged by the aforementioned legal team!