I’m a mom to two, a Texas native, and a “connector” who loves to strike up conversations with strangers (even if we don’t speak the same language!).

Growing up, I took lots of vacations with my parents that tended to be focused on relaxing together. When I had a family of my own, I wanted to up the ante—and show my daughters that vacations could be more than a refreshing escape. Don’t get me wrong, we all need those! But travel can also be an incredible way to learn about the world around you, if you’re willing to go a bit off the beaten path.

So the trips I planned always had a strong element of authentic exploration. We didn’t just visit a place—we dove in, whether that was strolling the colorful cobblestone streets of a once sleepy fishing village in Mexico, renting a home in Costa Rica for an entire summer, or going off-property at a Dominican Republic resort to join a local at his favorite restaurant (it was the most amazing—and cheapest!—meal of our lives).