A Few Moments That Stay With You
These are a few examples of the kinds of experiences I design. Each journey is shaped by the people traveling and unfolds a little differently every time.
Jump to a Journey
New Zealand / Northern Spain / Portugal / Piedmont / Morocco / Croatia
New Zealand: Reaching the Inaccessible
Helicopter Access
This South Island journey focused on scale, stillness, and access. Moving beyond the expected to experience the landscape in a more meaningful way.
One afternoon, the group boarded helicopters and lifted off over alpine valleys, landing beside a remote, glacier-fed lake that can’t be reached by road. As the rotors quieted, it was just the sound of wind across the water and the vastness of the landscape settling in.
These are the moments that change the pace of a trip, where intentional planning creates space to slow down, take it in, and feel present in a place.
Northern Spain: A Hands-On Harvest
Vineyard Immersion
This journey through Northern Spain centered on food, wine, and a deeper connection to where it all begins by moving beyond tastings into real participation.
Instead of visiting vineyards, we stepped into them. Harvesting grapes by hand alongside local producers, learning the rhythm of the vines during harvest season. And then came the fun part in rolling up our sleeves, climbing in, and stomping the grapes the old-fashioned way, laughing our way through it before pressing the juice ourselves!
It’s one thing to enjoy a glass of wine, and another to experience the process from the ground up. Moments like this bring a deeper appreciation and a sense of connection that stays with you long after you return home.
Portugal: The Unexpected Interior
Beyond Lisbon and Porto
While Portugal is often known for Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley, this part of the journey explored the country’s quieter interior where traditions are still part of everyday life and the pace naturally slows.
In a small Schist village, we were welcomed as the first American group to visit—walking through narrow stone streets, learning traditional methods of baking bread and goat cheese, and sharing time with the people who live there.
Later, we set out into the surrounding landscape by jeep, guided by those who know the terrain intimately, climbing into wide-open views that felt far removed from the usual routes.
Travel shifts when you step into places like this. It is less about checking boxes and more about experiencing how people live and what makes a place feel real.
Piedmont: The Art of the Hunt
Truffle Hunting
In the Langhe region of Northern Italy, this experience focused on one of the area’s most deeply rooted traditions—truffle hunting.
Walking through the forest with a trifulau and his dog, we watched the quiet communication between them which was built over years of trust, training, and familiarity with the land. Truffles can’t be cultivated or predicted; they’re found through instinct, patience, and a deep understanding of the environment. That sense of rarity, of something hidden and fleeting, is part of what makes the truffle so prized.
When the dog paused, everything slowed, and the careful work of uncovering the truffle began.
Later, that same truffle was prepared as part of our meal, served simply to let its flavor stand on its own.
Moments like this connect the landscape, the people, and the table in a way that feels grounded and complete.
Morocco: A Seat at the Table
Amazigh Cultural Exchange
This journey through Morocco was designed to create space for real connection, balancing movement through the country with time spent in people’s homes and daily lives.
In the home of an Amazigh family, we gathered around open flames to prepare a traditional tagine, guided step by step through techniques passed down over generations. Nearby, we worked with clay on a pottery wheel, learning through doing rather than watching.
Tea was shared slowly, conversation unfolded naturally, and what began as a visit became something more personal.
These are the experiences that stay with you. Simple, human, and rooted in genuine exchange.
Croatia: An Unexpected Start in Poreč
Istra Beer Festival
Most people think of Croatia in terms of its coastline and islands, and for good reason! But just before setting sail, we found ourselves in Poreč during the Istria Craft Beer Festival, and it became one of those unexpected highlights that you couldn’t plan if you tried.
What we walked into was a lively gathering of independent brewers, local food, and music that carried through the streets. It had an easy, welcoming energy. People gathering, connecting, and simply enjoying being there. The bands were funky, the atmosphere relaxed, and it felt like a true local celebration.
And then, a small but meaningful surprise was that many of the brewers source their hops from Yakima Valley, right near our guests home! A connection we didn’t expect to find, in a place we didn’t expect to linger.
It was one of those moments that reminds you: sometimes the unplanned experiences end up shaping the trip in the most memorable ways.
