Ashley Travels The Globe

“The earth never forgets her children. So, walk into her arms with an open heart and with only soft footprints behind you.”

The first time I ever got on an airplane, I was en route to Disney World. I don’t really remember how old I was, but if I had to guess, I’d say I was around six years old. And this trip taught me that many magical places were waiting for me, I just had to leave the comforts of my own home, city, and state to find them.

From that year on, I requested to go to Disney World for every family vacation. I had no interest in seeing anything else. I guess I fell in love with the magic that Disney World offered.

Then one year, after a traumatic plane experience, I decided that flying wasn’t for me anymore. And any travel I did thereafter, I did by car or bus.

Years passed, and I didn’t dare step foot on a plane, until 2011. When I made the bold decision to book a solo flight across the country from New York City (JFK) to North Hollywood (BUR). My trip to North Hollywood was a pivotal moment in my life. Not only did I fly across the country solo, but I conquered my fear of flying. And I became unstoppable.

It was my trip to California that seeded my love for travel. And on my flight back to NYC, I knew I had to return again soon, and so I did.

Following my first trip to California, I visited Arizona and then different parts of California for 4 years straight.
(Don’t judge me, but I was a self-proclaimed California girl with no intention of visiting anywhere other than the west coast.) Until 2016, when the travel winds blew my sails in a different direction.

I flew East to Paris, France for a month, and being honest, this trip was rough. (Fun fact, after my trip to Paris, I didn’t travel for a whole year afterward.) It wasn’t until 2018 when my travel seeds blossomed in Trinidad.

During my trip to Trinidad, I found a freedom that I never felt anywhere else, and decided that I wanted to hold on tight to this magic, and this freedom by any means.

This was the moment that I decided I wanted to be a full-time solo traveler, and see the world!

I wanted to continue collecting memories and creating magical moments like the ones I had in Trinidad. My goal in life is to immerse myself in new cultures, taste new tastes, and experience new ways of life. And ultimately live free.

There are many magical places out there waiting, you just have to leave the comforts of your own home, city, and state to find them.