Travel Specialists

My travel passions include destinations which involve skiing and warm beaches- very different! Since my husband is a ski nut, he has influenced my daughter and I to take a ski vacation every year for the last 20 years. I think my love for warm beach vacations comes from the fact that’s it’s so opposite of where I grew up…a far cry from the farm land in central Wisconsin.

I’m originally from Central Wisconsin, where I grew up on the family farm. I went to college in Madison/Milwaukee and all through college, I had this burning desire to travel. My first flight was to Europe in 1986 and I fell in love with travel. I spent a year abroad-( the original plan was to be there one month..)
When I returned, I took a part time job at a travel agency while I was still going to school and waitressing. The travel agency job won out- that was 20 years ago.

I have no favorite destination, as travel is in my blood.  I’ve enjoyed each place I've visited, which include most countries in Europe, many in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Egypt.   I am working on becoming an Africa specialist as many of the countries hold a special place in my heart. I’ve visited South Africa a couple of times and have spent time in Botswana. Each new visit is unique, as no 2 countries are the same and each safari unfolds differently. The animal sightings are individual to the time and place visited.

I love most types of music and attempt to hear some type of music in each destination, from the beating of the Djembe in Africa to jazz in New Orleans, to country rock in Arizona, to the symphony in Prague  or just spending a night in my own city, Chicago listening to blues or rock n’ roll. I believe that travel and music go hand in hand and the soul of each destination can be felt in the music of that place.               

I have wanted to be a travel agent for as long as I can remember. My grandmother was a world traveler and would regale me with stories of her trips. I could picture those places and experiences and could not wait until I could do the same.

I have been a travel professional for almost 20 years. The first 8 years were in corporate travel and the rest in leisure travel. I am very passionate about experiencing the vast differences in countries, history and culture, whether it be close to home or hours away. Each destination has its own story, which is felt from the people, their music, art and cuisine. Helping my clients to plan their perfect vacations, whether relaxing by a magnificent, stunning white sanded beach, a trip to the varied, interesting and multi ethnic countries in Europe or arranging a safari to one of the many magnificent areas in Africa to hear the lion's roar and the elephant's trumpet and visit the beautiful shores or just planning a weekend away in the city is always rewarding.  I love hearing about their experience when they return.   

I have been in the travel industry since 1970 as I worked in Kenosha, Wisconsin for a travel agency to support myself through college. I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to various domestic and foreign destinations, and love it as travel always continues to give me a better world view of people and places. I have made a number of friends in my travels, and even continue to communicate with them via email and regular letters. My furthest pen pal lives on the island of Tonga in the South Pacific whom I met years ago while traveling in that part of the world.

Because the travel industry is ever changing I enjoy the constant challenge of learning new information and applying this to a client’s travel needs. My favorite destinations are anywhere where mountains and sea meet where I enjoy hiking or just relaxing on the beach with a cold one.

My motto is “The art of traveling consists of seeing people, places, and things as they are, and not as we would like them to be.”

I have been with Lake Forest Travel for the past year.   This is just a new chapter in my very long employment in the Travel Industry.   I have worked for Delta Airlines, and the Corporate Travel side (for many years), before joining Lake Forest Travel.   Working in the leisure travel side, is like taking a Geography class every day, and I love it!