Meet Mandy: The PNW Travel Girl
The open road is calling—and your next chapter starts right here.
THE QUICK RUN-THROUGH:
- The Mission: Helping midlife women (empty nesters, solo explorers, and life-transition survivors) build the confidence to grab the keys and navigate the map on their own terms.
- The Vibe: Pacific Northwest Travel | Rugged coastal towns, mossy mountain trails, and the sweet peace of a solo road trip.
- The Twist: I’m obsessed with local history. On this site, we don’t just pass through towns; we uncover their hidden “did you know?” stories, abandoned homesteads, and ghost towns.
- What You’ll Find Here: Pacific Northwest travel ideas, itineraries, solo travel stories, custom destination gear, and travel planning services to help you get out there and explore.
Curious about how a Gen X mom and grandma became obsessed with travel and getting lost in the history of the West? Read my full story below!
My Story: From Group Planner to Solo Explorer
I’m a Pacific Northwest wanderer, solo travel devotee, Certified Travel Advisor, and a true believer that the open road is where the best soul-searching begins.
For years, my life moved to the steady beat of family routines and group getaways, always planning around others.
But somewhere along those long, silent highways between Washington and my Utah roots, I found something transformative: the quiet confidence that blooms when you travel solo.
The open road holds its own kind of magic.
It means pulling over at a secret trailhead, meandering through a sleepy town, grabbing coffee on a whim, or chasing a roadside sign simply because curiosity leads the way.
That spark of freedom is what ignited PNW Travel Girl.
Reclaiming Your Sense of Adventure
If you are navigating midlife, an empty nest, divorce, or just a major life shift and thinking, “I don’t even know how to begin exploring on my own,” you are in the right place.
I’ve been there, and I promise you: you are entirely capable of navigating the map solo.
I started this space to act as your digital copilot. I do the trial and error, test the routes, and map out the logistics so you can skip the planning anxiety and get straight to the empowering peace of the open road.
Let’s Get Lost in the History (The PNW & Beyond)
For me, a getaway is more than ticking off scenic views. It’s about forging connections with communities and unearthing the captivating stories that shaped the roads beneath our wheels. If you find yourself drawn to abandoned homesteads or old buildings, always wondering about the lives behind them, then we’re destined to be friends.
At the moment, I’m uncovering the very best of the Pacific Northwest.
But curiosity knows no borders.
As this adventure unfolds, we’ll venture beyond the PNW, discover hidden historic gems nationwide, and set out to visit every U.S. National Park on my ever-growing bucket list.
Three Ways We Can Journey Together:
- The Blog: Your go-to source for tested PNW itineraries, deep-dives into local history, and actionable solo-travel inspiration.
- The Planning Services: Want to travel but hate the logistics? As a Certified Travel Advisor, I take the research and booking stress completely off your plate.
- The Shop: Custom, destination-inspired apparel and keepsakes designed by me for your favorite milestones.
You bring the wanderlust; I’ll bring the itinerary. Let’s get you on the road!
A few chapters from the road
I travel whenever, however, and wherever I can.
I have driven back and forth to Utah more times than I can count, taken countless weekend trips along the backroads of Washington, and built many of my favorite memories from simple road trips close to home.
I have traveled solo to places like Las Vegas, New York City, Puerto Rico, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and California.
I have stayed in hostels, luxury hotels, roadside motels, car-camping setups, and everything in between.
I have visited several National Parks and plan to keep adding more to the list, one trip at a time.
Every trip has taught me something different.
Some reminded me that solo travel can be empowering.
Some reminded me that rest matters too.
And some sent me down the rabbit hole of old buildings, forgotten towns, and the stories hiding in plain sight.
