Customized guided and experiential vacations

Melk Abbey

Some travelers know exactly what they want — they've been everywhere, they've stayed in the great hotels, and what they're really looking for is someone who can take them further. Others are ready for something different but aren't quite sure what that looks like yet. Either way, that's where I come in.

For more than 30 years, I've helped thoughtful, well-traveled couples design journeys that actually match who they are — not just where they want to go. My particular passion is for the kind of travel that demands real expertise to get right: small ship and expedition cruising, privately guided land journeys, and the more remote, more considered corners of the world that don't reveal themselves to the casual visitor.

Small Ship & Expedition Cruising

There's a reason seasoned travelers gravitate toward smaller ships. When a vessel carries 100 guests instead of 5,000, everything changes — the ports you can reach, the pace of the day, the quality of the experience on board. I've spent years developing deep relationships with the boutique and expedition lines that do this well, and I know the meaningful differences between them. Whether you're drawn to the fjords of Norway, the Galápagos, the rivers of Europe, or somewhere genuinely off the map, I can help you find the right ship, the right itinerary, and the right moment to go.

Privately Guided Journeys

A great private guide doesn't just show you things — they change the way you understand a place. I design land journeys built around exactly that: local experts with real depth, private access where it matters, and an itinerary calibrated to your pace and curiosity rather than a group schedule. Latin America, Europe, and beyond — I work with trusted partners on the ground, not just selected from a catalog.

How I Work

I'm part of Market Square Travel, a family-owned independent agency that's been rooted in Minnesota and Wisconsin for more than 40 years. What that means for you is the kind of personalized attention and institutional knowledge that larger operations simply can't replicate — combined with the purchasing relationships and supplier access that come from decades in the business.

My clients tend to be people who've had the generic trip and aren't interested in doing it again. They want their time respected, their preferences genuinely considered, and an advisor who will tell them the truth — including when a highly-marketed destination isn't right for them, and what is.

I don't believe in one-size-fits-all travel. Some of my clients want extraordinary luxury paired with physical adventure. Some want cultural depth and culinary immersion. Some want to simply disappear somewhere beautiful with their spouse or reconnect with their adult children somewhere memorable. What I'm good at is listening carefully enough to know the difference — and designing accordingly.

One relationship, one destination, one reservation at a time.If you're planning something meaningful and want a conversation with someone who will take it seriously, I'd love to hear what you have in mind.