Let’s be real—I’m not here to reinvent the wheel. There are countless established travel blogs, and I might be a bit late to the party, but I’m here to share from my perspective. I’m learning as I go, and I’m taking you along for the ride. Buckle up!

I’ve been considering creating a dedicated space to document my adventures—a platform beyond social media where I have complete creative freedom. Writing has always been a therapeutic outlet for me, the most natural way for me to express myself and communicate clearly. While I enjoy creating visual content, words carry a deeper weight and meaning. This space will allow me to share my authentic self and tell my story in my own voice.

The idea behind creating a travel blog came about when I started my journey as a newly digital nomad. What is a “digital nomad”? Well, a “nomad” is a person who doesn’t stay in one place for too long. The “digital” component is just a way to say that I survive off of Wi-Fi as I work remotely from my laptop and phone.

Ever since Covid happened, my job took a turn to allow me to work from home. I had just moved into my apartment in Costa Mesa, California on March 1st, 2020 and a week later, the world went into quarantine. The daily hustle came to a complete stop, as it did for everyone else at the time. I went from daily commuting all around Southern California for my job, to working in a digital role inside the comfort of my home. I was fortunate that I still had a job during this dreadful economic time. I have to admit, Covid unexpectedly improved my career because the daily commute in traffic as a field marketer was unbearable. Working from home has turned out to be a perfect fit for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I can also credit Covid and the quarantine days for sparking my interest in “van life.” Back in 2020, I became fascinated by the growing trend of people living out of their vans through social media. It was the first time I imagined myself moving my life on the road, and that idea has stuck with me ever since.

From there, I began testing the waters of solo traveling for the very first time. It started small with 1-2 day weekend trips to local nearby towns. There is so much to explore in SoCal, and even being a native, I have not seen it all. I explored charming destinations like Solvang, a quaint Danish town just north of Los Angeles, ventured along the coastal beaches, and wandered through desert landscapes like Joshua Tree.

My first “big” solo road trip was to Sedona, Arizona, which had been on my bucket list for some time. As a single adult in my 30s, it was tough to get anyone to join me, since everyone’s lives were so busy. But once I set my mind on something, I go all in, whether or not anyone is by my side. I’ve always followed my own path, so it was no surprise when I booked this solo road trip in the fall of 2021. It just felt like the right thing to do for myself.

As I mentioned, I used to commute daily for my job pre-Covid, and during that time I developed major driving anxiety, which led to triggered panic attacks almost every time I got into my car. It was the most challenging time of my life, which is why, ironically, Covid turned out to really benefit me—both professionally and mentally. It freed me from the daily grind of stressful commutes, allowing me to refocus and reset. So, you can imagine how proud I was for driving all the way from Orange County to Sedona and back all by myself without having a single panic attack. That was the true test for me and I passed. Even though I had that bit of fear in the back of my mind, I wanted to expose myself to it because I was determined to overcome it. Anxiety never fully disappears—it will always be a part of me—but I’ve learned how to manage it effectively and not allow it to stop me from living my life.

That trip to Sedona really sparked something inside of me because all I wanted to do was travel and go on more road trips! After gaining better control of my driving anxiety, I was getting another itch to hit the road again in September 2023. I took on a fun Route 66 road trip all the way to Amarillo, Texas while stopping in historical landmarks along the way through out Arizona and New Mexico. It was a long journey going halfway across the country, so I decided to rent a car for the trip and fly home from Texas so that I didn’t have to drive all the way back. Baby steps. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever done and I did it all by myself (and with my dog). It felt very liberating!

By the end of 2023, I received a notice that my apartment lease renewal was coming up in February 2024 and after 4 years of living there, I knew I was ready for a change. At the time, I saw myself remaining in Orange County and upgrading to a nicer apartment. I really wanted a more modern place with better amenities now that I could afford something like that. I did some searching online and found a few places in the Laguna Niguel area that I really liked, so I scheduled to go visit them in January of 2024. These places checked off many of the qualities I was looking for, and I could easily envision myself living there. However, I remember sitting in my car that day, deeply reflecting on my next move. The thought of renewing a lease and starting over in a new apartment, only to continue the same routine life in Orange County, left me with a sinking feeling in my stomach. The idea of being stagnant and living a monotonous life just wasn’t sitting well with me. I was about to turn 35 and I thought about how I have no ties to anything in any geographical place. With no marriage, kids, or a fixed job location, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to take full advantage and explore while I have the freedom to do so. Orange County will always be home to me, it holds a huge place in my heart, but I desperately needed a change of scenery and to shake things up in my life.

I made the decision to move out of my apartment by the following month in February 2024. Within a few weeks, I sold my furniture, purged my things, set aside all of my travel necessities (clothes, shoes, etc), and put the rest in storage. Thanks to my parents who helped me move and let me crash at their house as an in-between place until I set off on my journey. I owe my parents so much for all they have done for me.

By the end of March, I flew to Nashville to celebrate my 35^th birthday on the 22nd. Then, I booked my first remote stay in Palm Springs for the months of April-May. It all happened very quickly, and it goes to show that a few months can bring significant changes when you decide to take action.

I wanted to spend my first stay in Palm Springs, California because it was a familiar place close enough to home, yet far enough to feel like a getaway. Plus, I absolutely LOVE the energy of this city with the boutique hotels, mid-century architecture, and overall desert oasis vibes. There’s lots to see and do! And I stayed at the perfect time during festival season while attending both Coachella and Stagecoach. Win/win!

From there, I had the opportunity to book a really cute, mystical house in Joshua Tree, California with my best friend, Markie, for the month of June! It was much-needed girl time hanging with our pups, binge-watching “Love Island”, and venturing out on the town with friends. More to come on both Joshua Tree and Palm Springs later!

One thing I want to mention that I will spend more time sharing about is my family’s river place that is conveniently located on the border of California and Arizona, split by the Colorado River. This is our home away from home and I grew up vacationing there as a kid. If you’re from Southern California, you know what the “river” is and probably have been once or twice. It was a nice pitstop for me to stay at the river and hang with family before jetting off to Arizona to continue my journey.

Since then, I have now nomad-ed my way through California, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming. I’m now 8 months into my nomadic journey, and I’m having the time of my life. Every so often, I’ll have a moment of realization that this is real—this is my life now. I can’t wait to share my experiences as a solo traveler navigating this new lifestyle. I have so much I want to share that will relate to the following:

Within these topics will be challenges, tips, recommendations, stories, and overall learnings from my experiences along this journey. If there is anything you’d like me to cover, all suggestions are welcome! Feel free to DM me on IG @TawnieJaclyn.

Lastly, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to my family, friends, and followers who have been rooting for me and supporting me with words of encouragement and excitement since taking on this new chapter. I know some of you were nervous about my decision, but still had faith in me. It means the world to me having a loving support system behind me and genuinely caring about my peace and happiness.

Signing off with this, “Don’t let life pass you by waiting on others.”

XO, Tawnie