The Heart Behind Wanderluxe

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Hello, I’m Heather — the founder and travel designer behind Journeys by Wanderluxe Co.

My love for travel began before I even understood what travel was. I was just two weeks old when we embarked on my first flight. Thereafter when my parents divorced at two years old, I started flying back and forth to see my biological father. By the age of three, I was already boarding flights to Nevada — tall enough to be “passed off” as five (yes… we broke a few rules, but those moments became the beginning of something beautiful).

Those early flights shaped me.

Airports became familiar.

Jet engines became comforting.

The idea of going somewhere became a quiet kind of magic.

Travel didn’t feel optional — it felt like part of my soul.

As I grew older, that passion only deepened. I even interviewed to become a flight attendant — a path that felt like a natural extension of the little girl who grew up wandering terminals with wide-eyed wonder. Life eventually guided me in a different direction, but the desire to explore the world never left me.

At seventeen, I chose to step far beyond my comfort zone and studied as a foreign exchange student in Mexico. That year shaped me profoundly. It taught me courage, empathy, independence, and the beauty of living between cultures. It awakened me spiritually — reminding me that the world is both bigger and kinder than we often imagine.

Later, during a chapter of my life connected to military service, I had the opportunity to travel to South Korea. Exploring Asia gave me a deeper understanding of the world’s rhythms — its traditions, its flavors, its heart. It expanded how I see people, culture, and connection.

Over the years, I found myself exploring not just faraway places, but hidden gems much closer to home — like the charming streets of Victoria, Canada, or unexpected boutique hotels tucked across the United States. I’ve stayed in humble places and high-end suites, and everything in between. And that journey taught me something I hold close:

Luxury and affordability are not opposites.

Luxury is a feeling — care, intention, beauty, and meaning — not a price tag.

Today, with my family spread across the country, I travel often to see my granddaughters. And every visit reminds me why travel matters so deeply to me. I want to show them more than the routine. I want to help them discover the extraordinary within the ordinary — the special places in their communities, the hidden treasures, the soul-filling experiences that spark wonder and stay with you for life.

That desire is the heart of Wanderluxe.

I don’t just plan trips.

I curate journeys that feel intentional, heartfelt, transformative, and unforgettable.

Journeys filled with ease, beauty, and meaning — the kind you carry with you long after you return home.

Whether you’re seeking serenity, adventure, celebration, connection, spiritual renewal, or simply a moment to breathe, I’m here to craft a travel experience shaped around your dreams.

Your journey isn’t just a vacation.

It’s part of your story.

And I’m honored to help bring it to life.

— Heather