The Gifted Traveler

08/06/2026

Saturday marked the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

Like many Americans, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of the young men who crossed the English Channel on June 6, 1944, knowing they were heading into unimaginable danger.

This year, those reflections feel especially personal.

Just a few weeks ago, I stood on the beaches of Normandy, walked through the battlefields, and visited the places where history unfolded. It was a powerful reminder that the freedoms we enjoy today came at an extraordinary cost.

For me, this journey was also a way to better understand my own family history.

My father, Dick Smith, and my Uncle Jesse Frye (first photo) were among the men who helped liberate Europe during World War II. They endured more than 300 days of combat, fought through the invasions of Salerno and Anzio, and continued across Europe to the liberation of Dachau.

Growing up, I knew parts of their story. But standing in these places gave me a deeper appreciation for what they experienced and what their generation sacrificed.

Travel has a unique ability to connect us to history. It transforms names in books into real people and distant events into something we can begin to understand. It helps us see not only where history happened, but why it matters.

Today, I am thinking of my father, my uncle, and the millions of men and women whose courage changed the course of history.

May we never forget their sacrifice, and may we continue to tell their stories for generations to come.

04/06/2026

I’ve been home for nearly two weeks now, but as we approach the anniversary of D-Day on June 6, I find myself thinking more and more about Normandy.

Some journeys stay with you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase. This is one of them.

Over several days, we followed the path of the Allied liberators across England and France, visiting the places where history unfolded and where extraordinary sacrifices were made.

What made this experience especially meaningful was traveling with historian and bestselling author Alex Kershaw. has spent decades researching World War II and interviewing many of the men who fought in it. He is the author of numerous books, including The Bedford Boys, and leads small-group battlefield journeys that bring history to life in a way few people can.

He doesn’t simply recount dates and events. He tells the stories of the people behind them.

Standing on Omaha Beach while hearing about the young Americans who landed there on June 6, 1944, was profoundly moving. The statistics we learn in school suddenly became human stories of courage, sacrifice, and service.

Nearly eighty-two years later, those beaches remain remarkably peaceful. Yet it is impossible to stand there without reflecting on what happened and what was required of those young men who arrived on those shores.

As D-Day approaches, I find myself feeling deeply grateful for the generation that answered the call and changed the course of history.

Travel can be entertaining. The very best travel also teaches us, challenges us, and helps us remember.

This journey did all three.

12/05/2026

I’m off on another extraordinary journey with my dear friend Susie: London, Normandy, Paris, Antibes, Nice, and Èze, with many more stories and photos to come.

This journey is especially meaningful to me. My father served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was part of the forces that helped liberate Dachau Concentration Camp.

Traveling through these historic places with bestselling historian and the Friends of The National WWII Museum feels like a way of honoring his service and, in some small way, feeling closer to him.

We began in London, where Susie and I checked into the charming Covent Garden Hotel, one of my favorite boutique hotels in the city. Part of the Firmdale Hotels collection and designed by Kit Kemp, it is full of warmth, character, and thoughtful design.

One of the highlights of our stay was stepping aboard the Belmond British Pullman. With its beautifully restored Art Deco carriages, polished brass, crisp white linens, and champagne service, it felt like stepping back into the Golden Age of Travel.

Yesterday, our World War II “Victory in Europe” journey officially began with a private tour of the Churchill War Rooms, followed by visits to the Imperial War Museum and HMS Belfast.

We ended our London stay with dinner at the elegant The Goring before crossing the English Channel to Normandy.

Onward to the next chapter.

07/05/2026

One of the best parts of what I do is helping people experience something they’ve only ever imagined.

Jill and Joe had a dream: to see the Northern Lights. So we built a journey around it.

Helsinki to Lapland. Private guides. Snow-covered forests. Husky sledding, reindeer farms, and nights set aside just for chasing the aurora. We balanced adventure with stillness, making sure there was time to enjoy the quiet, the landscape, and each other.

Every piece of this trip was designed to feel effortless on their end, and unforgettable in every way.

This is why I love what I do.

04/02/2026

25/01/2026

As I reflect on my final moments at Mara Bush Camp, overlooking the Masai Mara National Reserve, watching wildlife move freely across the land, I felt a profound sense of peace — and an even deeper sense of connection.

Yes, this journey was filled with extraordinary wildlife: elephants, lions, cheetahs, mountain gorillas, chimpanzees — moments so powerful they hardly felt real. And sharing them with dear friends, old and new, made the experience unforgettable.

But the greatest impact of this trip came from something even more profound.

The Maasai people.

Their warmth, humor, authenticity, and generosity of spirit touched me in ways I’m still processing. By Western standards, they have very little — yet they possess so much: community, purpose, pride, joy, gratitude, and a deep respect for the land and for one another. It completely reframed my understanding of what it means to live richly.

They are wealthy in all the ways that truly matter.

This journey reminded me that travel is not just about seeing beautiful places — it’s about how we experience them, and who benefits from our presence. Sustainability matters. Choosing partners who give back to local communities — not take from them — matters. Protecting culture, wildlife, and land matters.

This place changed me.

Africa doesn’t simply stay with you. It settles into your soul.

In the weeks ahead, I’ll be sharing more about why thoughtful, responsible travel is something I feel deeply called to educate my clients on — because when done with care, travel can uplift communities, preserve cultures, and create experiences that are not only luxurious, but truly meaningful.

With deep gratitude to Ashish and Big Five Expeditions for inviting me into this extraordinary journey.

16/01/2026

A warm and welcoming arrival at our first lodge in Uganda… The River Station! Incredible.

Feels like family in the most remarkable setting you can imagine… By the way, there are elephants right outside my room as I write this I have to wait and call someone to go to lunch!

(I will be with limited connection the next day or so, gorilla trekking in a remote location. More to come.)

13/01/2026

After more than 20 hours in the air and another six on the ground, I finally arrived in Uganda — touching down at 3am, completely exhausted and completely alive.

Yesterday was meant to be a “rest day,” but in Africa, even rest feels like an opening into something bigger.

Then today… everything changed.

We flew out of Entebbe and into Queen Elizabeth National Park, landing on a tiny dirt airstrip in the middle of wild, open land. The moment the plane touched down, the safari began — not gradually, not gently, but all at once. It felt like two weeks of magic packed into a single, breathtaking day.

And this is just the beginning.

What makes this experience so extraordinary isn’t just Uganda and Kenya — it’s how we’re doing it. We’re traveling with Big Five, one of Africa’s most respected ground operators, who knows these lands, these animals, and these communities in a way no big tour company ever could.

There are only six of us on this journey.

Six people.
Deep access.
No crowds.
No rushing.
Just the raw, living, breathing beauty of Africa — from gorilla trekking to game drives, from remote airstrips to golden savannas.

This is the kind of travel that changes you. The kind that reconnects you to the natural world, to wonder, and to something ancient inside yourself.

I’ll share what I can along the way, but some moments are meant to be lived before they’re posted.

More soon — the adventure is only just beginning.

28/09/2025

✨ Mexico, Always in My Soul ✨

My earliest memories of Mexico are tied to my father. I didn’t have many moments with him, but the ones I do cherish are extraordinary—we spent time together in Rosarito in the 60s, helping to build a school. That experience left an imprint on me: Mexico became not just a place on the map, but a place in my heart.

In the 70s, as a teenager in Southern California, I crossed the border to Tijuana—those trips were less about schools and more about adventure (and maybe a little mischief). Later, as a mother, I made Mexico a family tradition. Thanksgiving trips became our ritual, with its sunshine and spirit woven into our lives.

In 2020, my daughter Amanda, fell so deeply in love with Todos Santos that she never left. She lives there now with her wonderful partner and my grandson—a Mexican, Irish, American citizen.

It’s no wonder my soul feels happiest in Mexico. It’s where my story began, where my family’s story continues, and why I love sending clients there. Because it’s not just a vacation—it’s a connection.

A few of my favorite properties:

🌿 Belmond – timeless grace in magical corners.

🌊 One&Only Mandarina – where jungle meets sea, with impeccable style.

✨ Ritz-Carlton Zadún – desert chic on the Sea of Cortez.

☀️ Four Seasons Los Cabos & beyond – relaxed elegance perfected.

Hotel Todos Santos

🚢 National Geographic Sea of Cortez Expedition – (yes, I’ve even applied to go myself).

From chic hideaways in Todos Santos to seaside sanctuaries across Baja and beyond, Mexico offers endless ways to fall in love.

If you’d like me to curate your Mexico, I’d be honored. Because trust me—once you go, it never leaves you.

03/08/2022

Whenever I entrust someone with something important to me, I hope to know that they are as impassioned about the endeavor as I am. Travel planning should be no different, and in sharing my experience in the industry with you, I hope it becomes clear that travel for me is more than just an opportunity to be of service to my clients.

One of the invaluable benefits of working with a luxury travel advisor is the care and dedication to ensuring you have an incredible, stress-free experience — even in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Take a deep breath. From hotels and private touring to travel insurance, to the rare unforeseen flight delay, you will never be without support in a new place. This way, you can relax and enjoy, leaving the complicated parts to someone with more than thirty years of travel industry expertise.

To learn more about The Gifted Traveler and custom curated luxury travel, visit the website. www.thegiftedtraveler.com