Hello
I’m Kate, and travel is my way of healing and growing. I created To Be Explored as a space for women to navigate the intersection of travel and mental health—because I know firsthand how adventure can be both freeing and transformative. After years of burnout and limited travel, I’m reclaiming my wanderlust, one meaningful journey at a time. Whether you're traveling solo or with loved ones, this is a space to find real stories, honest advice, and inspiration to explore—on your own terms.
My Story
I've always had a restless spirit—one that craves movement, discovery, and the kind of experiences that make you feel alive. Travel has been a constant thread in my life, from chaperoned trips across Europe in my younger years to spontaneous concert road trips around New England during college. But after graduation in 2015, reality hit hard. My days became a blur of corporate deadlines, limited PTO, and the occasional domestic escape to Florida or Maine. The travel dreams? They got buried under burnout.
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I tried to push through, convincing myself that the next long weekend, the next vacation, the next anything would be enough. But anxiety and depression have a way of creeping in when you’re stuck in a cycle that no longer fits. My breaking point came in early 2020—I had finally planned my dream trip to Iceland, only for the pandemic to slam the brakes on it. That pause forced me to reevaluate everything.
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Fast forward to January 2023, when I finally dusted off my passport for my first international trip in over a decade—Mexico. And just like that, the spark was back.
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Since then, I’ve chased waterfalls, volcanoes, and the Northern Lights in Iceland, soaked up the sun in Biarritz, wandered through Lisbon’s pastel streets, road-tripped through the Scottish Highlands, and stood in awe of Portugal’s castles and Mexico’s cenotes. Every destination has been more than just a trip—it’s been a chapter in my healing.
And that’s why I created To Be Explored.
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This isn’t just a travel blog. It’s a resource space, a community, and a place for women to embrace the power of travel in their mental health journeys. I know what it’s like to feel stuck, to battle burnout, anxiety, and depression. But I also know the healing that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone, from seeing the world through a new lens, and from sharing those experiences with others who get it.
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My tagline, Real Talk, Real Travels: Healing the Mind, One Adventure at a Time, isn’t just a slogan—it’s my mission. Here, I share my experiences, the lessons I’ve learned, and the stories of women who have found healing and empowerment through travel.
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So, if you’ve ever felt the pull to explore—whether it’s a new country or just a new way of thinking—you're in the right place. Let’s navigate this journey together.