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Windward Path - Luxury Travel Advisor

Hi, I'm Carolyn! I believe your vacation should actually feel like one - not another project to manage. As a luxury travel advisor based in Seattle, WA, I'm here to ensure every journey delivers exactly what you desired, completely effortlessly. Think of me as your personal curator, your cultural interpreter, and your detail-obsessed advocate, all in one. I email weekly to the Windward Circle, a group of thoughtful explorers who receive insider insights and cultural travel inspiration. Join us!

an Italian seaside town
Featured Post

bet you didn't know this - travel edition

Hey Reader. Did you know I'm an avid weightlifter? I know it has nothing to do with travel, but it's a part of my world, and I wanted to share it with you today. I hope that's okay. In fact, just this week, I squatted with weights for the first time since ankle surgery in December. I went super light (for me) - 135 lbs - but it felt great! Speaking of things you didn’t know…I was thinking about all the things I don’t know about luxury travel. So I spent some time on Google and found some...

Carolyn and her husband in front of an ancient Greek temple

It’s fair to say that I can be a bit wordy, Reader. So today I thought I’d switch it up. Rather than tell, I want to show you something. I love this picture because: a) I am BEAMING, b) I actually got some sun on this trip, and c) it represents something I had dreamed about since first grade. I was the kid who did all her drawings, creative writing, and projects on ancient Greek mythology. And the adult who sunk WAY too many hours into Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Getting to see these ancient...

Hey Reader. It's been a wild and wonderful week over here, planning several amazing trips for folks in Seattle. Today was great - not only did I get to write an email in French, I also saved a client $575 on airfare this morning. A new high score! If you've been here for a while, you may remember that back in October I chatted with my friend and colleague Chanelle Carlin on her podcast, Now You May Kiss. Chanelle is a wedding officiant here in the PNW, and we go way back. On our last episode,...

Hey Reader, Hope you had a fab weekend! We had some gorgeous sunshine, I got to see my neighbors' art production, and my husband took me out for sushi. An A+ weekend! I wanted to pop into your inbox today because I have a really cool travel opportunity to share with you. It's called the Traveling Sisterhood Safari. It's in June. It's for women. And it would be the perfect first trip to Africa. Okay, let me back up. I've been working with a wonderful woman-owned company in Uganda for gorilla...

Hey Reader. The world is bananas sometimes. Like when your 14 year old dog stubbornly refuses any walks in the rain, and you live in Seattle. Or when you go to a 6pm event and they don't feed you dinner. But overall, I still believe there are always things to be inspired by, don’t you? I've been chatting a lot with new clients the last few weeks, and their travel wishlists are genuinely inspiring me. I'm learning that they have real purpose and intention behind these trips. It's not...

Hey Reader. This week in particular I have been heads-down on working on client trips. Today, like every day, my work is centered around helping you have the exceptional vacations you dream about, without lifting a finger. I know that by taking these incredible trips, you're giving yourself a very tangible way to slow down and be present with the people you love the most. And when you do that, it allows you to experience new depths - of your relationships, your self-love, and your connection...

Airplane on tarmac at sunset with dramatic clouds

Hey Reader, The last time I was in Italy, I got a weird email the night before leaving. It told me to check in online to avoid delays, but then I got a separate email saying I couldn't check in online. The next morning, the airline just...couldn't find me or my reservation. I was not in whatever system they had, and I never got to the bottom of what happened. Has this ever happened to you?? I bet you can imagine how this played out. The Italian airline told me to go to a different person to...

Hey Reader. I have at least a dozen things to update you on, but it all has to wait, because something great happened today! My episode of the Now You May Kiss podcast was released this afternoon! This is a wonderful podcast hosted by my friend and colleague, Chanelle Carlin, who officiates weddings in the Pacific Northwest. We go way back from wedding days, so I was delighted to be able to collaborate with her on this. (Have you ever been interviewed for a podcast? If not, you should go for...

Hey Reader, welcome to the weekend! This is coming to you late today, because I spent all day on an HX Expedition Cruise ship that is currently docked in Seattle. I was able to get a really thorough look at this ship before it heads to Antarctica for the season. (And it's fabulous!) If you don't know what expedition cruising is, I'll explain. It's a slightly different type of cruise that focuses on adventure, nature, learning, and exploration in more remote destinations. The ships often have...

Hey Reader. If I could sit down with you over coffee and look at your travel plans, here’s what I’d probably say: Skip the tourist traps. Pick one or two meaningful experiences, and give yourself space to actually enjoy them. This is exactly how I travel…with intention, curiosity, and of course, some indulgence built in. It’s also how I help my clients plan trips that feel both effortless and enriching. We travel to make lifelong memories, not tick off boxes on someone else's checklist. If...