About

I’m Jade – a travel and wellness expert based in Bend, OR. Inspired by the way other people live, and uninspired by sitting at my desk all day, I’m trying to live a life with more exploration, more community, better food, and more time outdoors.

I’ve been globetrotting since 2009, but my love for travel really started circa 2011: study abroad program in Spain. Since then I’ve lived on three continents, backpacked through SE Asia and Europe, visited 20+ countries, and hiked over 500 miles.

A Little About Me

• I’m an Emergency Planner by day.
• I wholeheartedly believe that being outside is healing.
• I have two miniature dachshunds.
• I love adrenaline-rush activities!
• I love Mediterranean food and everything about the Mediterranean region/lifestyle.
• Sleep and comfortable beds are a top priority when traveling (this is newer since turning 30..).
• I love the in-between parts of travel…airports, driving, ferries, etc.

I always travel with wellness in mind.

Do you want to feel good when you return from a trip? Do you want to feel like you’ve grown, accomplished something, or learned something about yourself and the world?

Traveling well, and intentionally, enhances your travel experience. You should feel rejuvenated and inspired, not exhausted, or “off track”.

Traveling can be a lot – navigating new places and systems, eating out for every meal, being away from family, and the notion that it’s a time to constantly indulge.

That is why I make a point to build wellness habits into my travel. I listen to my body, build in time for rest, eat well 80% of the time, and prioritize movement and time in nature.

I practice mindfulness, travel slowly, spend intentionally, and most importantly, surrender to the flow of the trip! Do this and I promise you’ll come back feeling energized and spiritually fulfilled.

My goal is to discover the best wellness destinations and practices, at home and abroad.

Check out 2023’s Top Wellness Travel Trends

What is Wellness Travel?

Wellness is simple. It’s about doing the things that serve you; mind, body, and soul. The pillars of wellness are:

• emotional wellness
• physical wellness
• social wellness
• spiritual wellness

Wellness travel or wellness tourism is about seeking out destinations and experiences that nurture one or more of these pillars.

Or, as the Global Wellness Institute defines it: “wellness tourism is travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing one’s personal wellbeing“. AND (this is my addition), the well-being of the people and places that you visit. This is an important piece to me and it can look like staying in sustainable accommodations, spending intentionally, considering the well-being of the animals and wildlife, leaving no trace, or leaving places better than you found them. It also means taking time to learn about the history and culture of the places that you visit and respecting customs that are different from your own.

It’s important to note that wellness travel is subjective – my wellness might look different than your wellness! What serves you?

What Does Wellness Travel Look Like? 

Wellness travel might look like meditation every morning, getting physical activity in each day, volunteering (ethically) during part of your trip, seeking out healthy food, immersing yourself in the culture by connecting with locals, learning the language, and being open to new cuisine and customs.

It might also look like some type of retreat, or participating in a local wellness practice. Maybe hiking through the Alps or biking through the vineyards in Madeira. It might look like lounging by the pool or being pampered at the spa.

For me traveling ‘well’ looks like this:

• eating well (local if applicable or bringing some of my own snacks)
• trying or learning something NEW every day (new experiences are always mind-expanding however big or small)
• daily movement (usually hiking or lots and lots of walking)
• sleeping 8+ hours
• trying a traditional hyper-local wellness practice while traveling, like a Temazcal
• remaining open, flexible, and off the beaten path
• staying hydrated
• planning the big pieces and letting the small things fall into place
• observing the lifestyle of the place I am

Ultimately it should serve you and provide you the opportunity to look inward, and learn about yourself and your capabilities.

Top Wellness Destinations on my List!

 Where I’ve Been So Far

Check out all of my wellness-travel-related posts here