Hey there, I’m JoAnne —welcome to my travel site.
My love of travel started with work trips to places like Italy, Switzerland, and Japan. I’d usually tack on a few days to explore, turning business into something more interesting. Over time, those early trips turned into something bigger. Travel stopped being a side note and became something I started planning my life around.
When my kids were younger, I made the most of shorter getaways—a week here, a weekend there. Now that they’re grown and out of the house, I’ve embraced the freedom to stay longer and explore more deeply. I’ve also learned that I really like traveling solo. Not always—but solo travel brings a different kind of depth and awareness that I really value.I like setting my own pace, wandering without a plan, and seeing what happens. Sometimes that means having a great conversation with a stranger or finding a spot I wouldn’t have ended up in otherwise. Sometimes it just means sitting still and actually noticing where I am.
Not every solo travel moment is life-changing. Some are just plain weird. Like in Skopje, when a woman walked up to my café table, grabbed my half-finished bottle of wine, downed the whole thing, slammed the bottle back down, wiped her mouth, and said, “That was good,” before walking off like it was the most normal thing in the world. I just sat there staring, trying not to laugh. Travel has a way of surprising you—sometimes in beautiful ways, sometimes in totally bizarre ones.
I studied Sociology in college, which probably explains why I’ve always been curious about how people live—their rhythms, routines, and ways of connecting. Travel brings all of that to life. You learn a lot just by paying attention: how people greet each other, what’s on the table, how a market feels in the middle of the day. Travel teaches me things and keeps me curious.
Food is a big part of how I experience travel. I’m vegetarian, so I don’t eat meat or fish, but I’m still interested in the markets and in what people around me are eating. Even if I’m not tasting everything, I like noticing what’s being cooked, what’s being shared, and how food fits into daily life. Bread is usually my fallback, but sometimes it ends up being the highlight. I’ve had flatbreads baked on the sides of clay ovens, warm loaves from street stalls, and more meals made out of toast than I can count. It’s not fancy, but it says something about a place.
My biggest loves in my free time are yoga, hiking, and just being outdoors. I also enjoy creative work—photography, embroidery, stained glass, mosaics. Whether I’m stitching a design or piecing together glass, I like working with my hands and turning inspiration from my travels into something tangible.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel to all seven continents and over 60 countries. What I’ve enjoyed most are the small moments—the ones that catch you off guard, make you laugh, or shift your perspective in some quiet way.
When I’m home, I love spending time with family and friends. Good conversation, shared meals, and time together. That’s just as important to me as seeing the world.
I started Travels Afoot as a way to document not just where I go, but how it all feels along the way. Through this blog, I’m sharing the stories, photos, and strange little moments I’ve had along the way. If something here inspires you to take a trip—or just see something familiar with fresh eyes—then I’m glad you’re here.
