Me: Your weird and wonderful friend who loves to travel more than anything, and helps you plan all of your travels. I am a lifelong traveler who wants to see it all, from those iconic sights to each destination’s hidden gems, found off the beaten path.

I’ve been told that traveling with me “is an adventure, not a vacation”. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am your girl when it comes to planning our itinerary, curating our road trip playlist, and making every necessary reservation. My friends and family are the ones who began calling me Tour Guide Tara, because I always come prepared to do all the things, and do them well.

If I’m not yet a friend of yours, I can still help you plan your next adventure! I am also a travel agent with Once Upon a Wish Travel. We specialize in Disney destinations, but I am also your go-to for booking cruises, hotels, and tours.

Where I’ve Lived

I grew up in Connecticut and spent most of my young life NOT appreciating this corner of beautiful New England. As an adult who has moved back after many years away, I have found endless reasons to love this state. We’ve got hiking trails with stunning views, fantastic wine and beer, eclectic food, history, and of course, that shoreline. 

Back in 2006 I moved to Boston for college and liked it so much, I stayed for a decade. During this chapter I lived in nearly every Boston neighborhood and suburb including Fenway, Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, Cambridge, Beacon Hill, Malden, Revere, Winthrop, and Somerville. 

I also gave New York City a spin, calling Brooklyn and Queens home for nearly four years collectively. What “they” say about it is all true. Those years were some of the most formidable and stimulating of my life. I felt like everything in NYC was on a mission to kill me. But I also witnessed the indisputable genius of its dwellers, from the subway to the stage.

Where I’ve Traveled

What’s that phrase, go big or go home? My first international trip, at 15 years old, was to Australia and New Zealand. Without my family. I was a People to People (now sadly defunct) Student Ambassador. 

From there, the rest is history I guess? My French exchange student’s parents invited me to Marseille, France the following summer. Quickly I had two whole continents checked off my list before I had my driver’s license. Since then I’ve been steadily making the rounds…

📍 Australia – Moreton Island, Brisbane, Sydney, Surfer’s Paradise
📍 New Zealand – Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch

📍 France – Paris, Marseille
📍 England – London, Oxford, York, 
📍 Scotland – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Balmaha, Fort William, Isle of Skye
📍 Iceland – Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, the South Coast
📍 Italy – Florence, Siena, Certaldo, Montalcino, Saturnia, Porto Santo Stefano

📍 Singapore
📍 Indonesia – Yogyakarta, Bali

📍 Mexico – Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel
📍 Belize
📍 Honduras – Roatan
📍 Costa Rica – Limon, La Fortuna/Arenal, Papagayo Peninsula, Tamarindo, Nosara, Samara, Quepos/Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita
📍 Panama
📍 Colombia – Cartagena

📍 Aruba
📍 Cayman Islands
📍 Curacao
📍 Jamaica
📍 Puerto Rico – San Juan, Rincon, Jayuya, Vieques
📍 St. Kitts
📍 St. Martin / Sint Maarten

📍 Canada – Montreal

📍 United States – Arizona (Grand Canyon, Sedona), Arkansas, California (San Francisco, San Deigo), Colorado (Denver, Colorado Springs), Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Orlando, Miami, Tampa), Georgia (Atlanta), Hawaii (Maui, Kauai), Illinois (Chicago), Indiana, Kentucky (Louisville), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana (Great Falls), New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon (Portland, Mt. Hood, Wine Country, Oregon Coast), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (Houston), Utah (Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Moab), Vermont (Burlington), Virginia, Washington (Seattle, Bellingham)