From Solo Travel to Family Adventures to Helping Others: Sharing the Joy of Exploration
- kendillard
- Mar 1
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 6
Travel has a unique way of expanding our horizons, introducing us to new cultures, experiences, and perspectives that can profoundly shape our lives. For me, this truth became a cornerstone of my life, not only shaping my personal journey but also influencing those around me. My love for exploration started as a personal passion, and over time, grew into a powerful tool for inspiring my children, enlightening co-workers, and now, a driving force behind a vision to build a travel business that helps others discover the transformative power of travel.
The Beginning of a Lifelong Passion
My story begins with my curiosity about the world at an early age. Wandering through the woods, camping, and just exploring the world near me combined with reading books on early world explorers fueled something inside me. Combine my own exploration with the fact my family moved around the United States when I was young, and listening to my dad talk about his travels in the military and as a corporate pilot shaped me much more than trying to decide what career I wanted. As I moved into the work force, each role I had a wider reach in the world. First within my home state, then the US and Canada, ultimately solving problems in ten countries. The thrill of navigating a foreign city, meeting other cultures, and communicating in another language was exciting to me.
Through connecting with others, I quickly realized that travel was not just about sightseeing; it was about learning, growth, and connection. Each journey became an opportunity to learn about different cultures, histories, and ways of life. It was also a chance to learn about how to respond to challenges, adapt to new environments, and interact with people from different walks of life. The more I traveled, the more I grew as a person.
Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
When I became a father, I knew I wanted to pass on the gift of exploration to my children. In a world where technology was keeping kids indoors, I was determined to show my children the world beyond their screens. Family vacations became more than just a break from routine; they were opportunities to teach my children about the vastness of the world and see history in front of them.
I introduced them to the wonders of travel from a young age by choosing destinations that would challenge them and were rich in nature creating opportunities for new discoveries. From white water rafting, canyoning, to later wandering the streets of Barcelona on their own, each trip was a lesson in geography, history, and culture. I encouraged them to ask questions, try new foods, and find their own interests. These experiences were designed to nurture their curiosity and help them develop a broader perspective of the world.
As my children grew older, they began to appreciate these journeys on a deeper level. They learned the value of stepping out of their comfort zones - whether it was trying duck for dinner in Germany or a solo hiking trip to Colorado or navigating a city where they didn’t speak the language. They also learned that the world is full of different perspectives, and that understanding and respecting those perspectives is key to becoming a well-rounded individual.
Travel became a supplement to their education, complementing what they learned in school. Lessons came to life as they walked the Berlin Wall, climbed the Eiffel Tower, or rubbed their hands over Mayan carvings. Geography was no longer abstract as they mapped out the countries they had visited and planned future adventures. Most importantly, they developed a sense of empathy and open-mindedness that can only come from seeing the world others read about in books.
Inspiring Co-Workers: The Ripple Effect of Travel
In a corporate role which included up to 75% travel, I became known for getting more work done than should have been expected and exploring more of a country than I should have been able to explore. My stories began to encourage and inspire work teams to see the benefits of travel in their own lives. Travel and new adventures could be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. I encouraged my teams to explore new places during off days and bring back fresh perspectives to their work.
Travel could enhance creativity, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence. Employees who traveled came back with renewed energy and innovative ideas. They were more adaptable to change and better equipped to handle challenges in the workplace. The philosophy was simple: travel helps you see the bigger picture, which in turn makes you a better thinker, a better leader, and a better person.
Travel also had a way of breaking down barriers between colleagues. Sharing travel stories became a common way for team members to bond, creating a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. It was easier to work together when you had a shared experience to discuss, whether it was a favorite destination or shared a funny mishap abroad.
The passion for exploration and belief in its benefits continued to spread throughout my teams. Colleagues who were new or nervous were now included in work trips to destinations they had only seen on TV. The office became a place where travel was celebrated, and where the lessons learned from those travels were applied to everyday work life. Trying new adventures like skiing in Canada or a weekend trip to Iguazu Falls not only resulted in personal growth but also connected us to the co-workers based in the location where we traveled.
The Birth of a Travel Business: Sharing the Love
As my career moved forward, I began to worry less about climbing the career ladder and realized I wanted to make more of an impact on individuals. I wanted to have more freedom, bet on myself, and help others. So, I left my W2 career and began volunteering internationally and started consulting to help businesses that did not have the resources of a Fortune 500 company. I was fulfilling my love of travel in a way I could not when on a company schedule. Longer trips, volunteer work abroad, and standing in places I dreamed of when younger. Talking with my kids, we realized so many people are hesitant to travel - whether it is nervousness, costs, or just not understanding how. We saw the potential to turn this passion into something more—a travel business we could grow together that would allow us to share our love of exploration with a wider audience. I knew from experience how life-changing travel could be, and wanted to help others experience that transformation. My vision was to create a business that not only arranged trips but would also inspire and educate people about the benefits of travel and encourage them to expand their travel horizons from where they are now.
The more we would talk about travel and our trips, the more questions we would hear from co-workers, acquaintances, and even strangers who had heard about our approach to travel. The business model is simply that travel should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or experience level. Trips that cater to a variety of interests and budgets. No matter the price point, each trip was designed to be meaningful, with a focus on cultural immersion, personal growth, and giving back to the communities visited. And more than anything, teach others exploring they can explore the world.
Expanding Your Travel: Encouraging Others to Explore
One of the key principles of the business is the idea of expanding people’s travel horizons. Travel is not just about visiting new places; it seems to always result in personal growth - whether that means trying a new activity, meeting new people, or just stepping out of your comfort zone. The goal is to help clients experience the world in a way that encourages growth.
To achieve this, Expand Your Travel offers a variety of experiences that cater to different interests and levels of adventure. For those looking to relax, there are wellness retreats in serene locations that offer yoga, meditation, and nature walks. For the more adventurous, there are trips that include activities like hiking, snorkeling, rafting, and more. And for those looking to make a difference, there are volunteer trips that allow participants to give back to the communities they visit.
No matter the type of trip, we want to include opportunities for cultural exchange. Interacting with locals is one of the most valuable aspects of travel, as it allows travelers to gain a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it. Whether it’s distributing soccer gear in Africa, attending a soccer game in Brazil, baking bread in Liberia, or a language exchange in Japan, these experiences are designed to be both educational and transformative.
Building a Community of Travelers
I hope this is more than just a “travel company” and becomes a community. We want to foster a sense of community by creating opportunities for people to connect.
As we grow there will be forums where travelers could share their experiences, ask for advice, and plan trips together. We would love to host meetups where all levels of traveler can meet in person, share stories, and make new friends. These gatherings became a way for people to stay connected long after their trips had ended, and lead to lifelong friendships. We offer personalized travel advice and tips when needed and want to ensure others grow their love for travel continued to grow and that they felt supported in their journey of exploration.
Conclusion: The Power of Travel
Travel has the power to change lives—it certainly changed mine. From inspiring my children to embrace the world with open minds, to encouraging my co-workers to seek out new perspectives, to building a business that helps others discover the joys of exploration, I am dedicated to sharing the benefits of travel with others.
My journey is a testament to the idea that travel is not just a leisure activity but a powerful tool for personal and collective growth.
Let’s connect!!
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