A smiling woman with brown hair wearing a denim jacket and carrying a black camera strap stands in a lively outdoor plaza with shops, orange umbrellas, trees, and people walking in the background under a clear blue sky.
Vintage-style postcard with faded cream background and three colorful stamps in the right corner featuring landmarks: a castle in Segovia, Spain; Tower Bridge in London, UK; and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Welcome to Wander With Monica

After years of exhausting business trips and back-to-back flights, I stepped away from the corporate world. I didn’t have a grand plan, I just knew that my heart longed for something more.

My work had taken me all over the country (47 of the 50 states). I spent years rushing through airports and staying in hotel rooms that blurred together. For a long time, I thought I didn’t like to travel. But after a few intentional vacations with my husband, I realized it wasn’t travel I disliked—it was the way I had been doing it.

Now when I travel, what stays with me are the quiet ones: a cup of coffee in a cutie cafe, the relaxing sound of waves through an open window, the unexpected joy of catching the sunset. Those are the kinds of moments I seek now—and the ones I share here.

-Monica

A travel journal from the heart.

A woman smiling at the camera, wearing a floral dress and a purple lei, holding a wooden turtle sculpture, with a beach and sailboat in the background, during sunset.

What You’ll Find Here

Wander With Monica is a space for thoughtful travelers and soulful seekers who value presence over performance, and connection over checklists.

Here, I share:

  • Heartfelt travel stories and quiet reflections

  • Marriott Vacation Club stays and personal recommendations (we love our MVC membership!)

  • Destination guides, including what to see and savor in my hometown of Portland, Oregon

  • Inspiration for slowing down and traveling with intention

Whether you're just browsing or planning something beautiful, I’m glad this space found you.

A woman wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat, black dress, and purple orchid lei smiling on a boat with ocean and a rainbow in the background.

Let's Wander Together

If this kind of travel speaks to you, I’d love to stay connected.

You can find me over on Instagram @wanderwithmonica, or sign up for my occasional email notes—filled with soulful stories, travel ideas, and little sparks of inspiration to carry with you.

Thanks for being here.

~Monica