About Colleen Travels Between
If you want to bridge doable adventures and deserved indulgences — you’re in the right place! Whether you’re dreaming of a family vacation or an adult-centered holiday, you’ll find the tips and inspiration you need with Colleen Travels Between. Together, let’s travel between courage and comfort, education and play, healthy and indulgent, home and away, and borders near and far.
“We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.” — Brené Brown
From Scaredy Cat to World Explorer
As someone who has built my career around travel, I live an adventure-filled life. But I’m not a naturally daring person.
In fact, before I boarded a plane as a teen to move to France for my junior year of college, my stoic dad had tears in his eyes as he told me that when I was a little girl, he worried because I seemed to run from the world. And yet, there I was, running full speed toward this life adventure.
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.”
— Mark Twain
My love of travel was spurred a few years prior during a whirlwind European family vacation à la the Griswolds. I surprised my parents in a Paris subway station when I vowed that someday I would live in France. The French populace seemed so confident, so chic, so cool, and I wanted to be all of those things!
After my year abroad in Montpellier in the South of France, I spent several weeks backpacking through Europe on a shoestring, much of it solo. And I’ve never stopped making travel a priority in my life.
I wasn’t born brave, but travel has taught me that the more I push myself, the more myself I become. I spend much of my time outside my comfort zone, especially when I’m traveling. But I have learned that familiarity and relaxation are necessary ingredients for life and travel in balance, too.
Evolution of This Travel Blog
After graduating college, I worked various jobs as a financial analyst, cocktail waitress, retail store manager, and marketing manager for a hospice. My career path makes no sense, but I’m finally living the life that was meant for me as Colleen Travels Between.
Becoming a mom didn’t stop me from exploring the world with my husband and two children. When a friend sought advice on traveling with her baby, I started writing a guide that grew into a full-blown book, The Travel Mamas’ Guide. When I landed a literary agent, she encouraged me to start a blog, and TravelMamas.com was born.
When I launched Travel Mamas in 2009, I wanted to empower parents to explore the world with their children or without. As my kids and my audience have grown, I expanded this site’s content to include more adult travel ideas and advice through Grownup Getaways.
TravelsBetween.com combines the two under one umbrella, providing helpful travel tips and inspiring destination guides for everyone who’s curious about our world. Because travel is for all ages and stages!
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
— Saint Augustine
As Seen In
After 15+ years as the editor of this travel website, I have put in my 10,000 hours and then some! In fact, numerous print and online publications have interviewed me as a travel expert during my career. I have also given travel tips on many platforms, including television and radio.
Select Print Publications Featured In
- The New York Times: 12 Ways to Save on Family Travel
- Good Morning America and ABCNews.com: Should parents clean up after kids on planes?
- Men’s Health Magazine: Survive the Worst Part of Air Travel
- U.S. News & World Report: 7 Tips for Planning a Budget-Friendly Family Trip this Fall
- MSNBC.com: For Young Travelers, Playing Knows No Borders
- U.S. News & World Report: When to Splurge and When to Save on a Family Vacation
- Lonely Planet: U.S. Family Travel Experts Share their Favorite Trips
- Business Insider: Travel Influencers Share 11 Things Kids Learn from Traveling
- Real Simple Magazine: Cash-Saving Hacks for Every Vacation
TV and Radio Appearances
Throughout my career, I have appeared on various local TV news programs, as well as prominent national shows. Notably, I’ve been featured on The Daily Buzz, a morning television program broadcast in 170 markets across the United States, and Better TV, a nationally syndicated show aired in 140 markets. Adding to these television experiences, my family and I starred in three national commercials promoting tourism to Park City, Utah.
In the realm of radio, I’ve been interviewed on 36 different programs, including notable stations such as WCCO Radio Minnesota, CJAD 800 Montreal Radio, WNEW Radio FM Washington, and WBNR Radio AM New York.
Other Things I’ve Written
As a travel journalist, my stories have appeared in the “Today” show’s travel section on NBCNews.com, Parenting Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Expedia, and many other outlets. What I’m most proud of, though, are my blog posts written right here on TravelsBetween.com.
Some of My Travel Articles
- TODAY Travel/NBCNews.com: Regular Contributor (14 months)
- Tree.com: Travel Blog Editor (6 months)
- CheapOair Blog: Regular Contributor (8 months)
- 101 Things To Do San Diego Magazine: Regular Contributor (11 months)
- Parenting Magazine (online) and Babytalk Magazine cover story (in print): 18 Tips for Traveling with a Baby
- Working Mother Magazine: 10 Tips for Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
- The Orlando Sentinel and The Chicago Tribune: Walt Disney World vs. Disneyland
- Starter Story: How I Started a $15K/Month Family Travel Blog
Speaking & Teaching
I developed the curriculum for The Art and Business of Blogging, which I taught for five years at the University of San Diego Extension and San Diego Writers, Ink. I also led a session at the well-respected Travel Bloggers Exchange Conference (TBEX).
Additionally, I have given presentations about traveling with kids to parenting organizations like Chicago North Shore Moms (formerly Bump Club and Beyond).
Invited to the White House…Twice!
As one of the 100 most influential travel bloggers and media outlets, the White House invited me to a summit on global exchange. I was one of 10 select attendees recognized for our influence in spreading the word about the importance of studying abroad.
Subsequently, I was invited to return to the White House for a private tour of the West Wing and Oval Office the following year. Best of all, I was able to bring my American history-obsessed dad along. Being a travel influencer definitely has its perks!
Where to Find Me
I am not nomadic, but I travel as much as I can. I have lived in California, Minnesota, and Southern France.
Nowadays, when I’m not facing my fears on an ATV, floating in a fabulous hotel pool, or asking too many questions on a group tour — you’ll find me at home in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. I live with my husband, our two teenage kids, and a couple of adorable rescue dogs.
Want to work together? Learn about brand partnership opportunities and view past campaign results for working with me.
Want to say hello? Contact me or connect with me via Instagram and Facebook.
