My 20s Were Made for Adventure: What Travel Taught Me Before Turning 30
In a couple of weeks, I will be turning 30.
That still feels a little strange to say.
For years, 30 felt like a milestone that was so far away. It seemed like the age where people had everything figured out. They knew exactly where they were going, had a perfect career path, and somehow had all the answers.
Now that I am almost there, I've realized that life doesn't really work that way.
My 20s weren't about having everything perfectly planned. They were about exploring, learning, trying new things, and discovering who and what makes me happy.
When I look back at this decade, I do not just think about birthdays, jobs, or accomplishments.I think about the places I went, the people I met, the mountains I skied, the foods I tried, and the moments that reminded me how incredible this world really is.
My 20s were filled with adventure. I earned both my Bachelor's degree and Master's degree, traveled whenever I could, found someone willing to join me on my crazy travel ideas, and built a life filled with experiences I never could have imagined.
I stepped outside my comfort zone and experienced life in ways I never expected. I lived abroad, explored new cultures, traveled across the United States, chased winter from mountain to mountain, discovered hidden gems, and created a blog where I could share these adventures with others.
Before I enter my 30s, I wanted to look back at my travel bucket list and the biggest lessons these experiences taught me.
Somewhere along the way, I also found someone who was willing to jump into these adventures with me. Not every trip has gone exactly as planned, but having someone who supports my curiosity and says “let’s go” has made these experiences even more special.
Lesson One:
The World Is Much Bigger Than Your "Backyard"
One of the things I wanted to experience was living somewhere completely different from what I knew. I had done this before, when I was in middleschool but never as an adult.
There is a huge difference between visiting somewhere for a week and actually living there. A vacation lets you see the highlights, but living somewhere allows you to experience the everyday moments that make a place unique.
One of the experiences that shaped my early 20's the most was living in Chengdu, China.
Read about it in these blogs:
Before moving to China, I knew I was going to experience a different culture, but I don't think I fully understood just how different daily life would feel. I didn't know the language or honestly anything about the program that I signed up for. All I knew were the classes I would be studying and when I had to be there. It was my first time having to send my passport away to have a visa put in it. My first time living somewhere new alone, where I didn't know anyone.
Simple things like ordering food, navigating a city, understanding traditions, and communicating with people became learning experiences. I remember being amazed by how something as simple as walking down the street could feel completely different from home. Even though I grew up around New York City, where I was used to busy streets and crowded transportation, the city life in China was completely different. The streets were insanely clean. The subways had security to get in like the airport and protective barriers to prevent falling in the tracks.
One of my favorite parts of living in Chengdu was experiencing Sichuan food. The flavors, spices, and variety of dishes were unlike anything I had experienced before. Food became one of my favorite ways to understand the culture around me. Learning to use chopsticks was challenging because I hadn't realized there were so many kinds of chopsticks. Eating ramen with smooth stainless steel ones was a challenge for sure. I got use to not having any ice for my drinks and having most drinks hot/warm, like oragnge juice.
But beyond the food and the places I visited, living in China taught me something much bigger. The world does not revolve around one way of doing things. People everywhere have different traditions, different routines, and different ideas about what makes a good life. Experiencing that firsthand made me more curious and reminded me how much there is still left to learn.
Lesson Two:
Adventure Does Not Always Require a Passport
In my early 20s, I think I associated adventure with traveling somewhere far away. I thought the biggest adventures required international flights, foreign languages, and destinations on the other side of the world.
While those experiences are incredible, one of the biggest lessons I learned is that adventure can be found much closer to home. Some of my favorite memories came from exploring the United States. I discovered coastal towns, mountain destinations, small communities, and places I probably would have overlooked before I started traveling more intentionally.
But I also learned that adventure was not limited to what happened above the surface.
One of the biggest adventures I took on in my 20s was learning how to scuba dive. What started as a new experience turned into a passion that opened up an entirely different way of exploring the world.
I became a certified diver and completed more than 70 dives. Along the way, I earned my Nitrox and Deep Diver certifications, allowing me to continue building my skills and exploring new environments underwater.
Read about my diving adventures:
There is something incredible about realizing that an entire world exists beneath the surface. Diving challenged me in a completely different way than traveling on land. It taught me to stay calm, trust my training, and appreciate an environment that is completely different from everyday life.
Exploring underwater reminded me that there are always new things to learn, no matter how old you get.
Trips like exploring Shelter Island showed me that some of the best destinations are not always the busiest or most famous.
Sometimes the most memorable experiences come from slowing down. Walking along a quiet beach. Finding a local restaurant. Exploring a small town. Watching a sunset somewhere new. Travel taught me that you don't always need a huge international adventure to create incredible memories. Sometimes adventure is just choosing a road you have never taken before.
Lesson Three:
Follow the Things That Make You Excited
If someone told me in my early 20s that skiing would become one of the biggest parts of my life, I probably wouldn't have believed them. Even though I have been skiing since I was two years old, for most of my life skiing meant returning to the same mountain I grew up skiing. I never imagined it would eventually become one of the biggest ways I explored the country.
What started as something I enjoyed became a passion that completely changed how I travel. Instead of only planning trips around cities and attractions, I started planning trips around mountains.
I began exploring ski resorts across the country only four years ago, learning what made each mountain unique, and chasing the feeling of standing at the top of a run knowing I was about to experience something new.
Every ski resort has its own personality.
Some are known for incredible terrain. Others have charming villages, amazing views, or a welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to return.
Through skiing, I discovered that adventure is not always about seeing something once. Sometimes it is about returning to something you love and continuing to improve.
I became a certified ski instructor. That was something I never expected when I first started skiing, but it became one of the most rewarding experiences of my 20s.
Skiing taught me that passions are worth pursuing. You never know where a hobby might take you.
Lesson Four:
Food Is One of the Best Ways to Experience a Place
One of my favorite parts of traveling has always been food.
A destination is not just the landmarks you visit. It is the flavors, traditions, and stories behind the meals people share. Some of my favorite travel memories involve sitting down at a restaurant I discovered while exploring somewhere new.
Food creates a connection.
It can introduce you to a culture, tell you about a region's history, and give you a glimpse into everyday life. My time in China especially reinforced this, discovering dishes I never would have experienced at home.
Travel taught me that sometimes the best way to understand a place is to sit down, share a meal, and appreciate the story behind it.
Lesson Five:
The Best Adventures Are the Ones You Share
When I started Seven Seas and Winter Trees, I originally just wanted a place to document my adventures.
I wanted somewhere to remember the places I visited, the experiences I had, and the lessons I learned along the way. Over time, it became so much more.
This blog became a way to share my adventures with other people who love exploring. It became a place where I could talk about destinations, skiing, food, travel tips, and all the little details that make a trip memorable.
Experiences become even better when you can share them. Whether it is helping someone plan their next vacation, inspiring someone to visit a new place, or simply sharing a story with someone who loves adventure as much as I do, that connection is what makes traveling even more meaningful.
My Travel Bucket List Before 30: What I Checked Off
Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for everything I was able to experience in my 20s.
🌏 Going to New Countries
Chengdu, China
Mexico
Roatan, Hondours
Cuba
Canada
🏔️ Explore mountains and ski destinations
Skied 39 ski resorts across the United States
Become a ski instructor
Skied Coast to Coast in the USA
🌊 Discover coastal destinations
Shelter Island, New York
Beach towns and waterfront adventures
🚗 Take unforgettable road trips
Exploring new places along the way
🍜 Experience food from different cultures
Sichuan cuisine
Local restaurants
🌲 Spend more time outdoors
Skiing
Hiking
Paddleboarding
Exploring nature
🤿 Explore the underwater world
Scuba diving in Roatán, Honduras
Discovering a completely different side of travel beneath the surface
✍️ Create something of my own
Seven Seas and Winter Trees
I also checked off something I had dreamed about for years: writing and publishing my first novel. Creating a world, developing characters, and seeing a story go from an idea in my head to a finished book was an adventure of its own. The Windborne
What I Learned Before Turning 30
Travel taught me that:
The world is bigger than your fears.
Adventure does not have an age limit.
The best memories usually come from saying yes.
You do not need to have everything figured out to enjoy the journey.
There will always be another mountain to ski, another place to explore, and another story waiting to be told.
Entering My 30s With More Adventures Ahead
Turning 30 does not feel like the end of adventure.
It feels like the beginning of another chapter. There are still countries I want to visit, mountains I want to ski, beaches I want to explore, and stories I want to write.
My 20s were about discovering the world.
My 30s will be about continuing to explore it.
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