About Me
Hi I’m Char and I’m so happy you are here! Welcome to my travel and lifestyle site; Take Time for the Trip.
Wondering what led me to this journey and how traveling became a significant part of my life? Well here is a little bit about me.
I am a Michigan native, happily married for over 31 years, and mother to an amazing son who is a first responder. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and have the best friends anyone could ask for. I am grateful for my life and for all the experiences and adventures that have led me here today
My professional career has been spent working in finance and management in the education sector. When I was in college it was my dream to “work my way up the corporate ladder”.
That part of my life has offered growth; has been rewarding, and sometimes a bit challenging. Although I enjoy that part of my life, I have always wanted to see the world. Believe it or not, another dream I have had since I was very young, was to be a flight attendant. Crazy how things come full circle!
Much of my spare time is spent researching and planning our next adventures. I love it all, from the planning process, to researching the best pricing, to learning about where to go and what to see and when. So yes, travel is my passion!
The travel bug bit me early. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of when my family took summer vacations. I not only was given the opportunity to experience different cultures and visit beautiful places, it was a time spent with family that was stress free away from the day to day, just enjoying whatever we were doing –and most importantly, each other. I also love being ‘off the grid’ and those feelings have stayed with me over the years, and I still get them every time we travel.
I just can’t wait to get to new places, and I keep all our trips ‘ticking down’ on a countdown app on my phone! The experience of meeting new people, tasting local dishes, and the diversity that each new place offers is what keeps me craving more. There is so much to see; so much beauty in this world just waiting to be explored and experienced. This, in part, is what has led me to create this blog and start my travel business.
One day, about a year ago, a close friend said to me “You’re so passionate about this…and good at it too! You should really start a travel blog and share this information with others”. I have to be honest, although it sounded like something I would love, I thought “How does this even work?!”
Then I spent 2 ½ weeks in Europe and crossed a number of places off my bucket list. It changed my life. Flying home from Paris it just hit me! I realized what my true passion has been all my life was something others had figured out long before me. When we returned, I made the choice to step out of my comfort zone and choose to follow my passion and take this journey. So, here I am! I have spent several months starting this travel business. Take Time for the Trip is about experiencing the new, the diverse, the beauty, and embracing the journey. It’s about living in the present, and enjoying time spent seeing the world with family and friends.
2020 has been anything but normal, and a year of many challenges for so many. Although we may all be in the same ocean, we are not all in the same boat. I look forward to the time we can embrace our families and friends, and travel once again.
As we move toward a new normal when it comes to travel and life, the adventures will be there even if they are experienced a little differently. My goal for this site is to offer you content that will get you excited about your next adventure. Whether it is a weekend drive, cross country road trip, cruising to new ports of call, traveling abroad, or experiencing new local fare, this site will offer you ways to get the best deals on luxury travel, and travel tips and resources that will make your adventure stress free. Looking for content relating to daily life, money tips, and favorite recipes? Be sure to Take Time to check out our lifestyle updates.
I hope you find this site inspiring and helpful. Take the Time, you won’t be sorry!