Traveling Ness Inspires Others To Seek Adventure
Hi! My name is Vanessa Shields, otherwise known as Traveling Ness! I’m a native California girl from the north county part of San Diego. I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived in NYC and Portland, OR before coming back to sunny San Diego.
I got bit by the travel bug at an early age, as my parents loved camping and traveling with me often.
It wasn’t until the summer between 8th and 9th grade that my passion for traveling really started to form. I spent the summer (thanks to my awesome parents) in Europe with my aunt and uncle who were living in Germany at the time.
That summer I visited 7 countries and got an introduction to so many new cultures and a world completely unknown to me at the time. The most memorable event that summer was my aunt booking me a bus ticket tour to Austria and Czech Republic on my own.
What an adventure for a 14-year-old! Not only did I not speak the languages but I had no phone number in case I got lost. Well… I got lost and since that was before the days of cell phones and the internet, I wandered around aimlessly trying to remember how to find my way.
Lost in Austria with no way to get a hold of my aunt, the only number I knew meant calling my parents collect in California (which I didn’t think they would appreciate)…
Luckily, I met these wonderful locals who helped me find my tour bus. On the bus ride back to Germany, I remember feeling so exhilarated and alive.
That didn’t last long once my mom found out what had happened! She wanted to strangle my aunt for letting me go off on my own.
Even though that could have ended in a “Taken” moment, it was the best adventure and experience to have happened to me. I guess you could say I was forever changed. My eyes had been opened and they were searching to see more…
Heading into that summer I had been an introverted and shy girl. But by the end of the summer, I had become more social, adventurous, and bitten by the travel bug. Wanderlust had taken hold…
So Why Start A Travel Blog?
I could kick myself for not starting a travel blog years before but as with all things, it’s never too late to start. Even though I was traveling around the world frequently, I wasn’t really documenting or writing down all the interesting experiences I had had. So, what changed?
I guess you could say life happened and it temporarily seemed that I had lost everything in a blink of an eye. Long story short, I found myself in an emotionally and physically abusive marriage.
And to make things worse I was diagnosed with cancer while going through a painful divorce…
During this challenging time I turned to an outlet which has always brought me joy – travel, hiking, wine, scuba diving, and story-telling!
I took advantage of the downtime healing from surgeries (cancer) to begin creating and sharing my experiences, insights, and tips on Traveling Ness.
What Next?
Traveling solo has given me a sense of confidence, independence, and a new perspective on life.
It is my mission to help inspire those that have always wanted to travel but aren’t sure how.
Or those that are intimidated to travel outside of their home country needing the boost and know-how to make it happen. Or want to travel solo but not sure where to begin.
Traveling enables you to overcome your fears and allows you to see how capable you really are. Immersing yourself in another country and experiencing another culture gives you a better awareness and understanding of the world that is priceless.
Some travel to escape, some to find themselves, and others just for the heck of it.
Whatever the reason I hope to motivate you to get out of your comfort zone, travel more, and pursue your passions.
There is adventure both in your own backyard and abroad that is waiting to be explored!
Fun Facts About Me
- Most of my family calls me Ness or Nessa
- I’m terrified of heights but when traveling, I am somehow able to overcome those fears. Most of the time…
- I am serious wine lover… I am a WSET 3 (wine nerd certification)! 🙂
- Adventure? Sign me up as I like to seek it out every chance I can!
- I feel more comfortable underwater than on land. It’s why I love scuba diving so much…
- I am a female solo traveler but my parents tag along from time to time…
My hope in creating Traveling Ness is to introduce and inspire all those in search of adventure and a budding love for travel. To show you how you can too!
Come join me, as my curiosity and wanderlust take over as I venture from one journey to another…
Please Stay Connected!
Let me know if you have any specific travel-related questions or travel tips you would like covered. I’ll always do my best to incorporate them in the future.
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Happy Travels,
Vanessa aka Traveling Ness