About Take Time for the Trip
Helping travelers balance iconic experiences with authentic moments—for journeys that are every bit as memorable as the destinations themselves.
Hi, I’m Char — a travel writer, storyteller, and passionate planner who believes that travel isn’t just about where you go, but how you experience it.
I’m a Michigan native, born and raised in Detroit, where I learned early that some of the best adventures start right in your own backyard.
Over the years, I built a long and rewarding career in leadership — serving as a COO and CFO in the education and media world — but no matter how busy life got, travel was always my reset button.
For a long time, I wasn’t fully there. I was planning, managing, and achieving — but not always present.
Then life slowed down for a while, and I found myself asking what truly matters.
The answer, for me, was simple: time.
That's when Take Time for the Trip was born—a reminder to me, and now to others, that the best trips don't ask us to choose between seeing the highlights and truly experiencing a destination.
The best trips make time for both.
"Travel is about seeing the places you've dreamed of—and discovering the moments you never expected to love."
TRAVEL BEYOND THE HIGHLIGHTS
The best trips balance the iconic places we've dreamed about with the unexpected moments that become our favorite memories.
It's seeing the Eiffel Tower...
... and lingering over dinner at a neighborhood cafe.
It's visiting Macinac Island...
...and watching the sunrise before the first ferry arrives.
It's checking a dream destination off your list...
...and taking time to truly experience it.
Take Time for the Trip is a reminder that the best journeys aren't defined by how much we fit into them, but by how fully we experience them.
It’s the moment you pause to watch a sunset, wander through a charming old street, or savor a cappuccino at a corner café in a new city.
It’s also sitting around a backyard BBQ or having a cozy movie night, laughing with the people you love — because sometimes, the most meaningful experiences begin closer to home than we realize.
Being present — that’s where the real magic happens.
Because in the end, the journeys we remember most are the ones we truly experience.
THE MEANING BEHIND
Take Time for the Trip
WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE
Curated destination inspiration for meaningful getaways, scenic escapes, and memorable adventures near or far.
Practical tips, tools, and guides to help you plan smarter and travel with intention.
Personal reflections, travel experiences, and the moments in between that often become our favorite memories.
MY MISSION
To inspire travelers—especially those juggling busy lives—to create trips that balance iconic experiences with authentic moments.
To remind people that meaningful travel doesn't require choosing between seeing the highlights and truly experiencing a destination.
It's about making time for both.
