The Short Story:
Hello out there and welcome to the Travel Makes Me Happy blog! My name is KJ, one of the founding voices of this team! I’ve discovered many things throughout my lifetime, but the joy of travel has been one of the most impactful discoveries. I am from one of the (in my opinion) best cities in the world, New Orleans, Louisiana. I have always been surrounded with great food, great music, and fun growing up and living here. There is always a festival, music, or food event to fill the weekends in New Orleans.
I am a relatively new “empty nester” who has rediscovered international travel and learned many things along the way and hope to share experiences with others. I never really stopped traveling, the focus and destinations have just shifted now that our sons are older and not “in the nest” anymore. Hopefully, by sharing experiences, planning tips, travel reviews, and destination information that we’ve gathered along in this travel journey it will help others in their own travel discoveries.
The Long Story: From New Orleans to Bali & Beyond
The long version of why travel is so important started when I was 16 years old and traveled internationally for the first time to Bali, Indonesia. That trip was transformative both in igniting a love for travel, but also in opening my eyes to everything the world has to offer and how similar we are no matter what our location is on this planet.
My background is in art and teaching and was an art teacher as well as working artist for many years while my family was young.
Teaching acrylic art classes circa 2000’s
Shifting vacation goals – Family Travel Adventures
After getting married and starting a family, focus shifted to family travel and raising our children. International travel was on a hold for a bit and travel revolved around theme parks, beaches, mountains, and other places that were in close proximity to traveling with younger kids. International travel was not an option at the time financially, really. It was still fun to travel, and I honed my planning skills for those trips. We also still love Disney, Universal, and any theme park!
Getting back to travel and new destinations
Once our kids got older and became young adults, travel shifted again to further destinations and experiences. When they went off to college, my husband and I became “empty nesters” and our travel focus shifted again. I took a sabbatical of sorts and spent the whole summer traveling abroad.
🎓 A Sociologist’s Take on Travel
I also decided to go back to college to work on my graduate degree at about the same time my sons entered college and earned my MA in Sociology at the same university (they both attended; my alma mater). That decision led to some tricky things to work around and I tried best not to embarrass them, but we even wound up taking a few classes together. My graduate coursework all focused on the sociology of travel. The sociological impacts that travel can have fascinated me; not just on the individual, but on the place visited, as well as the people who live in travel destinations. My thesis was even dedicated to sociological and business impacts travel influencers experienced during the pandemic. I also fulfilled my dream of becoming a college adjunct professor.
Why I Created This Blog: Self-discovery
Travel Makes Me Happy is more than a name; it’s a truth we live by. After years of teaching, creating, parenting, and traveling, I wanted to build something that helps others experience that same joy. The intersection of self-discovery and travel continues to inspire me.
This blog is now a team effort, combining real-world experience, destination insights, and practical planning advice. Whether you’re an empty nester, couple, solo traveler, or weekend warrior, we hope to inspire your next adventure.
If you take away anything from this website and our experiences, I hope it is how you really can find happiness in traveling. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
KJ
Travel Makes Me Happy blog
New Orleans, Louisiana
Keep up with KJ on Instagram for more travel inspiration
Travel Resources and Recent Posts:
- I decided to compile all of our favorite craft cocktail bars to visit in New Orleans that are not on the Bourbon St. corridor (well, one is).
- Life can be stressful, Discover your Beach Bliss on an amazing vacation with this guide!
- If you want a quick view of what it’s like during the best after-party in town (Jazzfest circa 2022) this short video of the street party in Mid City after Jazz Fest is part of why I love my hometown of New Orleans so much!
email: kj@travelmakesmehappy.com
Read More:
- 11 Best Hotels in New Orleans Trip Planning Guide
- Where to eat in Key West – 18 Restaurants you can’t miss
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