Author & World Traveler
Hi, I’m Sandy (YoungAtHeartTraveler) I live in Kelowna, BC Canada. I started traveling a bit later in life, but I have been making up for lost time.
Like many people I had some humble beginnings with many years filled with tears and struggles. As a single parent raising three daughters, the thought of traveling the world was not something I had the opportunity to do earlier in life.
When my youngest decided to venture out on her own, I knew I had to do something or I would end up wallowing in loneliness.
Kelowna and the surrounding area is beautiful with it’s lakes, mountains, orchards and vineyards.
However, Kelowna is a small city. There are no trains that travel through here, we only have city buses, no metro and only one long distance bus to Vancouver. So, when I decided I wanted to go to Europe for the first time, I was a bit apprehensive about going into big cities where I would be using metros and long-distance trains to get from place to place.
Sure, I could have just bought a tour package, but as a solo traveler the additional single supplement was an extra expense that I didn’t have the budget for.
Besides there were things I wanted to see and places I wanted to go that were not included in any tour package.
Thanks to an on-line website which unfortunately no longer exists, I was encouraged to travel alone, ride trains and stay in hostels.
After much consideration and planning, I put everything in storage and ended up traveling for 5 months.
Since then, I have been traveling other parts of the world as often as I can. You can follow my travels on my Facebook page “Young At Heart Traveler“ Or check my blog posts and Travel Tips.
Before my first big trip to Europe, I had never been overseas before and I hadn’t been on a plane for 20 years.
I believe traveling was the medicine I needed at the time. Being in a totally foreign environment, removed from all my regular daily activities, worries and problems—I was transformed.
When I returned from that five-month journey, I had renewed confidence and motivation to tackle life’s challenges once again.
My life wasn't always a grand travel adventure!
Years prior, I had started writing my first book, and after my return from Europe I was able to finish the book, Hidden Tears to Healing, by Penny B Price. I used a pen name because I still wasn’t ready to own my story.
My autobiographical memoir is intended to inspire hope and provide helpful information for those who are struggling with depression, despair, feelings of unworthiness and other overwhelming emotions.
It was after a few more long travel journeys, I completed Trains, Buses, Hostels & Home Stays. This book is intended to help others realize that they can travel solo, not feel lonely and do it on a limited budget.
I believe travel benefits our well-being, our self-confidence and it reduces our fears about others. The world is full of amazing and beautiful places so why not get out there and explore it.
If you have a travel dream, but you are not sure how to fulfill it. I hope my books will guide you to a better life and your own unique journeys.