I’ve been traveling solo for over 15 years. When people hear that, the reaction is usually some version of “you’re so brave.” It never feels that way to me. It feels like freedom. It feels like this is just who I am. I’m originally from Washington State, Native American, and have been living abroad since 2011 — across four countries, currently on home number four. I move slowly, I travel alone, and I write from direct experience.
I didn’t know it had a name until recently. I just knew it was how I traveled when left to myself — following a gut feeling over an itinerary, staying longer than planned, taking an extra week at the seaside because I needed to. Rick Steves once said to travel like you’ll be back. That frame of mind sits just right with me.
When I research a destination I look for cafés, bookstores, food, live music, and places where I can sit still for a while. I’m not uncomfortable being somewhere alone — I love it. A good café with the right atmosphere, somewhere to sit and think, watch people go by. Photography is how I slow down and pay attention.
Some of what I’ve photographed along the way is available as prints — browse the shop if something catches your eye.
Native Odyssey exists for travelers who wander the same way — slowly, independently, and with curiosity. You’ll find city guides, food + drink discoveries, photo stories, and honest travel advice written from direct experience. Not highlights. Not checklists. Places I’ve actually lived in, returned to, and know well.
There are those of us who love traveling, quietly and free. If that’s you, you’re in the right place.