I didn’t know it then, but my love for travel started with my dad.
He was always ready to explore—whether it was tagging along on business trips to Taiwan, Thailand, or Italy, or packing up the family for an off-the-grid adventure. Travel was never a luxury in our house—it was a priority. It was how we learned, how we connected, and how we saw the world through someone else’s eyes.
I remember one trip in Costa Rica when I was 16. We decided to drive from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific. No itinerary, just a map and a sense of curiosity. Along the way, monkeys stole our snacks, we got caught in insane jungle rainstorms, and—at one point—my dad got pulled over by a guy in a wrecker truck for talking on a cell phone. I still have no idea if he was a cop, but he definitely had a badge and a smile.
It was chaotic. Unpredictable. And completely unforgettable.
Looking back, the best travel memories always come from the moments that went sideways. Those are the stories you tell for years. The ones that bond you. The ones that shape how you move through the world.
So here’s to the dads who dragged us off the beaten path, whether we wanted to go or not. The ones who showed us that discomfort is part of the adventure. That culture is best experienced, not read about. That the best stories come from the moments you never planned.
Happy Father’s Day to the ones that showed us the world. We wouldn’t be who we are without you.
