I have enjoyed traveling and writing since I was a child. But I didn’t merge the two until my first child, Christina, was born. Before being blessed as a mom, I worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News. I enjoyed it but after Christina was born, I knew I couldn’t work those long days and evenings because I wanted to be with her. I got a job writing for L.A. Parent magazine. I had two more children – Michael and Megan – and wrote on a variety of parenting topics. But writing about our family travels was my favorite. Still is.
I write for both print and online outlets, and enjoy exploring places near and far. I attribute my love of travel to my Bulgarian parents, Slatka and Stoitcho, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1957. My dad loved exploring his new country. Weekends were spent at the beach, parks, and driving along the coast to places like Hearst Castle, Moro Bay and San Francisco. Family vacations took place at various national parks, Lake Tahoe, Hawaii, and Europe (including Bulgaria). My dad was the family photographer until I got my own camera. I love photography and use a lot of my own images for my travel articles. I’m grateful to my parents for showing me the world and teaching me the value of learning about other customs, cultures and languages. My dad passed away April 16, 2011 and I will miss him forever. I have his camera, an old Leica, that I don’t use but will always cherish as an important part of him and my childhood.
Travel has been an important part of our lives and it will be interesting to see how it has influenced my kids.