HIKE.EXPLORE.REPEAT.

About Me

I’m Allison, and I grew up in the rural mountains of Western North Carolina. With Pisgah National Forest quite literally in my backyard, I was spoiled by an endless natural playground of forests, waterfalls, and mountain trails. My parents instilled in me a love of nature, travel, and adventure from an early age, and that wanderlust has only grown stronger over the years.

These days, you’ll usually find me on a trail several times a week or planning my next adventure. No matter where I travel, hiking is always on the itinerary. While I’m happiest surrounded by mountains and wilderness, I’m equally fascinated by the world’s great historic and architectural wonders. Standing in places built thousands of years ago leaves me in awe—not only of their beauty, but of the mysteries that still surround how they were created.

Professionally, I’ve spent the past 15 years building two businesses: WNC Weddings & Events and Skillful Solutions. Alongside my entrepreneurial life, I’m also a volunteer firefighter, search and rescue responder, and Deputy Fire Chief. Service to my community has become just as much a part of who I am as exploring new places.

For many years, I was a single mom, and my son, Parker, became one of my favorite adventure partners. Today he’s pursuing a Master of Engineering Management degree in Raleigh, North Carolina, but whenever he’s home, you’ll often find us back on the trails or volunteering together in the fire and rescue service where he grew up and eventually joined the ranks himself.

About ten years ago, I met my partner, Ian, who quickly became my favorite person to explore the world with. Whether we’re hiking a remote mountain trail, wandering through ancient ruins, or discovering a new corner of the globe, we share a love of meaningful adventures.

Many of my hikes are solo, but I’m rarely alone. My faithful trail companion is Vader, a Shepherd–Blue Heeler rescue with endless enthusiasm for the outdoors. 

I believe the best journeys don’t have to be the longest or the most expensive—they simply need to leave you inspired. My hope is that this blog encourages you to lace up your hiking boots, book that trip you’ve been dreaming about, and discover a little more of this incredible world.

Thanks for following along on the adventure! If you have a favorite trail, destination, or hidden gem that belongs on my radar, I’d love to hear about it.