Michelle first caught the travel bug while studying abroad in Australia. What was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime became the start of a lifetime of adventures! With her early travels on a backpacker/hostel budget, her fundamental travel philosophy is still that the less you spend, the more you can travel. Based in the Washington, DC area, she has been to 45 states, 30+ national parks, 50+ countries, and 6 continents, traveling solo, on girls' trips, as a couple, and as a family. She also leverages her national park expertise to provide custom trip planning services at www.nationalparkescapes.com.