About Christine’s Travel Gems

Welcome to Travel Gems! I’m Christine and travel is more than just a passion for me; it’s an obsession.

The first time I left the US was back in 2009. I was in a college choir that toured internationally every other year. That particular summer, we went to New Zealand and Australia (sooooo, technically it was winter there. But, let’s not get too bogged down in the specifics here. 😛 ). It was incredible and from that moment, I knew that I was destined to travel.

After college, I finally had the opportunity to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams: serving as a missionary overseas in Tanzania. And, for 1 1/2 years, I taught English as a second language at a local school. One of the best parts of that experience was that I really got to immerse myself in the culture. I was living, breathing, and interacting with locals on a daily basis and it completely transformed my world view. And, it changed my thoughts on travel: I don’t just want to see a place, I want to immerse myself in it.

In 2018, my husband and I moved to Germany. Together, we have discovered a whole new world of adventure through travel in Europe. When I plan our trips, I am always looking for “What makes this location unique?” “What can we see or do in this location that we can’t see or do anywhere else in the world?” I don’t want to just go to a place, I want to experience all it has to offer. I want to leave knowing more than when I first arrived. My goal is to share this passion with you and inspire you to make the most out of your your travel experiences!

The Story Behind the Blog

I love to travel. I love to talk about travel. And, I want to travel as much as I can. Over the years, as I have talked about my trips with friends, family, and acquaintances, I kept getting the same questions. “Wow! How did you find out about that place or that experience?” “Can you send me the information for that?” “Where did you find such a cheap place to stay?” Etc. And, of course I was happy to send them all of the information individually.

But, then I thought “wouldn’t it just be easier if I put all of it in one place?” That way, all of my friends and family could have access to it whenever they want. And, not only that, but maybe (just maybe) my experiences and knowledge could benefit people I don’t even know?

From there, Christine’s Travel Gems was born. My ultimate desire is to create the resource I wish I could have had when I first started traveling on my own. This blog is designed for curious and adventurous people who want to travel, but are not always sure where to begin. It is place to find things that are not necessarily on the beaten path. It is a place to discover hidden gems and magical places all over the world.

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