Tour Operators and travel companies I've served include Trafalgar and Insight Vacations as a Destination America core tour director, Vacations by Rail, Southwestern Travel, EF Explore America, Grand Classroom, EDT, and Al Brooks Rose Bowl Tours.
In 2024, I led tours in the following destinations:
California: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Mammoth Lakes, Sonoma wine region, Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Sacramento, San Jose, Monterey, Carmel, Salinas, Eureka
New York: NYC, Focusing on Broadway & the arts
Nevada: Lake Tahoe & Las Vegas
Washington: Mt. Rainier, Seattle, Amtrak COAST STARLIGHT to Portland
Oregon: Portland and Eugene via Amtrak COAST STARLIGHT
Arizona: Grand Canyon, Sedona, Scottsdale, Lake Powell
Utah: Monument Valley
Destination Knowledge:
Western U.S.: CA, WA, OR, AZ, NV, CO, Continental AK, MT, UT, NM, ID, HI, WY
NYC-licensed Sightseeing Guide & D.C.-licensed Guide
National parks: Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mt. Rainier, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Monument Valley, Denali, Glacier, Yellowstone, Rocky Mtn.
California resident (20 yrs)
Pacific Northwest native (I grew up near Seattle)
Germany: Studied in Bonn for 2 semesters
USVI: Former St. Thomas resident
Portugal
Japan
NYC
Outer Banks, N.C.
Areas of expertise: Entertainment industry history & technology, Wine Industry, Astronomy
—I first led tours on a 5-star Caribbean shore excursion boat right out of college. Today I lead multi-day adult and student tours across the U.S., Europe, and Japan. When I'm not on the road, I work as a step-on guide in L.A. County. Tour groups love my behind-the-scenes celebrity and entertainment industry stories from my years of working in TV and film, and I love showing them what makes L.A. unique! Also, thanks to my experience performing standup comedy for a number of non-English-speaking audiences, training as an interpersonal communication coach, and decades of global travel, I'm able to comfortably provide guided sightseeing tours for foreign-language groups.
As a Step-on guide, I've designed and delivered county-wide L.A. history and showbiz-themed tours, as well as Beverly Hills & Hollywood tours for several tour groups from India with limited English-language vocabulary. I've learned that warmth, humor, non-verbal communication (and a good translation app) can transcend language barriers. My most recent Indian tour group had so much fun, every single person asked me to pose for pictures with them! Positive energy is contagious, and my groups always have fun, despite any differences in language, culture, or age.
Volunteer tour work:
1. As a volunteer adaptive ski and snowboard instructor with Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, I teach snowsports to kids, teens, and adults with physical and cognitive challenges and safely escort them across the slopes of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort.
2. I helped raise $200k+ for charity volunteering as Sandpipers' Holiday Homes Tour staffing chairwoman, training volunteer tour guides and coordinating more than 300 volunteer shifts. (Founded in 1931, Sandpipers is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit women's club dedicated to serving the needs of the South Bay community through charitable and philanthropic programs.)
