My XO Adventures Journey

My XO Adventures began in Sarasota, Florida, in 2018, but the roots of my story go back much further. Travel had always been part of my life, though not in the way most people imagine. For years, I worked for a large tour operator, managing groups of travelers and navigating the complexities of moving people around the world. At first, it was exciting. I learned the ins and outs of itineraries, logistics, and customer care. More importantly, I learned the value of trust, honesty, and relationships when it came to creating experiences that stayed with people long after they returned home.

As time went on, I realized what I enjoyed most wasn’t just the travel itself but the personal connections that could be made along the way. I wanted to spend more time listening to people, understanding what they hoped to experience, and helping them feel cared for from start to finish. I began to picture a more boutique approach to travel, one that prioritized authenticity, connection, and adventure.

That vision grew into a philosophy of being upfront with guests, following through on the details, and creating space for genuine human connection. Those simple values built trust, and that trust built lasting relationships. It wasn’t just good business. It was the beginning of something new.

The turning point came after I left the corporate world. For a short time, I worked as an administrator for Harvest Sarasota, handling social events and refining organizational skills that would later become invaluable. In time, I moved on to pursue something different—an idea that had been forming quietly inside me for years.

In August of 2018, I launched My XO Adventures. At the start, it was small, simple, and rooted in the things I cared most about: trust, quality, and personalization. I began with local tours, learning as I went, and quickly built a reputation for offering something different. The experiences were smaller, more personal, and more immersive. If I didn’t love a destination, I wouldn’t sell it. That became my mantra. Over time, those tours expanded internationally to Cuba, Peru, Ecuador, South Africa, and across several U.S. National Parks. I wasn’t just selling trips; I was creating journeys that meant something.

Then, March of 2020 arrived. I was in Cuba, leading a tour group, when the world changed. The pandemic hit, borders closed, and suddenly, everything I had worked for seemed to vanish overnight. I had to make decisions quickly. Should I wait it out and hope for the best, or take a leap into the unknown? I chose the leap.

I stripped my life down to the essentials and transformed my van for the journey ahead. What might have looked like desperation from the outside felt like liberation on the inside. With the country shutting down, I hit the road. Over the course of months, I crisscrossed 38 states, living with less but experiencing more. Every mile became part of my education. Every night under the stars reminded me why I loved this work. Travel isn’t about ticking destinations off a list; it’s about rediscovering yourself in the process.

The journey eventually led me to South Dakota. I had never been here before, and I had no idea what to expect. But when I arrived in the Badlands, something inside me shifted. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve stood there yourself, looking out over that rugged landscape. The land is raw, almost otherworldly, carved into sharp ridges and deep gullies by forces that feel timeless. It struck me as both harsh and welcoming, as though it were daring me to understand it.

My first night in South Dakota was at Sage Creek Campground in Badlands National Park. I pulled in with the van and found myself surrounded by a silence I hadn’t experienced in years. The campground was primitive, open, and wild, which suited me perfectly. As the sun went down, the sky stretched endlessly in shades of gold, orange, and purple, before fading into a dome of stars so vivid it felt like they were pressing down toward me.

I remember hearing the sound of bison moving in the distance, their presence both comforting and humbling. Prairie dogs chirped nearby, vanishing into the earth like tiny keepers of the land. Coyotes sang later in the night, their calls echoing across the wide-open prairie. I sat there, wrapped in a blanket, looking out at the surreal formations of the Badlands silhouetted by moonlight, and I knew this was a night I would carry with me forever.

That night was a turning point. It wasn’t only about discovering a new place. It was about experiencing something that would stay with me. I didn’t know what the future held, but I felt certain that South Dakota had something to teach me.

When I decided to spend more time here, I brought the same determination and resourcefulness that had carried me across the country. I began building connections—with tour operators, tourism boards, and small businesses—while learning the landscape, the history, and the culture. Each step forward was the result of persistence, patience, and the belief that meaningful travel experiences could be created here. South Dakota is a place where stories run deep, where history is layered in the land, and where people still value the things that matter most.

Building My XO Adventures here has not been without challenges. Every small business owner knows what it feels like to face setbacks and uncertainty. But each obstacle became an opportunity to create something better. From offering private tours of Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Spearfish Canyon, and Devils Tower, to expanding into hidden corners of the Black Hills, every new experience grew out of listening to what guests wanted and what the land itself seemed to offer.

What sets My XO Adventures apart isn’t just the destinations. It’s the philosophy behind them. Travel, to me, isn’t about rushing through a checklist of attractions. It’s about slowing down, listening, and connecting. Guests often arrive expecting to see something beautiful, but they leave with something deeper—a sense of belonging, a story to carry home, and sometimes even a shift in how they see the world.

The values I built this business on remain at the heart of everything I do: trust, honesty, inclusivity, and respect. I’ve seen firsthand how travel can heal, how it can connect people across cultures, and how it can bring light even in difficult times. My experiences in Ecuador, immersing myself in Indigenous communities, and my time here learning the stories of the Lakota and other people of the Great Plains, have shown me that the journey is as important as the destination.

Looking back, I can see how every step prepared me for this. The corporate job gave me skills and perspective. Sarasota gave me the foundation to launch something new. The pandemic forced me to be bold. And the Badlands, with its silence and starlight, gave me a moment I will never forget.

Today, My XO Adventures is proud to be part of the Black Hills and Badlands region. We’ve grown from a one-person operation into a trusted, family-run business, but the heart of it hasn’t changed. Each guest who joins us is welcomed not as a customer but as part of the story. When people travel with us, they’re not just visiting a place; they’re experiencing its spirit.

As I write this for the Custer Chamber, I think about that first night again at Sage Creek Campground. I think about the stars, the bison, and the quiet realization that life can change in ways you never expect. It reminds me that no matter how unpredictable things become, there is always a way forward when you follow what you love.

We’re more than a business. It’s a reflection of a belief that obstacles can turn into opportunities, that honesty matters, and that the best journeys are the ones that change us. I’m grateful for every person on my team, and I look forward to welcoming many more into this extraordinary corner of the world.

If you’re drawn to the natural wonders of South Dakota, to landscapes that inspire awe and invite reflection, or simply the chance to reconnect with yourself and the land, I invite you to join me. The road that brought me here has been anything but ordinary, and the adventures that await are every bit as unusual and amazing.