Hi, I’m Tat!
and This is Tat Voyage
Tat Voyage is a community of like-minded courageous adventurers, that encourages the exploration of all cultures, appreciation for earth’s beauty, and genuine human connection through travel, photography, and storytelling.
But before Tat Voyage manifested, I was a dreamer who never left the small bubble of North Eastern Pennsylvania (NEPA). I know all too well the desire to travel and the need to experience earth’s beauty, but not being able to. My ambitions to travel the world grew as I did.
Before all explorers embark on their journey, there can be an exhausting amount of questions about how to begin. No matter your level of experience traveling, my purpose is to answer the who, what, where, when, and most importantly, the how much. Tat Voyage will guide you through your travel journey and plan an adventure of a lifetime with your budget in mind.
Dreams Became Plans
Throughout high school, I used to think people who traveled had a lot of money, so I needed a lot of money to travel. That’s far from the truth, and I wish someone let me in on that secret a long time ago. But despite that, I learned the importance of saving and planning ahead. Little did I know, the universe was preparing me in these little ways for a lifetime of adventure.
In my senior year of highschool, I made the decision to escape my Pennsylvania bubble and attend college. I was accepted to attend Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) for Advertising Photography. It had the best photography program and its proximity to the Canadian border, sweetened the deal. With adventure humming at my fingertips, I went through the process of getting my passport before arriving at my new home in Rochester, New York. Passport and camera in hand I was prepared to start my new journey.
Growing my travel savings and obtaining my passport were only a few of the steps I took to prepare for my first voyage. I was eager to get out and explore, but my lack of experience traveling left me anxious to try it alone. Not only was I anxious but as a young woman I was always warned specifically not to travel alone. Sometimes I think back and I get mad at myself because I listened to those people. They. Were. Wrong.
After arriving at RIT it was still a couple of years before I took my first adventure. Not until the universe sent me Adam. I attended RIT to escape my bubble and to immerse myself in photography, creative writing, and French. Meeting Adam was icing on the cake. He became my partner and travel buddy, someone I could trust and was as passionate about travel as me. Having him by my side helped me take the next step.
Plans Became Adventures
Finally! I was on the move. We traveled to Toronto, Canada for our first Valentine’s Day together. This trip was the first snowball in an avalanche of adventures. We spent the romantic weekend cozied up in a penthouse suite 40 floors up. That is, when we weren’t roaming the streets, visiting the sites, or getting a bite to eat. I will always remember that Valentine’s Day weekend sprinkled with quiet moments gazing out the window. Outside the snow was falling and let me tell you, these were the fattest snowflakes I had ever seen in my life!
Now, I’ve seen snowflakes before. I grew up in NEPA, remember? But being 40 floors up changes your perspective on the world and how things exist outside of your bubble. This was my first experience stepping out into the unknown and discovering a different point of view. I was no longer the small-town dreamer. I was living my dream!
Needless to say, we went back! That summer we had a road trip stopping to visit Acadia National Park. My first national park experience developed my love for hiking and opened my eyes to the beauty and healing power of nature. From there, we traveled to Canada to Quebec and Montreal. I was met with many Canadians speaking french, engulfing me in their cultural difference. Talk about culture shock! But after all those years taking classes in high school and college, I finally had the opportunity to try out my French. I wasn’t great, but I felt like a moment had come that I was preparing for for years.
I’ve learned a lot about travel, myself, and the Universe on my voyage to discover what’s out there. But it’s the magical moments I’ve experienced while traveling that make me want to be a resource for others. The first time I was in awe of the earth, the moment I felt so tiny and insignificant in the vast beauty of this world, Adam and I were at Joshua Tree National Park at Keys View. Literally looking past the Salton Sea to Mexico in the distance, I stood there taking one deep breath after the next and felt exhilaratingly insignificant and at peace. There is so much more to this life than our daily routines.
From a humbling experience at Joshua Tree National Park, to striking up conversations with random people on the train in London. From group trips hunting the Northern Lights in Iceland, to a romantic summer, spent sleeping in my converted SUV and road tripping across Western America. These experiences changed me, and I want others to seize the magic of this world too.
ADVENTURES CHANGING LIVES
After taking many trips with Adam, I had a stockpile of photos and videos that I wanted to share with the world. So, I started a blog to share my experiences. I wanted people to feel inspired by my story, encouraged to travel, and experience the joys of human connections across cultures. After putting together my passion for writing, photography, and video editing to create my blogs, I realized this was more than a hobby. I wanted to evolve my passion and continue to do work like this full time.
Month’s later during quarantine, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, holed up in our downtown Rochester apartment, my blog transformed into Tat Voyage.
Tat Voyage rose from my excitement to encourage others to explore the beauty of the world. I want to plan your next adventure of a lifetime. I can find you the best prices on flights or teach you budget tips and tricks. You can join me on group trips and much more! But Tat Voyage is more than a business, it’s also a community where like-minded travelers share their experiences. Where they tell tales of those tiny isolated moments that make traveling magical.
Come along and share yours with me! Tell me your travel dreams, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back. I have years of experience traveling to some of the most beautiful places like Canada, France, and Iceland, and capturing the beauty of the world. I want to help you capture the magic for yourself.