Meet Lauren
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Adventure Awaits
Hi, I'm Lauren—Welcome to The Scenic Passport!
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I'm always chasing the next scenic route.
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Photography fuels my travels-I love capturing landscapes that make you stop and stare.
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Former competitive ski racer-still chasing powder days for fun.
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Dreaming of building a cozy, ski-chalet-inspired van for future adventures.
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Dreaming of building a cozy, ski-chalet-inspired van for future adventures.
Adventure Awaits
Schussing Around the Globe
My love for exploration first took shape on the ski slopes. At two years old, I clipped into my first pair of skis, and it wasn’t long before my entire life revolved around it. At just 12 years old, I made the life-changing decision to leave my hometown, friends, and family to pursue my ski racing dreams. I trained year-round, traveled across North America, Europe, and South America, and spent every waking moment working toward one goal: becoming the best athlete I could be.
Ski racing took me to incredible places. I was waking up to snow-capped peaks, training beneath endless alpine skies, and navigating winding roads through mountain passes. But every trip was structured, every day accounted for. My life was planned down to the hour, with little room for detours.
I loved it all—even with the pressure, the setbacks, the constant pursuit of perfection. The rush of competition, the thrill of shaving fractions of a second off my time, the satisfaction of pushing my limits was exhilarating. Skiing wasn’t just a sport; it was my passion, my purpose, my entire world. Every turn, every race, every mountain shaped who I was.
Competing in college only deepened that love. It gave me some of the most fun years I’d had since I first started racing—years filled with strong friendships, unforgettable moments on the mountain, and the pure joy of the sport. But what I had known was coming for the past several years—something that once felt so distant—sneaked up on me. Graduating from college also meant retiring from ski racing.
What had been my identity, my greatest love, my everything—what I had been working toward for as long as I could remember—was suddenly gone. It left a void I didn’t know how to fill. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t working toward the next race, the next competition, the next goal. I wasn’t sure who I was without it.
Adventure Awaits
Getting Lost to Find Myself
In summer 2023, before starting a job in financial services, I made a last-minute decision that would change everything—saying yes to a National Parks road trip. I didn’t have much of a plan, just a car, navigation, the desire to go somewhere—and good company. But while the decision was spontaneous, my approach was anything but. Within hours, I had the entire trip mapped out.
Somewhere along the way—standing beneath jagged peaks, hiking through dense forests, watching the sun set over deep canyons—I felt something I hadn’t felt in years. That deep-rooted excitement. That spark of possibility. I picked up a camera, started capturing the landscapes around me, and something clicked. For the first time, I wasn’t traveling on someone else’s schedule. I wasn’t constrained by competition, training, or expectations. I was exploring purely for the sake of it.
That trip didn’t just remind me why I loved to explore—it redefined what adventure meant to me.
While ski racing introduced me to traveling for competition, it was my semester abroad that showed me the joy of traveling for the experience itself. During my time in Spain, I spent six months hopping between cities, learning how to navigate new cultures, and embracing the thrill of figuring things out as I went. It was the first time I was traveling not because I had to, but because I wanted to.
After experiencing structured, goal-oriented travel through ski racing, cultural exploration while studying abroad, and the spontaneity of road tripping, I learned something fundamental about travel. It wasn’t about chasing results; it was about embracing the unknown.
What started as a way to document my travels turned into my biggest passion, one I’m now sharing with you.
Faq
Frequently Asked Question
Questions about traveling across the United States
Spring and fall offer mild weather and fewer crowds. Summer brings warmth but draws travelers everywhere. Winter works for southern regions and ski country.
PLACEHOLDER
