About Us
Hi, we're Scott & Melissa
Two empty nesters who decided not to wait for someday. We share honest travel stories, real costs and the tips we've picked up along the way, so you can travel more, and travel better, now.
Our Story
Two Very Different kinds of Travelers
We've always loved to travel, just in very different ways. Here's the short version.
The one who flew first class
Scott
Scott grew up flying. His mom worked for Delta reservations, so family trips went wherever they could get first-class seats (Disneyland more than once, since Hawaii never had a nonstop from Atlanta). He spent 25+ years in cybersecurity, worked all over the world, and retired in 2026. His favorites: an African safari, with Barcelona a close second.
The one who camped
Melissa
I grew up camping. My parents were teachers, so summers meant state and national parks up and down the East Coast, and no trip was ever long enough. I'm an engineer turned math teacher turned serial entrepreneur, from home staging to travel. My favorites: safari, London (I know the Tube better than the New York subway) and Greece (three trips and counting).
Our Timeline
How We got Here
2019
Six weeks in Europe, our first taste of slow travel.
2023
We started the Sunshine Travelers Podcast before trips to the Galápagos, Slovakia and London, so our kids and grandkids would have our stories in our own voices.
2024
Africa from top to bottom: Cairo, our first safari in Kenya, and Cape Town. Then we opened our travel agency, because you kept saying, "this is great, but can you just book it for me?"
2025
A 21-day cruise from Tasmania to Singapore.
2026
Our first group trip took us to Antarctica, our seventh continent. Then Scott retired, and we took a three-month retirement trip through London, Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Kenya and Zanzibar, then sold the house and moved into our RV full-time.
Our first group trip · Antarctica · March 2026
The Honest Part
Who We Are not
We're not luxury travelers (although Scott does love first class), and we're not budget travelers (hostels are a hard pass). We use every points and rewards trick we know, then spend on the once-in-a-lifetime stuff.
And we'll always tell you the truth. If a place was overhyped, overcrowded or a letdown, you'll hear it from us. We're not AI, and we're not chasing clicks.
Right Now
What We're Up To now
In October 2026 we sold the house, packed our life into 400 square feet and hit the road full-time. Here's what that looks like.
Life on the road
Life in 400 Square Feet
We're traveling full-time in our Brinkley 5th wheel toy hauler with our doodles, Lottie and Rupert, finding hidden gems across the US and Canada.
Listen
Podcast Season 2
Season 2 of the Sunshine Travelers Podcast follows this new chapter, plus the destinations along the way.
LISTEN NOW
Watch
The Real Cost
On YouTube we break down what this life actually costs, month by month, compared to our old house budget.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Book with us
Planning Trips for You
Our travel agency plans everything from custom itineraries to cruises, safaris and all-inclusives, and our advisor team keeps growing.
PLAN A TRIP WITH US
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Ways to Work With Us
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The Sunshine Travelers podcast
Real travel stories, honest tips and bucket-list inspiration, 190+ episodes and counting. We share where to go, how to plan and afford it, what to pack, and what we'd do differently next time.
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