The Niece Project

In 2012, I finally launched a project that had been quietly growing in my heart for years.
But before I tell you about it, let me rewind a bit and start with something you don’t often hear:

“I don’t want to have kids.”

For some, that statement feels like a deep breath of truth. For others, it might hit a little uncomfortably. And that’s okay — I’m used to standing a little apart from the crowd. Choosing not to have children doesn’t mean I don’t love them.
In fact, I adore kids — especially my six incredible nieces. I worry about them, cheer them on, and love watching them find their way in the world.

When Toys and Trinkets Weren’t Enough

Years ago, standing in the crowded aisles of Toys R Us, it hit me: they didn’t need more stuff.
They had plenty of gadgets, games, and clothes. What could I possibly give them that wouldn’t just end up forgotten in a closet?
That’s when the idea struck me…

Forget the presents. Give them experiences instead.
I decided I wouldn’t buy another birthday or holiday gift. Instead, I would give them something far more lasting — the gift of travel, of discovery, of seeing the world for themselves. Thus, the Niece Project was born.

The Big Travel Promise

I made each of them a deal: when they turned 16, I would take them anywhere in the world they wanted to go.
No limits, no holding back — just the wide world and a plane ticket with their name on it.
At first, I thought I was simply giving them what I had never had at their age — a passport, an international adventure, and a glimpse beyond the horizon they knew.
I wanted to be what I had once needed most: a travel mentor.

However, the Niece Project turned into something much bigger than I had imagined. Instead of just one magical week of travel, we created months — even years — of excitement, learning, dreaming and planning. Every family event became a lively brainstorming session. “Where would you go?” turned into fierce (and hilarious) competition. Japan! Rwanda! Iceland! India!
We spun globes, flipped through my travel photos, and dreamed out loud.
It wasn’t just about choosing a destination. It was about choosing their own path, about imagining a life bigger than the one right in front of them.

Even though I promised them a week of travel, it turned into months and years of anticipation, enjoyment, and learning.

My simple hope was to spark their wanderlust — to plant the seed that the world is vast and waiting for them.
Maybe it will lead them to study abroad, backpack across continents, live as expats, or simply view life with a broader, more curious lens.
I wanted to leave them with something no toy or trendy outfit ever could:
A sense of ownership over their own dreams.

What I didn’t see coming…

Here’s the thing: I thought this project was all about helping them grow.
But it turns out, it helped me grow too.

The Niece Project forced me to relate to a younger generation, wrestle with my own aging (and all the emotions that come with it), and revisit the life choices I made years ago — without regret, but with new understanding.

In the end, it wasn’t just a trip for them.
It was a journey for all of us.

Read about each niece’s travel decision below

Bethany

Bethany chose Italy because she had never been to Europe before and she loves, and I mean LOVES, pasta. We spent 4 days in Rome touring around the Vatican, the Coliseum, my favorite neighborhoods, and taking food tours. Then we headed to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast to find the best pizza in Naples, and tour Pompeii.

Read about our Italy trip →

Evie

This was Evie’s first time leaving the country! Evie really wanted to go somewhere with great food. She had it narrowed down between Vietnam, Mongolia, and Myanmar, and Vietnam won! We traveled from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta with Intrepid Travel, eating and motorbiking our way through the country!

Read about our Vietnam adventures →

Megan

Megan knew that she wanted to go somewhere in South America since she had never been there before. She decided on Peru for the hiking and seeing Machu Picchu! We traveled with Intrepid Travel, hiking the high altitude Andes, experiencing Machu Picchu as well as the Amazon jungle! We also spent a week volunteering at an orphanage on the outskirts of Lima!

Read about our Peru travels →

Allie

Allie knew more about where she didn’t want to go than where she did want to go! She didn’t want a super long flight, she wanted it to be beachy, she only wanted to go for a week, and she could only go in July. We landed on Belize! This excited me because it was the first NP destination that I hadn’t been to previously! Adventure Life organized our trip, and we did jungle, beach, and tackled so many ‘firsts’ for Allie, including her first time in the ocean!

Read about our Belize adventures →

Lindsey

Lindsey always knew that she wanted to go to New Zealand. Since we were headed to the southern hemisphere, we went during her Christmas break in December. We explored the North and a little bit of the South Island with Intrepid Travel. We went caving, jetboating, hiking, kayaking, and spent Christmas together! And of course, no trip to New Zealand would be complete without trying your first ever bungee jump, which terrified me.

Read about our New Zealand trip →

Erin

Erin was a first-time international traveler, but she knew that she wanted to “go somewhere different, see a lot of different things, and meet locals”. She had her eye on India…yes…India. This choice made even me a bit nervous – India is the travel big leagues and I wasn’t sure how Erin, the rookie, would deal with it. We traveled with Intrepid Travel to explore Rajasthan for 2 weeks, where Erin was introduced to an entirely new world, and there was never a dull moment.

Read about our India travels →