Watching my daughter Kingsley explore the world is one of the most profound gifts of motherhood. To see her eyes wide open at a new sight, to hear her giggle as she tastes a food she’s never tried before, or to feel her little hands holding mine in awe as we stand in front of something vast and unknown. Hands, these are a kind of magic. It’s in these moments that I’m reminded of why I fell in love with traveling in the first place: the thrill of discovery, the joy of transcending the familiar. But traveling with her also reveals something deeper—no matter where we go, or how different we look, as a global family we have far more in common than we divide.
For me, exploration has always been about connection. Growing up in New York City with a mother who worked for TWA, I was exposed to the magic of travel at an early age. With free backup flights, my family flew all over the world—from Georgia to the Caribbean to Sarasota, Florida, where the real magic happens. There all us kids were dropped off at our grandparents’ house, while the adults were whisked away to some coveted destination. It’s the ultimate win-win: we get to hang out with our “cool grandparents” who have a pool, and they can drink Mai Tais in Hawaii without hearing the “Are we there yet?”
The airport is like a second home, and the world beyond the borders seems to be within reach and endless. But it wasn’t just the places we visited that impressed me; Travel shapes how we move through the world and how we learn to see people and places in a new light. Boarding isn’t just a way to get from one place to another, it’s how we bridge the gap between distance and connection.
This is a theme I explore in the show, Travel the worldwhich I shot with my family. How lucky am I to make this film with my partner Kolyn and our children? For Kolyn, travel is more than where we arrive; It’s about opening up a world of possibilities – possibilities that were once out of reach for him. Every trip is an opportunity to break free from the limitations of the past and embrace the endless horizons of the future.
Travel is not only about the good times, but also about the people we share the journey with. This idea of possibility and connection became even more meaningful after I lost my best friend Rebecca to small cell cervical cancer this past July.
Rebecca has always been my biggest cheerleader, even though Travel the world Just a scrappy little social media series. Whenever we get a new partner or sponsor, she’s the first one to applaud, cheer and hype me up like it’s a major TV deal. This has been a passion project of mine for over five years, and Rebecca has been there from the very beginning—when I edited the episodes myself on a MacBook Pro in 2019. First pitch meeting.
In the last weeks of her life, Rebecca became quieter. Understandably, as the cancer spreads, so does the pain. I made New York my home for the summer, spending time with her and going to the hospital with her mom and sister when I could. Something deep inside me keeps telling me: just spend time with her. So I did it.
Cancer is a relentless disease – it breaks my heart to watch my energetic, adventurous friend’s body betray her and drain her of her full energy. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
That’s why I’ll never forget her reaction when I told her this Travel the world Already included in INSIGHT TV. She smiled with all her strength – posing for pictures – then shouted through tears, “Are you kidding me? This is incredible, man!” She hugged me tight and told me not to wait any longer before celebrating. Dotted line and final signature “Scream from the rooftops,” she said. At that moment, I let go of the anxiety I had been feeling. Her pride was more important than any contract.
A week later, she was gone. I’m so grateful I shared this news because I would have been devastated if I had dedicated this series to her and she had no idea.
After Rebecca passed away, Colin and I threw ourselves into the final stages of production. We spent the rest of the summer in a blur of edits, music cue sheets, graphics, and deliverables—bringing everything online while still grieving deeply. Every finished episode feels like a way to keep Rebecca with me. I revisited in my mind the places we dreamed of visiting and relived the moments we shared. Every breathtaking landscape carries her spirit. Traveling became my way of keeping her and continuing the adventures we started so long ago. Traveling became my way of honoring her life and keeping our shared love of adventure alive. Through Kingsley’s innocent eyes, I saw that the world was still full of possibility, even in the face of loss.
Traveling has changed the way I approach motherhood. I hope Kensley grows up knowing that the world is big, diverse, and full of stories waiting to be discovered. But more importantly, I want her to know that the experiences we create with the people we love—whether they are physically present with us or just with us in spirit—are the experiences that define us.
Lindsay Granger is an experienced journalist and TEDx speaker. With nearly two decades of experience, she interviews fashion leaders and reports on stories from around the world, most recently guest-hosting The View. She hosts a new global travel series called “World of Travel” on DIRECTV, Samsung TV Plus and ROKU in the US, which also airs in 56 countries around the world. Lindsey is a staff writer for NewsNation. She writes for Bustle and brings a fresh perspective on motherhood to Romper.
