I am the Toad on the Road. But, why? Why ‘Toad’? Well, my sister has called me Toad for as long as I can remember – though I can’t remember why. I do know that she’ll probably tell you some story about something I was doing to her when this moniker was coined. It may even be true… But whatever the genesis was, I accepted this nickname long ago and it’s now used between us with affection. When I first started posting pictures from my travels on Instagram (for family and friends only), ‘The Toad on the Road’ seemed like a perfect name.
My real name is Jen, and I live in California. I have a typical five-day a week job and use my available resources to travel. Whenever possible, I get on an airplane to somewhere. Like so many others, I make it work.
I am also lucky enough to have family and friends who share this passion. Depending upon where I want to go, I have people who are willing and able to come with me. I usually start this conversation with “have you ever thought about going to…” I can do this with great enthusiasm, and they inevitably say yes to the trip. However, if this ever changes, I will embrace solo travel.
I can’t remember a time in my life without travel. When my sister and I were little, our parents took us with them when traveling. We went to Disneyland, Florida, Washington DC, Kentucky, Hawaii, and Mexico. We became good little travelers. I have wonderful silly memories of these trips – like the time my drink had to be poured over my sister’s tongue because it got stuck to a popsicle. Or, when I thought Cocoa Beach in Florida would be made of actual cocoa – imagine my disappointment to find sand instead. I can remember hula dancing in Hawaii, belly dancing at Epcot, and learning Spanish in Mexico.
So when I heard about a senior high school trip to Europe, I was all about it. The fact that a different school was doing that trip was just a minor impediment. Before long, my friends and I (and our favorite teacher) were going with them. It was one of those whirlwind trips in which you were always on the move – 4 countries in 10 days! This is the trip that hooked me on traveling as an adult. This was where it really started.
I have a bucket list of sorts in my head, but it’s super flexible. I am more likely to plan something based upon a single photo (have you seen a photo of the super blue icebergs in Antarctica?!) or an episode of a travel show. It’s both organic and impulsive. Whenever possible, I prefer to plan trips myself versus using a travel agency or organized tour. Researching and planning trips is actually fun for me. It’s a part of the process and I enjoy it. I divide trips into 3 parts: planning, the actual trip, and post-trip documenting. Each stage is wonderful and important to me.
I have been documenting my travels via photo albums and journals since that senior high school trip to Europe. I can look back at these books and remember how amazing it was and how blessed I am. This website is just one more way of doing that. If traveling is my hobby, and this is an extension of that hobby. If the information helps or inspires anyone else, then awesome. Happy travels!
As a disclaimer, I developed the content and took the photos posted to this website. Opinions and recommendations are my own. All travel was paid through personal funds.
The Toad on the Road 