where the love of story meets the love of discovering new places
Itineraries + guides | travel writing | curated lists
At the heart of wilder and wonder is endless curiosity and immersive travel storytelling.
Here you’ll find: thoughtful travel itineraries, our trademark wonderlists and pocket guides, and long-form travel stories. Our collections pages will contain everything you need to immerse yourself in a place and culture, even when you can’t get there quite this moment (stuff like: reading recommendations, watch lists, history, and fun facts).
We want you to feel like you’re sitting across the table from us in a dark corner bar in some far-off land, getting the inside scoop on hidden gems and local experiences, as well as first-hand knowledge on navigating a new locale, whether near or far.
Our aim is to provide you with thoughtful, immersive, well-designed, curated content that will inspire you to experience the magic, beauty, enchantment and wonder of the world around you without all the pressure. To find the thread of the story through the noise. To embrace and celebrate all the colors of all the life happening around you.
Our travel guides are detailed with the information you need to know so that you can immerse yourself in the story of your destination, whether that’s a budget camping trip in the northern woods of Michigan or a luxury safari in South Africa. And one of our favorite features we’re excited to bring to you are our Wonderlists, which focus on capturing the experience, the true essence, of a place, instead of an overwhelming to do list, so that you can truly lose yourself there (spiritually speaking, of course. Or literally. No judgment here.)
Here at wilder + wonder, some of our favorite things include:
slow travel, spirit quests, maps, scenic backroads, road trips, local bookstores, checkered diner floors, marquee lights, Polaroid cameras, train rides, a good playlist that sets the mood, day drinking in picturesque sun-drenched wineries, wild ponies, themed itineraries, local tour guides showing us behind the curtain, people watching in Paris cafes, extended stays, locally owned boutiques + shoppes that someone has poured their heart, soul, and vision into, and oxidized copper that turns our favorite shade of turquoise (fun fact: the process takes 30 years).
What’s in a name, anyway?
wilder + wonder came about from our romantic love affair with alliteration and obscure words.
wilder:
(wield – er) or (wild – er) – whichever floats your boat
to get lost, cause to lose one’s way; lead or drive astray
“Unknown Lands, where we have wildered ourselves”
wonder:
a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration,
caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable
In other words, we just really like getting lost in new lands to find ourselves, and the magic of life, again. Nothing like a little wonder to breathe a little life into these tired bones again
“This is a brief life, but in its brevity it offers some
splendid moments, some splendid adventures.”
Rudyard Kipling
About Lauren
Creative storyteller + Traveller behind wilder + wonder
Also answers to: Lo, Lor, Aunt Lolo
Reader, lover of alliteration, itinerary-creator & mapmaker extraordinaire
Born in Detroit, currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, some of my favorite things include: good coffee, eating in roadside diners frequented by locals and truckers alike, reading entire guidebooks front to back, visiting local bookstores, spirit questing, watching wildlife documentaries, listening to unapologetic amounts of Taylor Swift, and sitting in aisle seats.
I have a soul that is ever so insistent on experiencing everything.
wilder + wonder was born out of my desire to have adventures and write about them, mixed with my love of compiling and curating lists. For me, traveling isn’t about the spectacle or the show or the perfect shot, it’s about experiencing the spirit of a place.
wilder + wonder is the space where I can create immersive storied deep dives into places I love; the people, myths, stories, legends, food, architecture, wildlife, way of life that make a place a place. This is also the space where I can contemplate what travel looks like to me and navigate my role as a traveller in a global world. (And while you’re here, don’t forget to check out my travels below so you can get a sense of what you can expect to be covered here.)
Travel motto: “We’ll see what we see (when we see it, if we see it)”
In another life, I also write books.
“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.”
Anita Desai
Here at wilder + wonder, we believe
in slowing down to take it all in. That everyone has something to teach you. In thoughtful, non-extractive travel that gives back to local, indigenous communities in the places we venture. In leaving things better than you found them. That good things take time. In the power of story and song to bring people together. And most importantly, we believe one should . . .
Always leave room for magic.
Because you never know what’s out there just waiting to be found.
Won’t you join us?
Your Adventure Awaits
