Hi, I’m Cindy, your personal adventure guide!

I help passion-filled adventurers plan unforgettable road trips, RV escapes, hiking & backpacking journeys, and discover the hidden gems off the beaten path.

My experience as an outdoor adventurer, teamed with strong organizational and planning skills from my background in media production, makes me uniquely equipped to get out there, explore, and share everything I’ve learned with you in easy-to-digest guides and itineraries.

If you’re passionate about getting outside, you are precisely where you need to be.

My content aims to inspire you to get out on your next great outdoor adventure. Thanks for being here—I’m thrilled to have you!

Let’s connect! Feel free to email me or reach out on Instagram.

2005-2018: Media Life

I wasn’t always waking up to mountain sunrises, maps spread on the counter, and trail dust on my boots.

For over ten years, I followed the script: went to college, got my Bachelor’s in Communications with a Film and Video Emphasis, and worked in various media jobs.

The outdoors always called to me. I was fitting in weekend hikes and camping trips between jobs whenever possible. Still, I wasn’t enjoying working nonstop for months at a time and burning out, only to find myself with an unpaid month to recover and explore before my next job.

So, I next earned my Master’s in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship, and then started taking on clients and having more freedom with my time.

I had checked all the “supposed to” boxes. On paper, I was successful, but inside? Restless.

2018-2021: The RV Chapter

After meeting my husband in 2014, I spent years trying to convince him we should live and work out of an RV. In 2018 (the same year we got married), he came home one day, convinced we should go for it!

So, one month after getting married, we packed our lives into an RV, hit the road, and spent the next three years living full-time out of an RV with our cat and dog friends, exploring the US one trail, forest road, small town, and sunrise at a time: no set route, just curiosity, courage, and a whole lot of planning and maps.

While in the RV, we lived in 31 US states and traveled over 20,000 miles!

While on the road, I had clients, ran this website, Cinders Travels, and produced and hosted the Locals Know Best travel podcast.

During the 31-state RV loop, I learned how to stay nimble, and I bring that lesson into the guides I share now so you can pivot plans without stress!

IN 2018 & 2019:

IN 2020:

IN 2021:

2022: The Appalachian Trail

Next came one of the biggest chapters yet, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. 2,194.3 miles. 14 states. It was one of the most challenging and transformative adventures of my life! Every step reminded me that our limits are usually just tales we tell ourselves.

Out there, I learned of physical capabilities I never knew I had, how to live simply, how to find joy in both the challenging and the magical miles, and how to trust my ability to navigate the unexpected.

Those lessons now shape how I plan trips, create guides, and help you feel confident exploring the outdoors — one step, one trail, and one big dream at a time.

Now & Onward

Today, I’m based in Asheville, NC, surrounded by some of the East Coast’s best trails and mountain towns, and I’ve started my wildest adventure yet, mom life! I’m still exploring, learning, and saying yes to the call of wild places, but now with a toddler in tow.

But more importantly, I’m here to help you say yes too!

I built Cinders Travels because I believe outdoor adventure should feel welcoming, accessible, and achievable — whether you’re planning your first national park trip, dreaming of RV life, or training for your first long-distance hike. My goal is to help you replace overwhelm and guesswork with excitement and confidence, and to show you the kind of hidden gems and thoughtful travel strategies that turn trips into stories you remember forever.

What’s your next trek? Your weekend escape? Wherever you are in your adventure journey, I’ve been there and I’m cheering you forward. Let’s map it together!