Hello, I am Vanessa Shields, an adventure travel blogger based in San Diego, California. I am originally from San Diego but have also lived in New York City and Portland (Oregon) before coming back to California. I am recently divorced and with no children. I am very proud to have just completed my MBA degree through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a focus in marketing.
My background is a B.S. in Microbiology where I went on to work in biotech research and then capital equipment sales for a medical equipment company. Most recently I have started a travel blog as I have always had a passion for traveling and have been to 31 countries so far.
My passions are travel, photography, scuba diving, fitness, and adventure. Every chance I get I love to take my camera and photograph a new location and spend a lot of time at the beach as a San Diego local. I got my PADI scuba certification back in 2009 and have been fortunate enough to have scuba dived all over the world. So far, the Maldives, Zanzibar, and Hawaii are my favorite dive spots.
I have always been healthy and active but a few years ago I started training with a personal trainer and find that being stronger and more fit has really improved how I feel along with eating a healthier diet. I enjoy working out and getting outdoors whenever I can.
I enjoy going on hikes, exploring new cities, hanging at the beach and wine tasting as much as I can. My goal is to hike both peaks local to me and those in places I visit. I am a solo female traveler most of the time but when I can, I travel with my friends and family. My goal is to inspire and motivate others to find adventure in their lives!