The Escape I Didn’t Know I Needed

When I tell people I’m a travel journalist and a mom in my thirties, I usually get one of two reactions: a nostalgic smile from someone who remembers their wild, pre-kid backpacking days, or a look of confusion, like, how are you even making that work?

The truth is, I’m still figuring it out. At 32, with a toddler at home and a job that’s always “on,” my relationship with travel has completely changed. But the need for escape, growth, and connection? That hasn’t gone anywhere. If anything, it’s more urgent than ever.

Lately, I’ve been craving more than just a break from routine. I want the kind of trip that reminds me who I am when I’m not answering emails, chasing a tiny human, or folding laundry at midnight.

I want a space that isn’t about being someone’s mom, partner, or coworker; a space that’s just for me. And, if we’re honest, that’s not something most mainstream travel offers women like us.

The Realities of “Grown-Up” Travel And the New Need

Let’s face it: by your thirties and forties, travel changes. It’s not just about bucket lists or Instagrammable sunsets (though, don’t get me wrong; I’ll take both).

It’s about time, energy, and emotional bandwidth. It’s about the rare chance to step out of the roles we play all day long and actually be present, open, and curious again.

For so many women I know, that’s almost impossible to find. We end up planning family trips that revolve around nap schedules and hotel pools, or worse, skipping travel altogether because it just feels too overwhelming to organize.

If we do manage to get away with friends, someone inevitably ends up in charge (and exhausted), or the trip devolves into “girls’ weekends” where nothing actually gets experienced except brunch and gossip.

But what if travel, even now, could be something richer? Something restorative and energizing; a true adventure that’s designed for who we are now, not who we were in college?

A New Kind of Adventure For Women Who Do It All

That’s what makes Backroads’ new “30s & 40s” collection so compelling for women like me. This isn’t your mom’s group tour, or the classic yoga retreat where everyone’s silently competing to be the most “zen.”

These trips are built for women who want to move, learn, and connect. For women who are tired of juggling everyone else’s needs and want, just this once, for someone else to take care of the details.

Imagine being able to choose yourself, unapologetically, and not having to play trip leader, chef, or camp counselor. Backroads’ expert guides handle every bit of planning, from the most scenic hiking trails in Spain to the best wine bars in Sonoma. All you have to do is show up, ready to take it all in.

And here’s the secret magic: you’re surrounded by likeminded adults, many of them women, who are also carving out this time for themselves.

The conversations go deeper. There’s an easy camaraderie that comes from shared experience; not just the trip itself, but all the invisible labor and dreams we carry with us as women, daughters, mothers, friends.

Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

In our 30s and 40s, so much shifts. Careers take off or stall. Relationships evolve. Bodies change, sometimes in ways that surprise us.

If you’re a mom, your whole life reorganizes around a tiny (but all-consuming) center of gravity. Even if you’re not, chances are your days are busier, more responsible, and sometimes lonelier than you’d like to admit.

But we still need adventure. We need proof that we’re still capable of more than just getting through the day. We need spaces to take risks, laugh until our sides hurt, and see ourselves reflected in the eyes of new friends.

Travel, especially this kind of intentional, active travel, isn’t just an escape. For women at this stage, it’s an act of reclamation.

A reminder that we are allowed to take up space, get dirty, sweat, and savor. That we can be both nurturing and wild, responsible and spontaneous. That we don’t have to stop dreaming bigger just because our calendars are full.

What Makes Backroads Different for Women?

• Zero Decision Fatigue: The emotional labor of trip planning vanishes. Someone else figures out the route, the meals, and the hotel. You get to be a guest in your own life.
• Space to Challenge Yourself: Whether it’s hiking the Camino de Santiago, biking through the Canadian Rockies, or kayaking in Vietnam, you set your own pace. These are trips for women who want to do, not just be.
• Community, Not Cliques: Forget forced fun or awkward icebreakers. The energy on these trips is collaborative, supportive, and welcoming. It’s about real connection, not competition.
• Comfort Without Compromise: You still get beautiful hotels, memorable meals, and those moments of luxury that feel like a deep breath.
• Designed for Us: You’re not a tagalong on someone else’s itinerary. This is travel with you in mind: ambitious, flexible, and authentic.

Why I’m Saying Yes (And Why You Should, Too)

I want my son to see me as someone who doesn’t just keep the wheels turning at home, but who steps out and lives. I want to return from a trip not just rested, but recharged; reminded that I’m still brave, curious, and open to wonder.

I want to model for him, and for myself, that being a woman in her thirties or forties means you don’t stop exploring; you just do it with a little more wisdom, and (let’s be honest) better snacks.

Backroads’ “30s & 40s” collection, launching soon, is more than a new travel segment. It’s a signal that the world is ready for women like us to show up, not just as caretakers, partners, or professionals, but as full, vivid, adventurous people. It’s about belonging to a place, to a moment, to ourselves.

So if you’re craving something bigger, something just for you, maybe this is your sign. Go. Get out there. Let someone else handle the details. You’ve earned it.