Wandering Vienna:
My Life of Adventure
Hey! I’m Vienna—yep, named after the city in Austria, not the sausage . Ever since I was little, my bedtime prayer with my mom has been: “Lord, give me another adventure tomorrow.” And let me tell you… that prayer has definitely been answered!
So far, I’ve explored 20 countries across 5 continents, and I’m just getting started. I’m sharing my journey to show other teens and young adults that traveling the world doesn’t have to be crazy expensive. You can have amazing adventures—even on a budget.
How It All Started
My mom grew up dreaming of traveling the world, even though she didn’t have much money and her life wasn’t super easy. When I was born, we lived in Wisconsin and didn’t travel much. Our food was pretty basic—think salt, pepper, and maybe garlic salt if we were feeling fancy.
But everything changed when I turned 6 years old. That’s when my mom and I took our first trip abroad—to Dublin, Ireland! It was the perfect place to start since they speak English, but the customs were different. Driving on the opposite side of the road? Super weird at first!
The Secret to Budget Travel
We learned a game-changing idea from a friend called: “Plugging the holes in your pocket.” Basically, it’s about figuring out where your money is disappearing and making smarter choices. My mom started putting her savings into something she called her Adventure Fund.
After using this strategy, my mom was able to save enough for our first trip to Dublin—without getting a raise or borrowing money. Crazy, right?
Final Thoughts
I’m so glad we figured out how to travel without going broke. Now, I get to live out my dream of exploring the world—and I want you to know that you can too. Whether it’s a weekend trip or a journey across the globe, adventure is out there… you just have to go find it.
Let’s wander together —Vienna