Hi I’m Mel- the voice behind Mel Moon Wanders
I’m a solo traveler over 50, chasing wide-open skies, ocean air, and the kind of places you only find when you follow your curiosity instead of a checklist.
I grew up in Northeast Ohio, but something in me always pulled west. That pull eventually led me to Oregon, where I graduated from the University of Oregon—and where my love for travel really took root.
Before this chapter, I spent most of my adult life in hospitality—restaurants, bars, and hotels—working my way from server and bartender into management. These days, that background shows up in how I travel: I’m always looking for the places locals actually go, the atmosphere you can feel, and experiences that are worth your time and money.
Later, I pivoted into real estate and spent five years as a Realtor, helping people find where they belonged—while quietly feeling the pull to get back out into the world myself.
So here I am.
Starting over, in the best way
My travels are a mix of road trips, camping, Airbnbs, hotels, and cruises—with flights becoming more part of the journey too. Sometimes it’s fully solo. Sometimes it’s what I call semi-solo—traveling with my mom or meeting up with friends along the way, but still moving at my own pace and following my own rhythm.
Because that’s what solo travel really is to me—not being alone every second, but having the freedom to choose your experience.
I’m drawn to places where nature shows off a little, where the locals hang out, and where you can still hear yourself think.
This space is for women who are ready to explore, reset, or start a new chapter—whether that looks like a cross-country drive, a weekend getaway, or booking that cruise you’ve been thinking about.
You don’t have to do it the way anyone else does.
You just have to go.
—Mel