Travel

Four years ago, then-newlyweds Katie Diederichs and Ben Zweber quit their full-time jobs, loaded up a backpack each and boarded a cheap flight to Colombia. Their plan was to spend three months backpacking throughout South America, but even now, their adventure has yet to really end. Katie and Ben have spent the last several years traveling across the world, and though they realize the nomadic life might not be for everyone, they’re confident that affordable—and, more importantly, sustainable—adventures are possible, even on a tight budget.
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Craig Beal likes to say the most dangerous part of an African safari is the drive down Interstate 494 to get to the MSP airport. As the owner of Travel Beyond, a Wayzata-based luxury travel consultancy and agency, Beal is an old hand at safaris. His agency is one of a handful worldwide that specialize in planning non-hunting safaris in southern and eastern Africa.

The agency was recently honored by the influential Travel+Leisure magazine, which named it a top 10 safari outfitter. Read more about Local Travel Agency Specializes in Trips to Africa

Mollie Krengel’s life is all about balance. She’s a businesswoman and a mom. Full of energy and full of calm. She’s always engaged in the world around her, whether she’s cozying up at her parents’ home on Lake Minnetonka, or traveling around the globe with her own kids. Krengel, who grew up in Plymouth and Tonka Bay, is the creative mind behind Wildfam, a travel consulting biz that’s filling a gap in the travel industry: super up-to-date guides that focus on hidden gems, nitty-gritty details and—best of all—kid-friendly stuff to do in cities all over the world. Read more about A Tonka Bay Native Launches Her Own Travel Consulting Business Focused on Out-of-the-box Experiences and Family-friendly Adventures

Thinking about a last-minute getaway to escape the cold? Andrea Wallace of Midwest Travel Service says there’s still time, but you have to act fast. “Be flexible,” Wallace says. “Traveling midweek can sometimes save you hundreds of dollars.”

Wallace says using a travel agent is to your advantage. She says agents save time, they often have contacts with airlines and resorts, they understand fine print and can often offer you a payment plan. Read more about Travel Log: Holiday in the Sun

In our world’s current boom of technology, it’s hard to imagine a travel agency existing in 2015. But not only does Wayzata’s Minnetonka Travel still exist—after 39 years in business—it continues to thrive. Read more about Minnetonka Travel Sells Dream Vacations