Welcome! I’m so glad you are here! This Is My Happiness is a travel and lifestyle blog focused on sustainable, responsible choices. I am deeply passionate about culture and history, so I always want to know what makes a place special — art, architecture, traditional food, wine and history, for example. I live in Northern California with my husband and two children and share travel and lifestyle tips for this beautiful state.
Currently over 60,000 people visit this site per month. I’m also a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared on National Geographic Travel, Time Out, AFAR, Travel Mindset, and other sites. Click here for information about working together or email me at jenna@thisismyhappiness.com.
What can I do for you?
I am passionate about making responsible choices that put less pressure on the environment, and I love sharing that with others. I also love to travel, and I want to help you have the best trip possible! I focus on travel that looks beyond the regular to-do list and instead seeks out sights and experiences that build an understanding of a place and its people. I strive to bring you only high-quality stories to help you travel smarter and get more out of your vacations.
My travel perspective is informed by my multicultural family in Brazil, Indonesia, and here in the U.S.; my education in art history and linguistics; my experiences traveling with two kids; my love of my home state of California; and my deep-seated love of Europe, especially Italy. I honor both the history/heritage (the old) and everyday life (the new) in the places I visit.
Here’s a little more background about me:
My life has always been about moving around and traveling. As a child of a military family, I lived all over the U.S., and later, when I was old enough to choose where I wanted to live, I kept moving. My love of traveling in other countries began in my teens and grew while earning a B.A. in art history and studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
One of my favorite experiences was living in the Czech Republic for one and a half years and traveling extensively in Europe in my early 20s. After that, I got a master’s degree in linguistics and began a rewarding career teaching English as a Second Language to immigrants in the United States. I love being surrounded by people from other countries.
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Brands I’ve worked with:
Michelin Green Guides, Vail Resorts, Lexus, Hyatt, Gallo Family Vineyards, Pier 39, KOA, Grand Pacific Resorts, Chase credit cards, Fetzer Vineyards, Tuesday Morning, Lodi Wine, Blundstones, Merrell, Visit Lodi and many more
Freelance writing:
Besides blogging for eight years, I work full time as a community college professor and freelance writer. I have been a regular contributor to Luxe Beat Mag, GoBrazil on About.com, and G Adventures’ The Looptail. You can see other examples of my work on AFAR, National Geographic Newswatch, Travel Mindset, Time Out and Northstar California. You can learn more about me in this interview for AFAR Travel Magazine.
Samples of my work:
19 Super Fun Things to Do in Sacramento (on Time Out)
Luxurious Wines in Napa Valley: Classic Meets Modern at Hourglass Wines (on Luxe Beat Magazine)
Wine, Food, and Fun: 3 Days in Napa Valley
Tips for traveling with kids on G Adventures’ blog, The Looptail