About Us
Welcome! We’re Liz, Steve, & Zoey
We’re a family of curious travelers with a zest for traveling. But not just any type of travel.
For us, travel isn’t an escape from the real world but a way to connect with it more deeply. It’s about discovering the people, places, languages, and traditions that make life rich and meaningful, leaving us with a deeper sense of appreciation.
When we aren’t traveling, our home base is Minnesota. Liz is originally from New York, Steve is from Connecticut, and Zoey was born and raised in Minnesota.
Soft Adventure Travel
We’re all about spending time actively while traveling. Whether we’re wandering city streets on foot, hiking scenic trails, swimming at a beach, or kayaking calm waters, we love to take in the beauty of the world around us.
The thing is, we’re not extreme adventurers.
None of us are phenomenal athletes. And while Steve and Zoey are seasoned campers and love the outdoors, Liz prefers to call herself “outsidey”—more cautious and less outdoorsy, but always up for active days.
For a while, we wondered whether we were adventure travel imposters. After all, we weren’t scaling cliffs or jumping out of planes.
Then we discovered soft adventure travel and had an “ah ha!” moment.
We love spending days on the move during our travels, but we don’t love for that moving to be too intense, you know?
And that’s the essence of soft adventure travel. It’s active travel without the extreme risk or intense physical exertion.
We started Zest for Latitudes to share our soft adventure travels and inspire you to create your own—no matter your skill level or comfort zone.
If we can do it, so can you!
Why We Blog
Before launching Zest for Latitudes, we often joked during hikes or neighborhood walks, “This would be great for the blog”—a blog that didn’t actually exist. Then one day in early 2025, while having lunch in Mexico, we thought, Why not? And just like that, this blog was born.
That same go for it mentality is what we hope to inspire in you. Take the trip. Wander off the beaten path. See where it leads.
Why Zest for Latitudes? The name captures our enthusiasm for exploring the world, plays on zest for life, and also gives a nod to our names: Z for Zoey, L for Liz, and a few e’s, s’s, and t’s for Steve.
Do you all write for the blog?
We all contribute to content creation—taking photos, supporting each other as travel mates, brainstorming post ideas, and drafting initial pieces.
That said, Liz handles much of the work on Zest for Latitudes—think of her as Editor-in-Chief. Steve focuses on research, editing, and tech-related tasks, while Zoey is our go-to social media manager and resident Gen Z perspective provider.
When it comes to choosing our adventures, it’s always a team effort. We make sure everyone’s on board and take turns researching the activities we do.
Where We’ve Traveled
We’ve traveled to 26 countries (and counting), but for us, it’s not just about ticking destinations off a list. We believe in slowing down and truly getting to know each place – whether by foot, bike, water, or any other adventurous way we can explore.
That said, we’ve yet to travel to any countries in Africa or South America – we hope to change that soon!
Do you travel full time?
That’s the dream, but we’ve got to pay the bills somehow! On average, we typically spend about 2 months traveling each year.
When we aren’t traveling, Liz and Steve are university professors, and Zoey is a senior in high school. If school isn’t in session, there’s a good chance we’re traveling – or, at least planning our next trip!
Travel Fun Facts
Favorite country visited
- Liz: Malta
- Steve: “Being a member of the global society, all countries are my favorite.”
- Zoey: Tie between Iceland and Croatia
Favorite travel adventure
- Liz: Wandering Paris during Fête de la musique
- Steve: Tracing family roots in Vienna, Austria
- Zoey: Releasing baby sea turtles in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Least Favorite travel adventure
- Liz & Zoey: Getting tickets a year in advance to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in… Vienna, Austria (if you know, you know)
- Steve: When Liz or Zoey get grumpy (note from Liz: it happens to all of us, and we’ve learned to lean in and help each other when this happens)
Dream destination
- Liz: Morocco
- Steve: South America
- Zoey: Egypt
I could see myself living in…
- Liz: France (no, she doesn’t speak French)
- Steve: Maui
- Zoey: Still deciding
Favorite food(s) eaten on the road
- Liz: Lilikoi pancakes at Moke’s in Kailua, Oahu
- Steve: Sushi in Lisbon. Bulgogi in Seoul. Fish and chips in North Atlantic countries.
- Zoey: Salmon skewers at Seabaron in Reykjavik
Oh, and we can’t forget about Hedgie!
Hedgie is a well-traveled stuffed hedgehog with a nose for adventure and a knack for photobombing. Adopted by Liz, Steve, and Zoey, Hedgie has become the unofficial fourth member of the crew, documenting their journeys one paw at a time.
From scaling the walls of ancient cities to lounging on tropical beaches, Hedgie’s wanderlust knows no bounds. With his tiny ever-cheerful expression, he’s a constant reminder to embrace the whimsical side of travel.