Meet Mandy McKaskle
My connection to transformative travel began in the shadow of heartbreak. At 16, just one month after losing my brother Jeremy to suicide, I found myself living in Mexico as an exchange student. My parents, in their wisdom, still allowed me to go. I couldn't have known then how profoundly right this decision would be. Mexico wasn't new to me—it had been my childhood sanctuary. Every long weekend, every holiday, every summer vacation meant Puerto Peñasco, where the rhythm of waves against shore became the soundtrack to my happiest memories. There, watching sunset colors dance across unfamiliar horizons, I felt special, different, alive in ways my small hometown never allowed.
→ I want your children and grand-children to have these same anchoring memories—places that become part of their identity, shaping who they become.
Years later, Croatia became my salvation. I was drowning at the time—a marriage ended, a series of hip surgeries robbed me of running (my moving meditation), and the silent grief of miscarriage had nearly gutted me. When my Argentinian friend invited me to join her, I bought a ticket immediately. Those sun-drenched days along the Adriatic didn't just distract me—they rebuilt me. I remember standing on a cliff above impossibly blue water, feeling something crack open inside me, letting light back in. I flew home knowing two things with certainty: I would survive, and the friends who wandered those cobblestone streets with me would remain in my heart forever.
→ Let me create space for your own healing journey—sometimes we need distance to find our way back to ourselves.
Most recently, a safari to Botswana reinforced my belief in the transformative power of travel. If there exists one journey worthy of your lifetime's ambitions, an African safari stands paramount – though I would contend it warrants multiple journeys. The experience presents a rare duality: ethereal yet grounding, spiritual yet tangible. Few life experiences alter your perspective so profoundly as witnessing untamed wildlife in its natural glory. Furthermore, supporting conservation partners committed to environmental sustainability and community development reinforces how travel can contribute to the greater good.
→ I invite you to experience moments of authentic wonder that will resonate through your life's journey.
This is why I do what I do. Travel isn't just about beautiful hotels or Instagram moments—though I promise you'll have those too. It's about writing new stories for yourself, ones where you're more brave, more open, more alive than you thought possible. I consider it a gift, helping craft these chapters in your life—whether it's watching your children experience their first snowfall in the Alps or finding yourself again on a remote beach after a difficult year.
→ How can travel help you connect to what really matters?
→ I want your children and grand-children to have these same anchoring memories—places that become part of their identity, shaping who they become.
Years later, Croatia became my salvation. I was drowning at the time—a marriage ended, a series of hip surgeries robbed me of running (my moving meditation), and the silent grief of miscarriage had nearly gutted me. When my Argentinian friend invited me to join her, I bought a ticket immediately. Those sun-drenched days along the Adriatic didn't just distract me—they rebuilt me. I remember standing on a cliff above impossibly blue water, feeling something crack open inside me, letting light back in. I flew home knowing two things with certainty: I would survive, and the friends who wandered those cobblestone streets with me would remain in my heart forever.
→ Let me create space for your own healing journey—sometimes we need distance to find our way back to ourselves.
Most recently, a safari to Botswana reinforced my belief in the transformative power of travel. If there exists one journey worthy of your lifetime's ambitions, an African safari stands paramount – though I would contend it warrants multiple journeys. The experience presents a rare duality: ethereal yet grounding, spiritual yet tangible. Few life experiences alter your perspective so profoundly as witnessing untamed wildlife in its natural glory. Furthermore, supporting conservation partners committed to environmental sustainability and community development reinforces how travel can contribute to the greater good.
→ I invite you to experience moments of authentic wonder that will resonate through your life's journey.
This is why I do what I do. Travel isn't just about beautiful hotels or Instagram moments—though I promise you'll have those too. It's about writing new stories for yourself, ones where you're more brave, more open, more alive than you thought possible. I consider it a gift, helping craft these chapters in your life—whether it's watching your children experience their first snowfall in the Alps or finding yourself again on a remote beach after a difficult year.
→ How can travel help you connect to what really matters?
Why Creosote Journeys?
The ephemeral fragrance of desert rain, a scent uniquely attributed to the resilient Creosote plant, is a sensory masterpiece that defines the Sonoran Desert. This evocative aroma, a hallmark of our home in Arizona, possesses an unparalleled ability to transport and connect, a testament to nature's profound simplicity and power. At Creosote Journeys, we curate personalized travel experiences that mirror this transformative essence, fostering deep connections – with cherished companions, with the rich tapestry of cultures encountered, and, most importantly, with your own inner sense of self.
Creosote Journeys specializes in crafting meticulously designed, ultra-luxury itineraries. We partner with the world's most distinguished 4* and 5* hotels, as well as exclusive river, ocean, and expedition cruises, ensuring an unparalleled level of refinement and personalized service. For discerning travelers seeking to transcend the ordinary and embark on a journey of profound discovery, we invite you to schedule a private, complimentary consultation. Let us transform your aspirations into an extraordinary, tailored travel narrative.
Creosote Journeys specializes in crafting meticulously designed, ultra-luxury itineraries. We partner with the world's most distinguished 4* and 5* hotels, as well as exclusive river, ocean, and expedition cruises, ensuring an unparalleled level of refinement and personalized service. For discerning travelers seeking to transcend the ordinary and embark on a journey of profound discovery, we invite you to schedule a private, complimentary consultation. Let us transform your aspirations into an extraordinary, tailored travel narrative.
