Susan Serven

My name is Susan Serven of Wild Blue Sky Travel. 

I believe that travelers -  and those of us who love helping them plan their travels - are, at heart, Connectors: linking people to new places, cultures, experiences, and friendships.

Background: 

I wasn’t someone who traveled a great deal as a child or during college, but once that travel bug bit, it bit hard.

After college, I embarked on a two-year stint in Cork, Ireland.  During my time there I discovered both my love of working with nonprofits and my passion for travel. While based in Cork, I was able to travel throughout Europe and the UK, as well as to Russia, Morocco, Turkey and many other parts of the world I never thought I’d get to see. 

Once back in the U.S., I left Lever Bros and shifted my focus to working in the nonprofit sector full time. I continued volunteering when my two daughters arrived (both adopted from China) and later worked with a group of native Chinese-speaking friends to launch the nonprofit Chinese Language School of Connecticut (CLSC) which I ran for ten years. CLSC gave me the opportunity to travel to different regions of China and eventually bring our daughters on an unforgettable, in-depth visit when they were pre-teens.  

While working and raising my family I was Chief Travel Planner -researching, organizing, and dreaming up our adventures. We were lucky that both our girls were intrepid travelers from the time they were very small, open to new adventures and different cultures, who did well on very little sleep.

After working with several nonprofits (and a few start-ups) I joined DarkSky International as Director of Development and Communications and then as Chief Development and Marketing Officer. DarkSky works to protect our nighttime environments and raise awareness about the harmful effects of light pollution on living creatures and ecosystems.

It was during my time at DarkSky that I began to notice interest in the rise of dark sky travel (also known as  astrotourism) and regenerative tourism - especially in regions like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, where pristine starry skies still exist. I saw firsthand how travel could drive both awareness and sustainable economic growth in communities committed to preserving their natural environments.

At that point, it all clicked: I wanted to help others discover the magic of these places and many others.

Whether traveling solo, with friends, or with family, there's a world of unforgettable experiences out there - and I want to help people connect with them.

Favorite Travel Destinations:

There are too many to count but my Top Ten would most likely be:

Egypt, the whole country -  for her ancient culture, starry night skies, friendly people, and activities that range from visiting the Giza plateau with its astonishing pyramids and majestic Sphinx to off-roading and sandboarding in Fayoum’s Western Desert to snorkeling Egypt’s vibrant coral reefs in the Red Sea. 

St. Barth’s, French West Indies – experiencing the thrill of driving your jeep around hairpin turns and steep drops where a stunning vista awaits you at every turn, eating the freshest local food,  jet skiing and just lazing on beautiful beaches. 

Banff, Canada – exploring Jasper and Banff National Parks, hiking the ice fields and glaciers while they’re still viable, and canoeing on Lake Louise.

Kinsale, Galway and Dublin, Ireland – all four vie for my top spots because I lived there and how could they not – skies that are stormy one minute and golden the next, rocky coasts, rainbows, incredible food, colorful houses, all of Ireland is a picture book wherever you go. 

Edinburgh, Scotland – just walk for a short time around Edinburgh (the Castles! The pubs! The cobblestones!) and you’ll think you fell asleep and woke up in a snow globe town from centuries past.

Rome, Italy – being able to walk out of your hotel and stroll through the city to see the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, have dinner in Trastevere and gelato and cannoli on your walk back - nothing compares.

Venice Italy – taking a water taxi solo to the historic Excelsior Hotel and then visiting the Piazza San Marco (via another water taxi) where you have lunch al fresco before a gondola trip through Venice’s ancient canals. 

China – yes, there’s Beijing, the capital, and cosmopolitan Shanghai, but try taking an overnight train to Xi'an to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors and then ride a bike on the ancient Xi'an City Wall then return to Beijing to climb part of the Great Wall of China – that’s an expedition you cannot forget. 

I’m so excited to share my love of travel - and I hope my experience helps others embrace their role as Connectors too. Whether you're planning your first big trip or your fiftieth, I’d love to help. Please reach out anytime!