Hey, wonderful soul!

I’m Carissa, and I’m so glad you’re here!

It started the way it probably does for a lot of us – friends and family kept asking where to go, what to book, what was actually worth it. So I started keeping track and taking tons of photos along the way. That turned into sharing it more widely, and now I get to help even more people plan trips they’ll actually love.

read my story

My Story

it started with a group chat. . .

I’ve always been the friend who plans the trip or the one you texted at 11pm with “wait, where did you stay in ___?” Or “is this restaurant good?” I loved figuring out the good stuff and passing it along. Honestly, I’ll give you my opinion on the best coffee shop in town whether you ask for it or not.

At some point I realized that knowledge shouldn’t just live in a text thread – that if my friend’s are asking then so are other people . So Carissa Explores It All became the place I put it all: real recommendations, honest takes, and the kind of trip planing help I used to give one friend at a time, now for anyone who cares to know!

And now, I love traveling so much I’m taking it a step further and converting a Ford Transit Cargo van into a full blown campervan so I can travel full time – and you’re along for the ride.

If you’re the type who’d rather ask someone who’s actually been there (or didn’t ask but got my opinion anyway) – welcome and thanks for checking my page out 🙂

I really believe that:

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before

Dalai Lama

Fun facts

get to know me better!

My fav music band

Kings of Leon

Favourite tv show

Where do I start lol – my current obsessions are Mad Men, anything Game of Thrones, Outlander (guilty), and Love on the Spectrum.

I’d sell billboards 😉

Enjoying a nice beer on a warm sunny day, on a patio with great vibes. Ripe tomatoes with salt and pepper. Driving with all the windows rolled down. Mariah Carey.

I’m a Leo sun, Leo moon, and Leo Mercury