Bridging the gap between past and present through travel
Hi, I’m Ashley, a full-time travel writer, tour guide, and World War II historian based in Boston, MA. I’ve traveled to 40 countries on 6 continents and I formed Destination: WWII from a desire to encourage and help travelers visit WWII sites around the world.
I currently hold a master’s degree in World War II Studies from Arizona State University as a result of their unique partnership with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. I continue to participate in related continuing education courses through ASU, with specialties in the European Air War and Holocaust origins.
I also have a separate travel blog that focuses on all non-WWII-related destinations and experiences. Check it out here if you like: My Wanderlusty Life.
the history of Destination: WWII
I’ve been interested in World War II history ever since high school when we had to read Night by Elie Wiesel. After reading, I couldn’t help but want to know more. How could these things have happened?
A couple decades later and I still haven’t digested enough information; I still feel a pressing need to keep these stories alive and to learn as much as I can to do so.
As far as World War II travel goes, I experienced my first WWII site in person when I visited Pearl Harbor in 2007. The desire to visit the places I’d read about in so many books and seen in so many movies instantly struck me. However, it was when I visited Dachau Concentration Camp a few years later that my otherwise passive interest evolved into something to which I knew I wanted to dedicate more of my time and travels.
Since then, I’ve visited World War II sites at home and abroad and my WWII bucket list continues to grow. World War II may have ended in the ’40s but it’s still very much a part of my life and travels here in the… ’20s? Is that what we’re calling this decade?
In 2019, I launched Destination: WWII as a means to encourage travelers to visit World War II sites around the world and to help them do so. Visiting these destinations helps this incredibly complex time in history–and the millions who lost their lives–to not be forgotten. I’m fully convinced there’s no better way to learn about World War II than to experience these places for yourself.
Through this website and social media channels, I aim to help you discover and visit these sites yourself and get the most out of them that you can. I do my best to accomplish this through inspiration, research, logistical assistance, and more.
I currently live in Boston, Massachusetts and am the owner, writer, and photographer of My Wanderlusty Life, an international travel blog focusing on what I call “Time Budget Travel”—helping you get the most out of a destination regardless of how little time you have available for travel. In other words: let’s move, move, move!
I’m also a researcher and graphic designer for a museum design company where I design both temporary and permanent exhibits for history-centered museums.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m so glad you’re here!
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Some of my favorite travel experiences
Thanks for stopping by!