Growing up in Louisiana in the heart of Cajun Country, Rachel's early nature adventures embraced the Cajun way of life by sharing the outdoors with alligators and mosquitoes! After obtaining her physical therapy degree from Louisiana State University, Rachel worked as a travel therapist, living and fueling her adventurous spirit in different states across the country. Soon, her travels took her abroad for a month in South Africa, followed by many destinations throughout Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean. The adventures continued when she eloped in Ireland, followed by a tour of the country with no plans or reservations, instead relying on locals’ recommendations. Since then, she has even become a dual Irish citizen.

After living in Boston, it was an easy decision to escape to Colorado when her husband was offered a job there. Growing up skiing and hiking in the Rockies on family vacations gave Rachel an early connection to this landscape, and she couldn’t wait to do more exploring. She and her family dove in deep by purchasing 70 acres with a cabin in the foothills outside Boulder. Restoring and caring for this piece of earth has helped her Colorado roots to start growing just like those of the Ponderosas on the land.

While Rachel's travel adventures have slowed now that she's a mom to two beautiful daughters, they have not ceased. She is passionate about showing her girls our vast world. In the past few years, she returned to Ireland with the family where they hiked the Connemara, ferried to the Aran Islands and visited the small town where she and her husband wed. Rachel has been on several Nat Hab trips since joining the team in 2018. She is grateful to have witnessed wild polar bears in their natural environment, been inspired by the vibrant culture and colors of Cuba, and been captivated by the pristine landscapes and glaciers of Greenland. She was awestruck by the unique wildlife of the Galapagos, and most recently, humbled by the mysterious world of the Amazon and Machu Picchu.