I believe travel is one of the most powerful forms of self-care. I'm here to help you explore the world, embrace who you are, and live well — unapologetically.
My Story
More Than a Nurse. More Than a Traveler. Just Me.
I've spent my career as a registered nurse caring for people at their most vulnerable — and along the way, I discovered that healing looks different for everyone. For me, it often looked like a one-way ticket somewhere new. My training in holistic nursing taught me to see the whole person, not just the diagnosis, and travel became the most powerful holistic practice I'd ever encountered. It opens you up, slows you down, and reminds you what it means to be fully alive.
But I also knew something was missing in the travel space — a place where LGBTQ+ people could plan adventures without quietly asking themselves, "Will I be safe there? Will I be welcome?" I created Out and Well Travel because everyone deserves to explore this world as their full, unapologetic self. As a queer person, a nurse, and a yoga teacher, I'm here to be that guide — warm, honest, and always in your corner.
I Explore
Travel is how I understand myself. Every destination I visit peels back another layer — and I'm here to help you experience that same self-discovery on the road.
I Heal
As an RN and holistic nurse (HNB-BC, HWNC-BC), I bring a wellness lens to everything I do. I believe travel can be medicine — for the mind, the body, and the spirit.
I Move
As a registered yoga teacher (RYT), I weave mindful movement into my travels. Breath, presence, and flow go wherever I go — and I love sharing that practice with you.
I Belong
I'm building the affirming LGBTQ+ travel space I always wished existed — where queer travelers can explore freely, feel seen, and never have to shrink to fit in.
Travel & Adventure
I Go. I Explore. I Share It All With You.
Whether I'm wandering through a city I've dreamed about for years or stumbling onto a hidden gem I never planned to visit, I bring you along for all of it. I travel through a wellness lens — noticing how places make us feel, what they stir up in us, and how movement and rest and wonder all work together. And I always ask the question that matters to our community: will we feel welcome here?
You won't get a curated highlight reel from me. You'll get the real thing — the beautiful moments, the honest reflections, and the practical info you actually need to travel as your full, authentic self. LGBTQ+-affirming, wellness-forward, and always from the heart.
Places That Have Shaped Me
From European adventures to tropical escapes — here's a look at the kinds of destinations I explore and share with our community.
Europe & Beyond
Europe holds some of my most transformative travel memories — wandering Barcelona's sun-lit alleys, getting lost in Paris, and finding unexpected queer joy in cities I never thought to visit. Every trip teaches me something new about the world and myself.
Beach & Island Escapes
There's something deeply healing about the ocean, and I chase that feeling often. From Caribbean shores to secluded island retreats, I always scout for places where our community can relax, breathe, and feel fully at home.
Nature & Wellness Retreats
As a nurse, I know how much our bodies and minds need rest and restoration. Nature is my prescription — whether I'm hiking Iceland's surreal landscapes or slowing down in a rainforest, I share what these places do for the soul.
City Culture & Pride
I love dropping into a city's queer heartbeat — the bars, the art, the community spaces, the Pride events. I'll tell you which cities made me feel seen, celebrated, and safe, and which ones surprised me in the best ways.
You Deserve to Travel Freely.
"As a queer person, I know what it feels like to scan a room and wonder — am I safe here? That question shouldn't follow us on vacation. I create the content I wish I'd had: honest, personal, and unapologetically LGBTQ+-affirming."
— J.R., Out and Well Travel
As a queer person and a nurse, I've spent my career learning how to read environments for safety — and I bring that same instinct to every destination I visit. I don't just recommend places because they're beautiful. I vet them. I research local laws, talk to community members, and seek out spaces where queer travelers can exhale and just be.
This content is personal because my community's safety is personal. Every guide I write, every destination I feature, is filtered through the question: would I feel free here?
LGBTQ+ Safety Ratings
Honest breakdowns of legal protections, local attitudes, and how safe a destination actually feels on the ground.
Queer-Owned Business Spotlights
Hotels, restaurants, and tours run by and for the community — because spending locally matters.
Pride Event Guides
From major celebrations to intimate local Prides, I'll help you find your people wherever you go.
Featured Series
I See You.
Real Stories. Authentic Lives. Meaningful Connections.
As a queer person, one of the most powerful things someone ever said to me was simply: I see you. Not a version of you. Not a quieter, safer, more palatable version — you. That feeling is what this series is built on.
I See You is my personal content series where I spotlight real LGBTQ+ travelers — their journeys, their stories, their lives. Every episode, every conversation, every reflection is an act of visibility. Because our community is not a monolith. We are beautifully, wonderfully diverse, and every single one of those stories deserves to be told and celebrated.
I created this series because I spent too long searching for myself in travel content and coming up empty. I want queer travelers — especially those who are still finding their footing — to watch these stories and feel less alone. To feel recognized. To feel like they belong in this world, and in this community.
"You are seen. You are valued. You belong."
Featured Episodes
New episodes are on my YouTube channel — real conversations with real LGBTQ+ travelers, sharing their stories in their own words. Subscribe so you never miss one.
Personal Reflections
I also share my own honest reflections — on identity, on travel, on what it means to move through the world as a queer person. Nothing polished. Just truth.
Community Stories
This series belongs to all of us. I'm always looking for community members who want to share their journey. Your story matters — and I'd love to help tell it.
Wellness & Authentic Living
Travel Well. Live Fully.
As a nurse, a yoga teacher, and a queer person, I've learned that wellness isn't a luxury — it's a lifeline. Especially for those of us who move through the world carrying the weight of stress, trauma, and the constant effort of being seen. Travel, done intentionally, can be one of the most healing things we do for ourselves.
Mindful Travel
My holistic nursing practice taught me to treat the whole person — body, mind, and spirit. I bring that same lens to travel. Slow down. Be present. Let a destination actually land in your body, not just your camera roll.
Wellness Retreats
From Icelandic geothermal lagoons to Bali-inspired sanctuaries, I guide you toward destinations and experiences that genuinely restore. Not just pretty places — places that do something for your nervous system.
Yoga & Movement
As a registered yoga teacher, I share practices you can take with you anywhere — a rooftop in Lisbon, a beach in Costa Rica, a quiet hotel room after a hard day. Movement is medicine, wherever you are.
Rest & Restoration
For LGBTQ+ folks especially, rest is resistance. We carry a lot. I believe deeply in the healing power of stepping away, exhaling, and giving yourself permission to simply be — recharged, whole, and fully yourself.
"Wellness isn't something you earn after the hard stuff. It's the foundation you build everything else on."
YouTube
Come Explore With Me.
YouTube is my main home on the internet — and I'd love for you to be part of it. I'm J.R.: a nurse, a yoga teacher, a queer human, and a traveler who believes the world is more beautiful when we show up as our full selves. On my channel, I share destination vlogs, LGBTQ+ travel guides, wellness tips I practice on the road, honest reflections about what travel really feels like, and my "I See You" series — real conversations about identity, belonging, and authentic living. If any of that sounds like your kind of content, come find me. I think you'll feel at home.
Destination Vlogs
I take you with me — from iconic cities to hidden corners of the world. Real trips, real moments, real wonder.
LGBTQ+ Travel Guides
Honest, practical guides to LGBTQ+-welcoming destinations so you can travel with confidence and joy.
Wellness & Yoga on the Road
I bring my nursing and yoga practice into every trip — sharing grounding rituals, movement, and mindful moments wherever I land.
I See You Series
Stories of identity, belonging, and authentic living — from our growing community of travelers who refuse to shrink themselves.
Honest Travel Reflections
Not just the highlights. I talk about what travel is actually like — the hard moments, the breakthroughs, and everything in between.
YouTube is where I live, but you can also find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Come say hi — wherever you hang out most.
Our Community
You're Not Just a Follower. You're Family.
I started Out and Well Travel because I needed a space where people like me — queer, curious, wellness-minded, and hungry for the world — could feel seen. And what I found was something even better: you. My community is made up of LGBTQ+ travelers, wellness seekers, dreamers, nurses, yogis, and people from every corner of the world who believe life is genuinely meant to be lived out loud. You are the reason I keep showing up.
This isn't just content — it's a conversation. I read every comment. I respond to DMs. I genuinely want to know where you've been, what you're dreaming of, and what you're working through. Your story matters to me, and this community is better because you're in it. Come as you are. You belong here.
📘 Find Me on Facebook
Join our Facebook community for travel inspiration, destination highlights, and real conversations about authentic, affirming living. I love connecting here.
▶ Subscribe on YouTube
My main home on the internet — travel adventures, LGBTQ+ destination guides, the I See You series, and wellness content made with you in mind.
📸 Follow on Instagram
Behind-the-scenes moments, travel photography, and daily inspiration from wherever I'm wandering. Come say hi — I really do respond.
Out and Well Travel
Be You. Travel More. Live Well. Belong.
The world is waiting. Come explore it as yourself. — J.R.
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Let's Connect
I'd genuinely love to hear from you — whether you want to share your travel story, ask a question, or just say hello. My DMs and inbox are always open. This community is built on real connection, and you're a big part of it.
YouTube
My main home — travel adventures, destination guides, and the I See You series.
Travel photography, behind-the-scenes moments, and daily inspiration from the road.
TikTok
Short-form travel stories, wellness tips, and real talk from wherever I'm wandering.
Community conversations, travel inspiration, and updates on new content and stories.
J.R. · RN, BSN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC, RYT
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© 2024 Out and Well Travel. All rights reserved. The world is for everyone.
Hi, I'm J.R. — Board Certified Holistic Nurse, Yogi, and Your LGBTQ+-Affirming Travel Guide.