We were lucky to catch up with Angie Vasquez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

After putting together my first Meetup group Angel’s Excursions I realized I love teaching people about different places in the outdoors. The feeling of talking about the surroundings and history on a hike through a scenic trail or the wildlife we may encounter is exhilarating.

I decided I wanted to heal women through nature because nature helped to heal me. I am a domestic violence survivor and getting outside not only gave me strength, it also gave me hope. As I walk through an ancient forest or kayak down a beautiful stream I am reminded of the resilience and strength of these spaces. Seeing a female black bear fishing for salmon to provide nutrients for their cub in the same stream the female salmon are attempting to spawn and create future generations from their eggs.

I know the path may be a slow climb in order to succeed but it will be worth it! By photographing and documenting the journey and taking women to show them how important they are while traveling and adventuring makes the endeavor worthwhile.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I lived in Las Vegas for three years and grew to love the outdoors. I’d go hiking often to relieve everyday stresses. When I moved back to Florida, I wanted to hike for my mental health but knew nothing about the terrain. I joined Meetup and began hiking with different groups to learn the trails and elements, even starting my own Meetup group. I noticed that the meetups didn’t have many women attending. I began to ask the women who were attending what was their hesitation in getting outside and most said safety.

I decided then I needed to create, Girls Who Hike Florida, a community for women to feel safe outdoors. Going through a time in my life when I was trying to heal, I understood not feeling safe. The group was growing by the thousands and opportunities began to surface. We were invited to outdoor festivals and conventions, I was invited to teach in public schools, the Girl Scouts, and REI. I was doing all of this while still working.

At the end of 2018, I wanted to change some of the things in my life. I began looking into seasonal work. I wanted to spend more time outdoors teaching others about the beautiful healing properties of nature. I found a nature guide job in Alaska and applied. The warmth of sharing the knowledge of the outdoors with others is truly rewarding. I now have taken this passion and am working to cultivate my business Angel’s Excursions into a retreat and travel company giving women a chance to experience the outdoors uniquely.

The outdoors saved my life from being in an abusive relationship. Nature gave me hope and provided healing, allowing me to connect with myself and share my story with others who may need to hear it. For me, the success of my company will be measured by the passion I have for helping women heal and understand their connection to themselves via the outdoors, and the world is a goal not only obtainable but purposely curated for them.

I’ve lived in my van Peter Parker full time for the past three years. I decided that corporate jobs were not suited for me and began working seasonally as a tour director during the summer months in Alaska. From April to September, I dedicate my time to show others the beauty of Alaska. Working seasonally has given me the financial freedom to explore the world and intentionally take time to pursue content creation through photography and YouTube.

This year I am extremely proud of myself for accomplishing the goal of purchasing land for my Alaska women’s retreat. The retreat will focus on healing and outdoor adventures. I want the retreat to have a pay-it-forward program as well to bring women up to Alaska who would never be able to come on their own.

At the moment I offer vacation itinerary consultations and will be announcing my 2024 adventure travel packages for Alaska.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I remember looking out of the basement window of my corporate job and thinking, “This can’t be life.” At that moment I knew something had to change. I was in a horrible relationship and hated my job. It was getting harder each day to get out of bed and although I never thought of suicide, I didn’t want to live this way. I’d go for very long walks around the neighborhood with my dogs not only for their exercise but my sanity as well.

A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to yoga in the park and I said, “Yes! It was such a beautiful experience. I then began to go on guided night hikes and from there needed to be outdoors as often as possible. I rented a car and took the dogs on hikes. It escalated to me going on longer hikes and kayaking, anything to keep me away from home and not think about work.

The freedom empowered me to quit my job and move to Florida. It put me on the path to healing and teaching others the power they have inside themselves.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I truly love creating YouTube and Photography for my community. I know it is my calling as a teacher and artist. Ever since the day my grandfather gave me his Canon AE-1 Program film camera in 1985, I have been obsessed with showing others what I see through my lens.

I often have subscribers tell me they’ve learned something new or I’ve given them a glimpse into a life they know they cannot have but live vicariously through my adventures. Words like these give me encouragement. Each time I talk in front of my camera or edit a photo or video, I feel alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.excursionsbyangel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angels_excursions
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AngelsExcursions