Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Manning.
Hi Alyssa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a South Carolina native, but we moved to Mississippi when I was 10. I love a good story, good song, and a good cocktail. I’m probably not your typical Southerner, but I feel that I’m Southern in my own way.
All my life I’ve been a traveler, and I work now as a professional travel agent. I made my first travel itinerary at age 13, for a Girl Scout trip to Washington DC. At 17, I moved away to Las Vegas from our small hometown in Mississippi. “I need wide open spaces,” I told my mom, or maybe I sang it in true Dixie chicks fashion. Over my years out West and since I moved back home, I’ve lived from one trip to the next, whether it’s a day trip or a full-blown adventure. I love asking my husband and daughter questions like, “If you could spend one week in any city, where would you pick?” or “If you could live abroad for a summer, what country would you want to live in.” I plan hypothetical trips that may (or may not) happen in the near (or not so near) future, spending hours on Google Maps plotting out how I would explore Tokyo or Madrid or Oaxaca.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
What life is always easy? The 2008 mortgage crisis was life-altering for me. After I found my wide open spaces in Las Vegas, I made a career for myself in the mortgage lending industry. The crash devastated Las Vegas. As a single mother to a three-year-old, I had to make some hard decisions that eventually led me back to my hometown to start over with nothing. I accepted a job in the family medical practice business and spent 10 years gaining back my stability before deciding to try something new.
My husband often says, “Life is short, but life is long.” Each step forward, each new career, taught me the lessons and gave me the skills I needed to keep going and forge my own way.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a travel agent! I do business under The Ever Curious, and the FORA travel agency backs me. I help people — solo travelers, couples, friend groups, bachelorette parties, families, you name it — get the most out of their next adventure. Building this business has been so fun, and I love helping my clients get off the beaten path and have an experience they’ll treasure forever.
Sometimes clients come to me and they don’t even know where they want to go. That’s fun for me, because I can suggest destinations they probably wouldn’t have thought of. Other times, the client is managing a group trip with lots of moving parts. It’s gratifying to take the stress off their hands so they can enjoy their trip. I am a naturally organized person and I’m extremely thorough in my research. And I’m a good listener. I get to know my clients pretty deeply to understand what kind of trip they’d love. Once they’re on the trip, I like being on call to help them handle the curve balls that travel can often throw.
The future is always uncertain, and I think that’s a good thing. I’m excited to see where this goes and to see what life has in store for me and my family
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from growing up.
So I come from a big ol’ country family. My dad is one of 12 siblings who are all incredible storytellers. My favorite childhood memories are of my aunts and uncles sitting around at holiday gatherings, telling stories about their misadventures when they were young.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theevercurious.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.evercurious/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.evercurious
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssavailmanning/
- Other: https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/alyssa-manning
