Less Hustle. More Healing.
If you told little me—curled up by the fire on a camping trip with my dad—that I’d one day build a business around road trips and mountain towns, I think she’d just smile and say, “Yeah, that makes sense.”
Hi there, I’m Stacey! I grew up in New York City, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the woods. My dad used to take me Upstate, just the two of us sleeping under the stars, cooking over a fire, breathing in all that fresh, piney air. It was quiet and simple in the best way. Back then, I didn’t realize how much those trips shaped me. I just knew I felt good when I was out there. Free. Calm. Me.
Of course, life happened. Somewhere between growing up and “figuring it all out,” I got swept into the usual current—work, relationships, plans on top of plans. The hustle. The noise. The city never really stops moving, and for a while, I didn’t either. But eventually, all of it—the anxiety, the unhealthy relationships, the constant doing—caught up with me.
I started to feel stuck. Disconnected. Like I had lost the part of myself that knew how to breathe deep and move slow. I tried therapy. I tried talking it out. And then someone said, “Have you ever been to a meditation retreat?” and something in me said yes, even though I had no idea what I was walking into.
So I booked a weekend at Peace Village, up in Haines Falls, NY. And let me tell you, it was exactly what I needed. I met people who were also just trying to feel better. I ate clean. I learned how to sit still without freaking out. I took walks through the trees and remembered what it felt like to feel grounded. That weekend didn’t fix everything, but it cracked something open in me.
I realized I didn’t just want to get out of the city more—I needed to.
That one weekend turned into many more. At first, I took short day trips, then weekend getaways. Sometimes I went with friends or a partner. Other times, it was just me, a packed bag, and a playlist. I’d wake up before dawn, fill up the tank, grab a coffee, and hit the road. The more I did it, the more alive I felt.
The funny thing is, once I started going solo, I started noticing more. The way a little antique shop can feel like a treasure hunt. The conversations you fall into at a quiet café. The way a hiking trail or a waterfall can shift your whole mood without saying a word. Nature didn’t judge me. It didn’t talk over me. It just let me be.
And somewhere along the way, I started to share these experiences, first just with friends who were like, “Okay, where is that place you went to last weekend?” Then with more people. Then…well, here we are.
That’s how Stay, See & Travel was born.
It’s not about being a travel influencer or putting together some perfectly curated trip. It’s about creating real experiences for real people who just need a break. A breather. A reminder that there’s still beauty and magic out there, sometimes just a few hours from home.
I design personalized travel itineraries for solo travelers, couples, and small groups who want to explore Upstate New York and Connecticut in a way that feels intentional, healing, and just plain fun. No two trips are ever the same, because no two people are.
My mission is to help you realize that escaping your everyday, anxiety-ridden life, even just for a weekend, isn’t indulgent. It’s necessary. You deserve to feel calm. To feel alive. To wander. To rest.
So whether you're planning a solo trip to clear your head, a weekend with your favorite person, or a getaway with your best friends, I’ve got you. Let’s make it personal. Let’s make it memorable. Let’s make it yours.
See you on the road.
—Stacey
Founder of Stay, See & Travel
