Chronic illness didn’t take away my love of travel. It changed how I do it.
It means more planning, more research, more honest assessment of what my body can handle on a given day. It means knowing which destinations have accessible options and which don’t, and deciding whether the adventure is worth the recovery time. It means pacing myself in ways that healthy travelers don’t have to think about.
And it also means that when I get somewhere beautiful — a petroglyph trail in Southern Utah, a historic island in Virginia, a quiet garden I nearly didn’t make it to — it means something more than it might have otherwise.
Travel increases happiness, builds a sense of purpose, and reminds you that the world is vast and worth showing up for. Those things matter even more when you’re managing a body that makes showing up harder.
You’ll find destination guides, accessibility notes, honest reviews, and travel stories here — written from the perspective of someone who plans carefully, travels intentionally, and refuses to stop going.
Destinations
| Pennsylvania | Utah | Virginia |
The Latest Blog Articles Related to Travel
The Ultimate Virginia Travel Bucket List — Things to See, Do & Eat in Virginia
Few states carry as much of America's story as Virginia. Eight U.S. presidents were born here — more than any other state — including four of the first five. More Civil War battles were fought on Virginia soil than anywhere else in the country. And yet, somehow, the...
Planning a Trip to Historic Jamestowne? Here’s Everything You Should Know
As a homeschooling mom, I had wanted to take my children to historic Jamestowne for years—and I found it more interesting than I expected. Walking on the island, seeing the James River stretch beyond the horizon, and exploring the reconstructed fort and gardens, I...
Club Wyndham Kingsgate Review, Williamsburg, Virginia
We stayed at the Club Wyndham Kingsgate resort during our trip to Williamsburg in August of 2021. While we focused primarily on sightseeing, the resort offered many amenities we didn’t have the chance to use. For guests seeking rest and relaxation, this property has...
Southern Utah Vacation: Zion National Park, Snow Canyon & Hidden Gems
It was October 2020—a moment suspended between the chaos of what had been and the hope of what might be. The world was cloaked in uncertainty, and so was I. Like many, I’d been tethered to the familiar walls of my home for months, yearning for a taste of something...
Articles Related to Travel
- The Ultimate Virginia Travel Bucket List — Things to See, Do & Eat in Virginia
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- Club Wyndham Kingsgate Review, Williamsburg, Virginia
- Southern Utah Vacation: Zion National Park, Snow Canyon & Hidden Gems
- The Santa Clara Petroglyphs: Ruins, Rock Art, and Resilience
- Snow Canyon State Park, Utah: Photos, Hiking Trails, and Tips for Travelers with Disabilites
- Visit to the Fredericksburg Battlefield
- Veyo Pies in Veyo, Utah: A Sweet Slice of Utah’s Dessert Scene
- On Orange Brunch Restaurant in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
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About Cultivate an Exceptional Life
Cultivate an Exceptional Life is a chronic illness community for women who are done waiting for their hard season to be over before they start really living.
Here you'll find honest stories, practical tools, and hard-won wisdom for building a life you love — alongside your illness, not in spite of waiting for it to get better.
Because an exceptional life doesn't just happen. It has to be cultivated.
Meet Leisa Watkins
Leisa is a chronic illness writer and advocate living with MS, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and CFS/ME, and a mom navigating her kids' chronic illness journeys alongside her own.
She writes from lived experience and years of research, sharing practical strategies and compassionate guidance for women building a full life alongside chronic illness.
Not a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice.