our STORY
Inspiration
Hi, I'm Heather Bolen, founder of Travel & Culture Salon. My love for travel began at sixteen when I ventured alone to Paris to live with a local family for the summer. This transformative experience sparked my passion for history and culture. Since then, I’ve earned a master’s in European history and lived in cities like San Francisco, Paris, Amsterdam, and now New York City, each deepening my appreciation for the stories behind art and place.
Fumbling Forward
Looking back, I realize I was fine with life’s zig-zags when things went smoothly—a promotion, marriage, kids, a marathon finish. But setbacks like divorce, health issues, or family struggles felt like failures, stirring up my inner perfectionist and my urge to fix things beyond my control. In mid-life, I work (hard) daily to “drop the rope” and detach myself from outcomes. After a major life event and the upheaval of the pandemic, I felt a deep need to reconnect with the world and the richness of human stories. That’s why I started Travel & Culture Salon—to create a space for meaningful exploration and connection across cultures. This venture is my way of channeling the desire for deeper understanding and shared experiences, hoping to bring a bit of that same inspiration and joy to others.
Giving Back: Our Shared Heritage
Travel & Culture Salon is dedicated to preserving our shared heritage, especially as climate change, imbalanced tourism, and other challenges threaten cultural sites worldwide. We proudly support the World Monuments Fund, pledging 1% of annual profits to their mission. Through global community partnerships, WMF has protected over 700 sites in 112 countries, safeguarding meaningful places and stories for future generations.
“Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when perfect, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.”
— Albert Camus