Journey Through the National Parks with Frank Castro, Founder of Northern Journeys

What happens when a lifelong adventure traveler turns his passion for remote places, nature, and exploration into a career—and then brings that expertise closer to home? In this episode of Voices of Kinship, Kelly Tolliday, Managing Director of Travel Kinship, sits down with Frank Castro, founder of Adventure International and Northern Journeys, to explore his nearly 20-year journey through the world of luxury adventure travel. Frank shares how his early experiences leading Kilimanjaro climbs evolved into luxury trekking, mountaineering, glamping, and bespoke adventure experiences around the world—and eventually led him to create Northern Journeys, a DMC focused on privately guided travel throughout the national parks of the US, Canada, and Alaska. Together, Kelly and Frank explore what makes an adventure truly meaningful, why personalized travel matters, and how getting outside and into nature can create experiences that stay with travelers long after they return home. In this episode, we discuss: Frank’s journey from Kilimanjaro to building Adventure International The evolution from trekking and mountaineering into luxury glamping and bespoke travel Why Frank saw an opportunity for more personalized national park travel in North America How Northern Journeys creates privately guided and self-drive national park itineraries Going beyond the typical national park circuit to discover lesser-known destinations and experiences Grand Teton, the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver Island, and British Columbia Private villas, safari camps, private guides, and unique accommodations for families and groups How adventure travel can naturally blend with wellness and mindfulness Why nature can be a powerful antidote to stress and technology overload The importance of getting children into nature and creating the next generation of environmental advocates How thoughtful travel can encourage curiosity, cultural respect, and a deeper connection to the world For Frank, the common thread across everything he creates is simple: get people into nature. Whether that means summiting Kilimanjaro, exploring Patagonia, rafting through the American West, surfing in British Columbia, or taking a family into a national park, Frank believes travel can create a ripple effect—helping people reconnect with themselves, their families, the outdoors, and ultimately the places they visit. About Northern Journeys Northern Journeys specializes in bespoke, privately guided travel throughout the national parks and wild places of the US, Canada, and Alaska, creating customized experiences for families, couples, groups, and adventure-minded travelers. Learn more at travelkinship.com #VoicesOfKinship #TravelKinship #NorthernJourneys #AdventureInternational #AdventureTravel #NationalParks #LuxuryAdventureTravel #FamilyAdventureTravel #NatureTravel #WellnessTravel #USNationalParks #CanadaTravel #AlaskaTravel