Rachel Ellis of Claiborne County has visited every state, every continent and some 30 countries.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Tenn. — Stickers displaying dozens of ocean destinations far from Tennessee surround Rachel Ellis' Tennessee license plate.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, ever since I was little,” Ellis said.
Born and raised in East Tennessee, Ellis grew up in Claiborne County. At the age of 8, he was diagnosed with leukemia. For a while she was in a wheelchair. Today, she explores the world alone.
“I started working and exploring America from the East Coast to the West Coast, and I was able to explore Canada and Mexico. And then I knew I had to go explore the rest of the world.” , explained Ellis.
Her first trip out of the country was in 2016, when she and her mother took a cruise to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
After eight years of traveling and aware of the potential concerns as a woman traveling alone, Ellis has learned some tips and tricks.
- Never tell others that you are traveling alone
- Leave shoulder bags or handbags behind, as they could make you more vulnerable to theft.
- Ditch Cash and Use Apple Pay or Credit Cards
- Use apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to make calls abroad and avoid extra charges on your phone bill.
- Use public transportation rather than rideshare services like Uber or Lyft, which can quickly get expensive
Ellis recently launched a Youtube channel to share their travel experiences.
“I just want to encourage young women to be more confident in traveling,” she said. “Traveling has always been my dream. Traveling is one of the main things in my life that makes me happy, besides God. There are so many things to see. Get out and go.”
