Stefanie Michaels calls the world her home.

And the Adventure Girl has combined her passion for travel and technology to build a career, a brand and a life filled with adventure.

At the tender age of three, Michaels began working in commercials, modeling and dancing with aspirations of performing onstage with the New York City Ballet. Although an injury squashed her dream, the California native launched a social media production company in 2004, SMC Productions.

As her fan base began to grow, so did Michaels’ travel log. With a team of travel junkies, “Adventure Girl” shares the best tips and tricks for travelers, provides the inside scoop on unique locations, prime hotels and top restaurants around the globe.

When the jet-setter isn’t globe trotting around the world, she dishes her travel advice for E!, Access Hollywood, The Insider, The Rachael Ray Show, CNN and Fox. She has also been featured in Vanity Fair, TIME, People, Glamour Magazine and Marie Claire  and was listed in the top spot of Forbes’ 20 Most Branded Women on Twitter/Top 30 Women in Tech.

Michaels continues her travels around the world and resides in Los Angeles with her husband and six rescued pets. Now, here are her insider picks for your 2020 travel planning consideration.

Three Hot-Spot Destinations Worth the Hype

Croatia: Made popular (more than ever) by the filming of “Game of Thrones” in Dubrovnik—and despite the kitsch peppered around the town like a photo op at the show’s Iron Throne, its old-world charm remains intact. 

Ireland: If you love road trips, this destination is hard to beat. From Dublin to Waterford to the Cliffs of Moher, and everything in between, tourism here is heating up. Hit up tiny hamlets on your way to places like Limerick, Cork and Galway and drop into a pub or two and meet and greet with locals. 

Hawaii: Always a pleaser in the travel space, there’s nothing like a jaunt to Honolulu, where the current “Hawaii Five-O” and “Magnum P.I.” TV shows shoot. A bustling little big town, there’s a ton of stuff to do and see for every member of the family. Honeymooners are going to want to hit the quieter islands of Maui or Kauai, and explorers may take to Lanai and the Big Island—Hawaii. 

Two Hidden Gems Worth the Trip

Slovenia: Slovenia is a place for everyone of all ages to explore, with old-world Central European charm, wonderful people and a great food scene. Travelers can adventure to both mountain and seaside destinations, as well as explore a huge cave system that runs under most of the country. 

Scottish Highlands: Wild and wonderful, the Scottish Highlands are perfect for all ages. There are beautiful hamlets, nature abounds here and the area is close to the striking capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh.

My Favorite Destination in Texas

Fredericksburg is my new favorite Texas destination for so many reasons, including its burgeoning wine industry. Stop in at 4.0 Cellars and gander at the wide range of wineries they represent and taste a sample or two. Sunday homes aka guest houses, once meant for ranchers to come into town for an overnight stay, have been developed into boutique hotel properties—something quaint and romantic all at the same time. The perfect spot to spend an extended weekend.

Cover: Stefanie Michaels. Photo courtesy Adventure Girl

Lisa Davis lives in Austin and is the Editorial Assistant for Texas Lifestyle Magazine and an honors graduate of Concordia University Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Public Relations.