Freelancer and avid traveler Carrie Visintainer writes The Coloradoan’s Wild Mama column, sharing her trials, tribulations, and tips as she seeks to keep an adventurous spirit as a mother of two young kids. Her personal essays have appeared in national publications including Proto, and have been anthologized in several Travelers’ Tales “The Best Women’s Travel Writing” volumes. Her most recent essay was awarded a first place Solas Award in the Travel and Transformation category. When she’s not out exploring solo or with her family, she can be found at home in the foothills near Fort Collins, working on her book-in-progress.