Life is good
Diane Manson is inspired by Mother Nature and by people who are genuine and kind
Diane Manson, owner of Mountain City Travel in Kimberley, is happiest when she's out enjoying nature or helping people realize their travel dreams. — Photo courtesy Diane Manson
Mountain City Travel, owned and operated by Diane Manson, is a 2012 Best of Business Award winner.
What’s the last book you read?
Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs, by Heather Lende. I met Heather and three of her friends when I was hiking in Alaska a couple of years ago, up on Laughton Glacier. She lives in Haines, Alaska, and she writes about life and life lessons learned in a small town. She writes journalistically and has some very insightful observations. I’ve read both of her books.
Some of my favourite reads are my Canadian hiking books.
What other possible career appeals to you?
If I wasn’t in the travel business, I would love to be a part-time gardener in Maui!
What keeps you in the travel business?
It takes in every single corner of the world, and it changes a lot—sometimes hourly. What holds an interest for one person for a dream trip might be a horrible experience for the next person. So I have the opportunity to really listen to people and create their ideal dream. That’s far more exciting to me than, oh, collecting taxes!
What’s your own dream vacation?
My dream vacation would have to be in two parts. With my husband, it would be spending a month in Tahiti, going from island to island, snorkelling and enjoying the water and the life under the water. I’m actually going to live my other dream vacation starting in mid-October: I’m going trekking in the Himalayas for 22 days. I went there three years ago and I’m going back. We’re doing a very ambitious trek into the mountains with a small group of six. It’s not about bagging a peak, it’s about meeting the people, and putting your soul in the midst of the mountains. It’s about living in the moment. Nepal is incredibly spiritual, gentle, pure, truly magnificent.
What inspires you?
Mother Nature, and great cookbooks, especially the Whitewater series.
Who inspires you?
People who are genuine, kind and value relationships.
If you had a piece of advice to give to your younger self, what would it be?
Always believe in yourself. That’s compliments of my parents, who always believed in their children. Something I’ve added recently is, “Life is all about how you handle your Plan B.”
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