Growing up in California, Taylor Gleason had only been outside the US during family trips to Mexico. But then, when he was 16, he went on a school trip to Italy, and the travel bug hit him hard.
A mere five years later, he has been to a grand total of 65 countries, graduating early from UCLA to commit two years to intensive country-hopping. He visited 50 countries just in that span of time. Besides visiting more of the world than most people will ever have the chance to see, he has had some pretty unbelievable experiences. He's also amassed a serious Instagram following— over 64,000, to be exact — thanks to his vivid documentation of all of his adventures.
We spoke with Gleason to hear about the highs and lows of his exploits, as well as his pro-tips for other travelers. While some of the things he's learned and accomplished may surprise you, one thing's for sure: he's certainly prepared for anything that life can throw at him in the future.
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"I've always been one of those people that just needs to be constantly doing something, being active, and being an explorer. I like writing my own narrative and going wherever life wants to take me," Gleason said.
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"Over time, I accrued an interest in so many different places that I was learning about through books and my education, and each place that sparked a 'wow' factor in me had me captivated," he said.
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To save up for his two-year travel spree, he worked at UCLA while studying hard to complete his degree early. He also leveraged the international connections he had made from college and beyond, staying with friends wherever he could.
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