Our Story
FaithBasedTraveler began with a simple belief: some of the most powerful faith experiences happen when you stand where history happened — where saints prayed, where apparitions were witnessed, where miracles are still venerated centuries later.
Dana is the heart and voice of our journeys, bringing each pilgrimage to life on camera with warmth and curiosity. Behind the scenes, Ed handles the research, planning, and storytelling that shape every trip — making sure the history and theology are as solid as the faith behind them.
Together, we've visited the apparition sites of Lourdes, Guadalupe, Fátima, Medjugorje, La Salette (France), and Our Lady of Champion (in Wisconsin) and recently visited Covadonga and Garabandal. We have traced St. Paul's missionary route through Greece and visited several islands including Rhodes and Symi, We have walked the Camino Portuguese and explored the sacred spaces of the Holy Land, Spain, France including Chartes, Paris and Nevers, and trekked through Southern France, Malta, Poland, Italy (top to bottom), Prague, Ireland, and beyond,
We believe every pilgrimage begins with a single step of faith. We hope ours inspires yours.
Where We're Headed Next
Follow along as we plan and prepare for our next journeys — and see how you might join a future trip.
Past Pilgrimages
Holy sites, sacred spaces, and places of miracles we've visited.
Preparing for the Road
Practical guidance for pilgrimage travel, gathered from our own journeys.
Pack Carry-On Only
If at all possible, travel with only what you can fit in a carry-on bag. Avoid checking luggage. Traveling light gives you incredible flexibility if flights are delayed, canceled, or rerouted, allowing you to change flights without waiting for checked bags. It also saves valuable time at the airport and reduces the risk of lost luggage.
One of my favorite travel hacks is packing washable merino wool underwear and bras. Merino wool is lightweight, naturally odor-resistant, dries quickly, and can be worn multiple times between washes. I also pack a lightweight travel clothesline and a sleeve of laundry detergent sheets. They weigh almost nothing, take up very little space, and make it easy to wash clothes in your hotel room or apartment. With this simple setup, you can comfortably travel for weeks with a surprisingly small wardrobe.
The goal isn't to pack for every possible situation — it's to pack smart. Choose versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched, wear your bulkiest items on the plane, and leave extra room in your bag for souvenirs you'll collect along the way. You'll appreciate the freedom of traveling light from the moment you leave home until you return.
Arrive a Day or Two Early
Whenever possible, plan to arrive at your destination at least one day before your tour, cruise, pilgrimage, or group trip begins. While this may add the cost of an extra hotel night, it's one of the best investments you can make in a stress-free vacation.
Building in a travel day gives you a buffer in case of flight delays, cancellations, or lost luggage. Instead of worrying about missing your group or scrambling to make last-minute arrangements, you'll have time to recover from the journey, adjust to the local time zone, and begin your trip feeling rested and refreshed.
An extra day also gives you the opportunity to explore your destination at a relaxed pace, enjoy a local meal, and settle in before your itinerary begins. Starting your trip calm and well-rested is far better than beginning it exhausted and anxious.
Be a Pilgrim and Not a Tourist
A pilgrimage is much more than visiting beautiful churches or historic holy sites — it is an invitation to encounter God in a deeper and more personal way. While tourists often measure a trip by the places they see, pilgrims measure it by how their hearts are changed along the journey. Every prayer, conversation, unexpected challenge, and quiet moment becomes an opportunity to grow in faith and recognize God's presence. Approach each day with humility, gratitude, and a willingness to be surprised by the Holy Spirit. As you travel, allow the sacred places you visit to inspire not only lasting memories but also a renewed commitment to live your faith long after you return home.
Books That Shaped Our Journeys
Titles on pilgrimage, Church history, and the sites we've visited.
The Pilgrim's Journal
Wellspring
Medjugorje: The Message
Wayne Weible
The Miraculous Medal
Christine Watkins
213 Catholic Pilgrimage Sites
Catholic Sprouts
Miracles Do Happen
Briege McKenna, O.S.C.
Consecration to St. Joseph
Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
Latest From the Road
Gear We Travel With
Scenes From the Road
Walk With Us
Follow the journey on social media, send us a pilgrimage inquiry, or sign up for our newsletter — dispatches from the road, reflections from the trail, and news of upcoming pilgrimages.
Follow the Journey
Dispatches from the Road
Reflections, pilgrimage news, and travel notes — delivered to your inbox.
Plan Your Pilgrimage
Interested in joining a pilgrimage or have a question about a destination? Send us a message and we'll be in touch.
Share Your Prayer Intentions
One of the greatest blessings of every pilgrimage is the opportunity to carry the prayers of others to some of the holiest places in the world. We would be honored to bring your prayer intentions with us as we visit sacred churches, monasteries, shrines, relics, and places where saints walked and where countless pilgrims have sought God's grace for centuries.
Whether you are praying for healing, guidance, peace, a loved one, a family member, a new job, a marriage, children, or simply a deeper relationship with Christ, we invite you to entrust your intentions to us. Throughout our pilgrimage, we will pray for these intentions during Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, at Marian shrines, before sacred relics, and at other holy sites along our journey.
Your intentions will be treated with care and respect. You may share as much or as little detail as you wish, and if you prefer, you may submit your request anonymously.
It is a privilege to pray alongside our FaithBasedTraveler community. As we travel, we will carry your intentions with us, trusting that every prayer offered in faith is heard by our loving God.
We Will Carry Your Prayers
Share your intention below. Your name is optional — you may submit anonymously.