These world travelers met in high school and have been inseparable ever since. Ryan knew he wanted to spend all his time with Amourelle, a genuine case of love at first site. Their relationship blossomed from a close friendship.
Both Ryan and Amourelle were born on the East Coast of the United States and lived active childhoods, playing sports and spending much time outside. The spent their young adulthood living in Southern California. During this time they would take weekend trips exploring the Western United States. Exploring the vastly different geography this nation has to offer brought them great joy. These short trips set a foundation, incorporating consistent travel into their lives and teaching them how to plan meaningful adventures. They realized that venturing to new areas would educate them better than any classroom could and that cultural experiences were essential to their personal growth.
Ryan's family encouraged him to travel from a young age. In 2004 he traveled to Europe for the first time, exploring France and Holland. In the years that followed, he returned to Europe numerous times. During his adolescence, this impressionable time, he had the opportunity to immerse himself in many different cultures. Ryan spent his teens learning other languages, tasting foreign cuisines, and familiarizing himself with new customs. At 16, he spent his summer traveling the Middle East, discovering old-world cities. And at 17, Ryan spent his entire summer living in Antwerp, Belgium. During this time, Ryan learned he had a knack for navigation and used this to get around European cities by foot, bike, bus, and train. While in Barcelona, Spain, Ryan realized that he no longer wanted to travel without Amourelle. He had spent too much time looking for phone cards and locating pay phones to call her while away, time that could've been better used with her.
Amourelle started traveling Internationally at the age of 22. Her first travels outside the borders of the United States was to the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos. It was on this trip that Ryan got down on one knee and asked for Amourelle to marry him. Amourelle always dreamed of getting married in Paris, France, so hard that they made it happen. They honeymooned along the French Riviera, and during this time, they vowed to one another that on every anniversary, they would travel to a new place. Amourelle came up with the idea of following an alphabetical system (A-Z) and each year, choosing a city or country that began with the letter correlating with the number of years they had been married. Their first anniversary had to be a city or country that started with the letter A, so they chose Aruba. On the second anniversary, they decided Bangkok. On the third anniversary, they went to Colombia. And the tradition continues. Their "aha" moment registered on their honeymoon when they realized they could dedicate that same time every year to strengthening their relationship while touring new destinations.
Ryan and Amourelle live and work in fast-paced New York City. It's a great area for them because it has multiple international airports, a cruise port, railroads, and highways that spread out in every direction. Never taking for granted everything the Big Apple has to offer; museums, concert halls, sporting arenas, and restaurants that offer every culinary experience imaginable. They're constantly pushing one another to try new things and to be the best version of themselves. They've learned that actively working on their physical and mental health is vital to their happiness. They're environmentally conscious and mindful of their carbon footprint. They want to help protect the planet and be healthy so they can travel for a long time while maintaining a good quality of life.
In 2020, Ryan and Amourelle planned to visit England for their fifth anniversary. Unfortunately, for the first time in their relationship, they had to cancel a trip. This year they had to get creative with their travel, so their adventures included camping trips, hiking, paddle boarding, and snowboarding. In 2021, Ryan and Amourelle celebrated their sixth anniversary by traveling to Flagstaff. From there, they drove 837 miles and explored Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest NP, Painted Desert NP, Zion NP, Colorado National Monument NP, and the Rocky Mountains. In 2022, Ryan and Amourelle celebrated their anniversary in Germany and also took on their biggest adventure as a couple to date, traveling to 12 cities across 7 countries in 21 days. In 2023, Ran and Amourelle spent their anniversary in Hawaii, the Aloha state, where they learned about Hawaiian traditions and soaked up the Polynesian sun. In 2024, they chose to spend their anniversary in Ibiza, experiencing the best music the White Isle had to share. Follow them across their social media accounts @the_bernhey_way.
Ryan and Amourelle believe travel is attainable for all. They will show you that you don't need to stay in a 5-star hotel or eat at a Michelin-rated restaurant to have an incredible trip. In fact they recommend you try to experience a place like a local. With a bit of planning and a healthy attitude, you can go anywhere you set your mind to. If ever you need a little help or inspiration, please reach out.