Meet the Co-Owners

We opened The Traveler in 1995 because we believe that travel opens a window on other cultures and encourages us to appreciate the world's many differences while understanding that we all share a common humanity. Together we are always researching products and books and trying them out on our own travels.  

Susan Taylor (left) grew up in Bogotá, Colombia and has lived in Switzerland, Italy, Mexico and the US. She loves to travel and believes that it gives us an invaluable tool as we work for justice, peace and understanding on this planet. But she also thinks travel is just plain fun and is always on the lookout for products that will make our journeys more interesting, comfortable and enjoyable.

Barbara Tolliver (right) is a Midwesterner by birth, Pacific Northwesterner by heritage and librarian by training. She lived in England for four years (two of her three children were born there), and became an expert on traveling in Europe with kids. She is the book buyer and loves to discover the best guides and the most interesting travel-inspired literature.