Our Travel Consultants
Thanks for visiting us! We believe that travel helps each of us understand our world better. Seeing things outside one's own routine is a transformative experience; one that builds kindness and understanding. It also introduces us to cultures and people, which makes our world a smaller place, and has the potential to improve the lives of so many people in our world! Our team is all about relationships and is fantastic to work with. Please read their bios below to see who would be a good fit for you!
Joy Hess Walter
CEO/Founder
joy@outsidethelinestravel.com
412.608.4991
I'm passionate about taking time to travel regularly - even a short road trip to a neighboring town or state. It's a priority for me to visit a new place each year, preferably somewhere out of my comfort zone, and I also make time to revisit favorite travel traditions with my friends and famiily.
Some travel info about me:
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Favorite Destinations: Mexico, Scotland, Bermuda, Alaska, Utah, Maine, Costa Rica, the Azores, Madeira, Norway
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See the World List ('Bucket List'): Japan, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa
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2026 travel plans - International: Amsterdam, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mexico. Domestic: Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Montana, Vermont.
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Travel style: Intrepid & exploring like a local. Mix of exploring, being outdoors, & relaxing! Love solo travel in a new city.
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Favorite travel companion: my husband, Michael
My consulting specialties are planning custom vacations, to locations around the world, anywhere my clients desire to go. I especially enjoy planning multi-generational trips, group trips, adults-only getaways, and solo trips (everyone should travel alone at least once in their lives)! Though I am an international travel specialist, our country is HUGE and I enjoy helping families with domestic US vacations as well.
Helping others experience the world outside the lines is a joy and is the main reason why I choose to work in the travel industry.
Kristin Kordish
Lead Travel Consultant
kristin@outsidethelinestravel.com
724.599.4283
Schedule a complimentary consultation with Kristin HERE
I’m a wanderer by nature. My roots began in in Western Pennsylvania but have since trickled along the Southwestern United States to my current location in the Verde Valley of Northern Arizona. I adore variety- whether I’m taking in the quiet nature around me or the bustling vibrancy of a new city. This marriage of interests has led me to some unique places along the way.
My hobby of shelling has taken me to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. My favorite shelling location has been Salt Cay, Turks & Caicos, where I learned to conch dive and explored the reef. Bonus points go to the island’s resident donkeys which roam freely.
My love of historic cities ties Savannah & Saint Augustine as my top choices in the United States. To celebrate 40th birthday, I chose to drink from the Fountain of Youth in Saint Augustine for a bit of longevity and luck.
I prefer a good steak, but I once tried the traditional Oaxacan dish of cricket topped tostadas in Mexico. It was fun, but I’ve chosen to stick with cheese.
I love the way culture weaves us together in the world and truly enjoy planning travel experiences for my clients. Whether they’re interested in discovering the Tuscan countryside, a domestic vacation with the family, soaking up the sun in a warm climate, a solo trip for relaxation, business travel, or even exploring in a group- I’m happy to help.
My ideal client is someone who has genuine curiosity about the world and a desire to explore it further. No dream is too large or small!
Lucy Hess
Disney Parks and Universal Studios Consultant
lucy@outsidethelinestravel.com
412.508.2589
I am a theme park nerd. And I mean that in a good way! It is a special thing to visit a place where everyone belongs, and theme parks seem to be the closest anyone can get to that feeling these days. Where else can you visit 11 countries, save the galaxy, make a new friend, and thank the Phoenicians all in one day?
I take great pride in my knowledge of the Disney and Universal parks (Worldwide! Not just Florida!) and it brings me great joy to share that knowledge with others. My goal is to curate experiences in the theme parks that feel truly stress-free and allow you to take in all of the spellbinding entertainment, the one-of-a-kind attractions, and immersive theming with your full attention. It’s much easier to make lasting memories when you’re not worried about how to navigate the various apps and special services at the parks.
I am also a proud Walt Disney World cast member, so you can trust that all of the parks information I share is up to date and accurate. I am active in the Epcot Cast Choir at the annual Candlelight Processional as well. Outside of work, I live about fifteen minutes away from Universal Orlando Resort, and am a frequent visitor. I love the change of pace over at Universal, and will always sing its praises, even to the biggest die-hard Disney fans. I am an artist, a musician, and a not-too-shabby cook. I inject creativity into everything I do, so my consulting comes with its own special flair, usually in the way of a barrage of fun-facts.
If you are looking to escape, looking to fulfill a lifelong dream, looking to step into an adventure unlike any other, I’m your girl. Come join me on my endeavor to leave everyone and every place better than when I found it.
Tonya Yohn Woody
Travel Consultant
tonya@outsidethelinestravel.com
410.937.2940
Schedule a complimentary consultation with Tonya HERE
Greetings from the South, y’all! I was born and raised in quintessential small-town Pennsylvania, nestled among the picturesque Appalachian Mountains. I gradually migrated south, beginning careers and a family in Maryland and now calling the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina home.
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As a classically trained singer and lover of all things arts and culture, I try my best to take in the artistic and native offerings wherever I go. I enjoy the iconic, touristy hot spots as much as anyone else, but I’m most known to adopt the “when in Rome” philosophy and can often be found chatting with the locals to get the inside scoop on the “real” must-dos and best eats. A few of my favorite do-as-the-locals-do experiences include The Visionary Arts Museum (Baltimore, MD), the Maine Maritime Museum (Bath, ME), Connemara Celtic Crystal (Galway, Ireland), the Side Street Café (Portland, ME), Amelies French Patisserie (Charlotte, NC), El Fish Fritanga (Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico), and the hidden gem of Daufuskie Island, SC.
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My husband Doug and I log many travel miles visiting family in Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania, but we manage a few “just for fun” getaways, too. Doug and I are drawn to coastal cities like Annapolis, MD, Providence, RI, San Francisco, CA, and Anna Maria Island, FL. We recently cruised the Inner Passageway of Alaska and visited many lovely ports along the route. Ask me about our fishing experience in Ketchikan or meeting a totem carver in Sitka!
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Every winter, you’ll find me leaving the cold and gray and heading somewhere tropical for Outside the Lines Travel’s annual Girls-Only Getaway. In May 2026, I’m thrilled to be visiting Portugal and Spain, walking along portions of the Camino Portuguese as part of a special OTLT women-only trip. To find out more about any of the amazing group travel opportunities our agency has planned, visit the OTLT’s Groups page here on the site. We’d love to have you join us!
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I regard travel as one of the best possible investments we can make in ourselves. As your travel advisor, it’s my pleasure to help design a vacation that satisfies your needs and individual style as much as possible. I’d be happy to meet with you for a complimentary 30-minute phone conversation where I can learn a bit about you, listen to your ideas, ask and answer questions, and discuss planning fees, which vary by trip according to number of travelers, length of travel and trip complexity.
