One Road Scholar, Seven Continents: A Q&A With Sharon Masterson
- Road Scholar Sharon Masterson was inspired to explore the world during her time in the U.S. Army. After retiring, she made it a mission to visit all seven continents with Road Scholar!
- Some of Sharon’s favorite travel memories include Yellowstone National Park, the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu.
- Since Sharon completed her goal, her new travel project is visit all the U.S. national parks and 100 countries.
- Sharon credits Road Scholar’s well-planned programs with how she has managed to see and experience so much through travel.
It was Road Scholar Sharon Masterson’s experience in the U.S. Army that sparked her global explorations. After retiring in 2008, Sharon began her quest to visit all seven continents — a journey that she not only completed but also inspired further travel goals. We asked Sharon a few questions about her journey and what’s next.
When did you first realize you wanted to visit all seven continents?
I first realized how much there was to see in the world while stationed in the U.S. Army. After retiring, I set out to visit all seven continents. Initially, I found it difficult to manage the logistics of planning these travels on my own. Once I discovered Road Scholar in 2017, I began leaving the planning to your team, which has allowed me to simply sit back and enjoy the adventure!
Why did you decide to explore the world with Road Scholar?
My military service allowed me to travel to 42 different countries and live in six of them for extended periods. Experiencing different cultures was fascinating and sparked a deep desire to see more of the world. Road Scholar provides the programs necessary to accomplish my dream of traveling while learning. I fully support lifelong learning, which is exactly what Road Scholar is about. Road Scholar’s lifelong learning concept has broadened my knowledge of world affairs and cultures, exposing me to the many different perspectives required to live on this planet.
Sharon in Machu Picchu, Peru (left) and dog sledding in the Tetons (right).
What is one thing that’s memorable to you about each of the seven continents?
Here are my standout moments from each continent:
- North America: Yellowstone National Park and its wildlife
- Asia: The Taj Mahal in India
- Australia: The Sydney Opera House
- Europe: The Camino de Santiago hike in Spain
- South America: Machu Picchu in Peru
- Antarctica: The penguins and other wildlife
- Africa: The safaris!
Do you have a favorite continent? Why is it your favorite?
My favorite is North America. I love my country, and America has amazing national parks, beautiful hiking trails and exceptional historical arts and museums. One of my favorite experiences was visiting Yellowstone National Park with Road Scholar in April when the animals were emerging from their dens. Seeing the wolves and their cubs was an amazing experience, and having read about the reintroduction of wolves into the park heightened the excitement. Seeing the bison and their calves was also wonderful.
Was choosing a place to visit on each continent a tough decision to make?
No — once I decided which continent to visit, I simply looked at the available Road Scholar programs and made my selection. I knew that whatever program I chose would be an incredible adventure.
Hiking the southern Appalachian mountains.
Was this goal challenging to achieve? What would be your advice for others?
It was challenging at first when I was doing all the planning myself. Finding Road Scholar reduced the stress of planning by about 75%. Now, all I need to do is enroll, pack and arrive. I can just enjoy the program and the information provided without worrying about driving or meals.
What’s still on your wish list? Do you know where you’re going next?
I want to visit all the U.S. national parks and reach at least 100 countries (I believe I am currently in the 70s). For the remainder of this year, I plan to go to France, Morocco and Costa Rica. In the spring, I will be traveling to China and South Korea. All of these adventures are on Road Scholar programs.
Will you continue to set travel goals?
Yes! I am a goal-oriented person. Setting goals and challenging myself allows me to accomplish things I might not otherwise do. I often look back at what I’ve achieved and recognize that Road Scholar has contributed significantly to that success.