About Us
First-hand destination expertise of destinations around the world.
A global network of travel partners that provide us with the local presence.
Professional craftsmanship that pays attention to every detail.
Our philosophy—what sets us apart.
Our belief at Remarkable Journeys is that one needs to invest in travel just as you invest in your financial portfolio, your home, or your children’s education. Sensible investing requires thoughtful planning and budgeting. Remarkable Journeys is your travel investment partner, from sharing your dreams to careful travel planning, through meticulous travel arranging and follow-through.
At Remarkable Journeys, we bring you the three critical elements of quality travel planning—passion, experience, and attention to detail. These three foundations are centered on our basic belief that your vacation is a realization of your dreams, an important financial investment and a lifelong memory. For these reasons, thoughtful, meticulous and dynamic travel consultation is an absolute necessity.
What we do.
Remarkable Journeys is not a traditional travel agency, but instead your personal travel consultants. We work with leading travel experts across the world in planning your vacation, laying out your itinerary, and selecting your transportation, accommodations, activities, and tours. We assume the responsibility to ensure both the quality and safety of your travel. With us, your trip is tailored to your tastes, budget, interests, and adventurous spirit. We’ll start with your dream and create a trip full of perfect moments and lasting memories. What are you waiting for?
Our Staff
Steve Salmen
Founder
Despite the protests of his loving family, Steve founded Remarkable Journeys in 2002 after a long career in Sales Management. Once a busy executive striving to balance his personal and professional life, Steve recognized the opportunity and necessity for a travel agency dedicated to serving busy professionals and their families. Having traveled extensively for business and leisure for 28 years, Steve translated his experiences and ambition into a travel agency that combines a high level of service with customization, detailed planning, and destination expertise. Steve’s “concierge” approach breaks the traditional model of a travel agency and creates a unique travel provider to clients, many of whom have re-discovered the life-changing benefits of travel.
Katie Ricketson
Founder
A native Coloradan, and quite proud of it, Katie was lured to Minnesota in 1978 by Control Data. After a prolonged career as a successful saleswoman in educational technology, Katie joined her husband full-time at Remarkable Journeys in 2007. Although still active in the leisure side of the business, she now works predominantly with Meetings and Incentive clients planning group trips around the world. Staying true to her Colorado roots, Katie loves to stay active when she travels. She describes her favorite vacation as hiking though the Alps in Switzerland with her husband, Steve.
Nick Salmen
President
Nick began working for Remarkable Journeys as a financial accountant at the beginning of 2014. He now overseas all marketing and operations at the agency. Despite being in the industry for only a few years, he has been an avid traveler his whole life. Growing up with travel agents as parents, he began traveling at a very young age. These early experiences inspired him to live in California, Costa Rica, and join the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso. While travelling, he loves visiting off-the-beaten path destinations and going on multi-day adventures such as backpacking or kayaking.
Mike Andrus
Account Executive
With 22 years of travel industry experience, Mike specializes in Group Incentive Trips, Annual Conference Travel, Executive Meetings, and Golf Travel. An avid traveler from an early age, Mike travels the world to see and learn about new cities, interact with new cultures, eat great (and some not so great) food, and hang in local pubs or hangout getting to know the locals. Above and beyond his work at Remarkable Journeys, Mike is a High School Varsity football official and co-owns a beer garden at the Minnesota State Fair.
Jane Foley
International Travel Consultant
Jane is Remarkable Journey’s Warm Weather & Honeymoon Specialist. Although her expertise is worldwide, she focuses on travel to Mexico, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Destinations, & the Caribbean. Starting at Hobbit Travel, Jane has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years. She transitioned to Remarkable Journeys in 2010. Outside the business, Jane enjoys spending time at her cabin and relaxing with her family. Also an avid golfer, Jane finds time in-between meetings to squeeze in a few holes. Her favorite trip trip-to-date was an Alaskan cruise in 2015 – unbelievable scenery.
Dan Boyum
International Travel Consultant
A European and Cruise Specialist with a love for Renaissance Art & Culture, Dan is a passionate travel expert. Following a 20 year career in marketing, Dan transitioned to the travel industry in 2007. After a lifetime of traveling and studying in Europe, he describes his perfect vacation as one that includes a combination of discovery, adventure, and new experiences. Dan’s advice for traveling: “Turn the phone off and the out-of-office reply on, then relax and give your full attention and time to making the most out of your vacation.”
Sydney Payton
International Travel Consultant
Sydney has made her way back home to Minnesota after recently graduating from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in communications. After traveling to Italy with Remarkable Journeys and having an ever growing interest in travel and learning about the world, Remarkable Journeys seemed to be the perfect fit. Both while traveling and in everyday life she loves to experiment with photography. Her dream vacation would be to travel to Australia and New Zealand. While there she would love to spend time getting to know the native animals, and of course do some sky diving and bungee jumping.
Brian Gaiser
International Travel Consultant
Brian has traveled the world for both business and pleasure since 1985. He craves the feeling of visiting a new destination or trying a local cuisine for the first time. Travel allows Brian to continue his life-long passion for becoming a more cross-culturally intelligent individual. While enjoying the world’s top destinations, Brian also has a particular interest in discovering and experiencing the more far-flung places of the globe, fueled by a horseback trip in Mongolia in 2002. When not overseas, Brian can be found cycling the backroads of the Upper Midwest or trying new recipes in the kitchen.
Carrie Jackling
CFO
Carrie hails from a small farm town outside of Buffalo, NY where the cows outnumber the people. Seeking greener pastures, Carrie attended nearby St. Bonaventure University where she received a Master’s Degree in Accounting. She began working at Remarkable Journeys in 2016 as an accountant. Outside of Remarkable Journeys, she dabbles in the theater scene. An active traveler, some of her favorites trips include trekking amongst the hill tribes north of Chiang Mai, hiking to the Lost City in the Sierra Nevada’s of Colombia, and canoeing in the Boundary Waters of her new home state.