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Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey Off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure, and Parenting
This debut memoir is at once a captivating travelogue and an introspective look at what it takes to navigate the unfamiliar and find your way back home.
Meghan J. Ward was 21 years old when she journeyed across the country for a summer job in the Canadian Rockies. As an inexperienced hiker from the suburbs of the nation’s capital, she knew she was in for an adventure. But what she didn’t know was that her move to the mountains would result in a 90-degree turn towards a life she never expected.
In the Rockies, Meghan fell in love with the wilderness, the high elevations, and a man whose way of life expanded her horizons. As that summer drew to a close, she took her first of many courageous steps off the beaten path to create the life of her choosing—one that brought her a sense of purpose and meaning, and a new set of challenges.
In Lights to Guide Me Home Meghan takes us on a trip around the world while chronicling her transitions through some of life’s major milestones. From Costa Rica to Nepal, Rapa Nui to Malta, Meghan explores what it means to carve out her own identity amidst family expectations, her responsibilities as a parent to young children, and her marriage to an ambitious travel and landscape photographer. Whom will she discover beneath these entanglements?
Meghan J. Ward was 21 years old when she journeyed across the country for a summer job in the Canadian Rockies. As an inexperienced hiker from the suburbs of the nation’s capital, she knew she was in for an adventure. But what she didn’t know was that her move to the mountains would result in a 90-degree turn towards a life she never expected.
In the Rockies, Meghan fell in love with the wilderness, the high elevations, and a man whose way of life expanded her horizons. As that summer drew to a close, she took her first of many courageous steps off the beaten path to create the life of her choosing—one that brought her a sense of purpose and meaning, and a new set of challenges.
In Lights to Guide Me Home Meghan takes us on a trip around the world while chronicling her transitions through some of life’s major milestones. From Costa Rica to Nepal, Rapa Nui to Malta, Meghan explores what it means to carve out her own identity amidst family expectations, her responsibilities as a parent to young children, and her marriage to an ambitious travel and landscape photographer. Whom will she discover beneath these entanglements?
312 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2022
20 people are currently reading
2044 people want to read
About the author
Meghan J. Ward
6 books36 followersMeghan J. Ward is an outdoor, travel and adventure writer based in Banff, Canada, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Meghan has written several books, including a children's book, as well as produced content for films, anthologies, blogs and some of North America’s top outdoor, fitness and adventure publications. Her latest book, Lights to Guide Me Home, takes the reader on a trip around the world while chronicling her transitions through some of life’s major milestones.
Meghan is also wife and partner in business and creativity with Paul Zizka, a mountain landscape and adventure photographer. They love to explore the wild and the world together and take their two young daughters along for the ride.
She publishes a bi-monthly Substack called Field Notes about navigating a life lived off the beaten track in the outdoors, travelling, parenting and passion-fuelled projects.
Meghan is also wife and partner in business and creativity with Paul Zizka, a mountain landscape and adventure photographer. They love to explore the wild and the world together and take their two young daughters along for the ride.
She publishes a bi-monthly Substack called Field Notes about navigating a life lived off the beaten track in the outdoors, travelling, parenting and passion-fuelled projects.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 3, 2023
I thought this book was so bad… especially compared to any other travel memoirs I’ve read. Aside from me just not really liking the author and feeling like she kinda gives off the impression of a naive young woman following her aloof husband around the world on a wanna-be eat pray love journey, a lot of comments she makes are tone deaf, and indicate that she does not do much research on the cultures before traveling abroad, and is trying way too hard to sound empathetic in her writing, but she just comes off as degrading. While in Nepal she comments about her privilege to have multiple pairs of shoes while the locals walk around the rugged terrain in flip flops, but at the same time marvels at how disgusting she finds it that they spit in the streets. She makes many contradictory observations like this that show that she doesn’t actually respect the culture and differences of the country she is a guest in, but instead wants to try to make profound comments about her privilege as an afterthought.
I had to stop reading the book halfway through, after reading about her complain about her crying and sleepless daughter the entire time she was in New Zealand (she almost says nothing positive about her child up until this point and I don’t understand why she brought her 11-month old across the world, like what did you expect). She also continuously comments that she didn’t want her daughter to take away from the “things she loves” and her “adventures” but actively decides to have a child for no other reason than that she always saw herself having a family.
The last straw for me was that she devoted an entire passage to Captain Cook and how she is fascinated by his navigation abilities, his experiences, blah blah. How could you be on stolen land and write that HE was inspiration and one of the first navigators, KNOWING that Pacific Islanders and the Māori people navigated that land and the seas for centuries before him? Not to mention that he was a psycho murderer? That is exactly like coming to the U.S. and saying that you are inspired by Christopher Columbus’s navigation knowledge. An alarming lack of research and common sense went into the writing of this book and I’m surprised nobody said anything. We need more POC adventurers.
I had to stop reading the book halfway through, after reading about her complain about her crying and sleepless daughter the entire time she was in New Zealand (she almost says nothing positive about her child up until this point and I don’t understand why she brought her 11-month old across the world, like what did you expect). She also continuously comments that she didn’t want her daughter to take away from the “things she loves” and her “adventures” but actively decides to have a child for no other reason than that she always saw herself having a family.
The last straw for me was that she devoted an entire passage to Captain Cook and how she is fascinated by his navigation abilities, his experiences, blah blah. How could you be on stolen land and write that HE was inspiration and one of the first navigators, KNOWING that Pacific Islanders and the Māori people navigated that land and the seas for centuries before him? Not to mention that he was a psycho murderer? That is exactly like coming to the U.S. and saying that you are inspired by Christopher Columbus’s navigation knowledge. An alarming lack of research and common sense went into the writing of this book and I’m surprised nobody said anything. We need more POC adventurers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2022
Meghan writes with honesty, candour, humour and beautiful imagery. She lets us in on her journey in growing up and becoming a wife and mom while staying true to her adventuresome spirit. As a mom, I appreciate her honesty as she unpacks her emotions and observations, sharing the challenges and joys of motherhood as she tries to meet the needs of her family while not losing herself. This book makes me want to travel, find adventure, unplug and seek hidden gems that our world has to offer. If you’re an adventurer or an adventurer at heart, parent or considering parenthood, single or coupled: this is a must read
January 13, 2023
Meghan reminds us that taking that leap into the unknown and stepping off the beaten path has its bumps but also is filled with adventure, and along the journey you may just find yourself. Enjoyed following her journey through different places around the world including the beautiful outdoors in the Rocky Mountains.
October 19, 2022
“Lights to Guide Me Home” is a compelling read. Meghan’s writing style is so revealing and insightful. Her journey through womanhood is full of questions and musings, love and emotion, and ADVENTURE.
Meghan is tenacious and has been blessed with opportunities to search for the perfect place in life. She has found it under our starry sky.
“Stars have had a grounding effect on me…When I’m away from home or across the globe, they remind me that some things are always there, that the stars I see from my back porch are the same I can gaze up at from the other side of the planet.”
There are times when the reader can feel a connection so strong that one feels like you are actually with Meghan, on her wayfinding path, not just reading words. Meghan asks questions that we may silently ask ourselves but can never bravely voice. She refuses to settle for basic normalcy and seeks to establish a unique legacy for her beautiful girls with the love of her life.
This book is out of this world!!
Meghan is tenacious and has been blessed with opportunities to search for the perfect place in life. She has found it under our starry sky.
“Stars have had a grounding effect on me…When I’m away from home or across the globe, they remind me that some things are always there, that the stars I see from my back porch are the same I can gaze up at from the other side of the planet.”
There are times when the reader can feel a connection so strong that one feels like you are actually with Meghan, on her wayfinding path, not just reading words. Meghan asks questions that we may silently ask ourselves but can never bravely voice. She refuses to settle for basic normalcy and seeks to establish a unique legacy for her beautiful girls with the love of her life.
This book is out of this world!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2022
Great book! But it felt just a little repetitive and so I wasn't as willing to say "unqualified great" as it seems a lot of people were.
The author writes of her journey of self-discovery as she undertakes many smaller journeys that tested her endurance to the limit. And then, just when things were getting really good, she and her partner decide to through children into the mix! Horrid!
And wonderful. And so the story goes, from horrid to wonderful and back again, over and over. But that wasn't why it seemed repetitive to me--this was: she'd write of a marvelous vista, a strenuous hike or a sweet, sweet experience with her children, I would sigh with delight, and then she'd write about the experience again, reflecting on the lessons learned. In fiction writing, do, don't , is the recommendation. And it seems that's true in memoir writing as well.
But this didn't prevent from my enjoyment of the story overall, just caused me skip over a paragraph or three from time to time.
The author writes of her journey of self-discovery as she undertakes many smaller journeys that tested her endurance to the limit. And then, just when things were getting really good, she and her partner decide to through children into the mix! Horrid!
And wonderful. And so the story goes, from horrid to wonderful and back again, over and over. But that wasn't why it seemed repetitive to me--this was: she'd write of a marvelous vista, a strenuous hike or a sweet, sweet experience with her children, I would sigh with delight, and then she'd write about the experience again, reflecting on the lessons learned. In fiction writing, do, don't , is the recommendation. And it seems that's true in memoir writing as well.
But this didn't prevent from my enjoyment of the story overall, just caused me skip over a paragraph or three from time to time.
June 13, 2023
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this kind of read, but it fell short in all that I was hoping for. The “adventure” (pre-kids) lacked the thrill, excitement, and mystery I expected. The escape-in-nature descriptions weren’t as vivid, poetic, lyrical, or eloquent as many other reads that describe natural settings. Facts about the places felt disconnected from the narrative.
The idea of adventuring with a family was something I find inspiring and I hoped to come away with fun ideas or lessons or motivation. Overall, meh writing that just felt bland despite the incredible life I’m sure the author is leading.
The idea of adventuring with a family was something I find inspiring and I hoped to come away with fun ideas or lessons or motivation. Overall, meh writing that just felt bland despite the incredible life I’m sure the author is leading.
October 3, 2022
A beautiful 'must read'
Meghan melds motherhood and the innate desire to wander our world in this beautifully woven memoir. She writes with an honesty that resonated with me and, I'm sure, so many others. Put it on your list to read!
Meghan melds motherhood and the innate desire to wander our world in this beautifully woven memoir. She writes with an honesty that resonated with me and, I'm sure, so many others. Put it on your list to read!
May 27, 2023
I felt this book had a greater emphasis on parenting and self discovery (I’m sorry, I’m still sad you walked away from your faith) then on adventure and travel. Maybe some maps of the travels the author described and pictures-after all your husband is a famous photographer - would have helped.
November 27, 2022
Years ago, I found Meghan Ward on Twitter. She what Natalie and I called a new mom, which is a mother with young kids undergoing the conditioning to competent parent. At the time, Natalie and I were new parents trying to navigate urban living with one then two children. Ward on the other hand, was facing the same challenges, but wherever her travels would take her, her husband Paul Zizka, the photographer, and their two girls.
Meghan Ward wrote a book that gives me all of the backstory of those Tweets and blog posts that gave me some courage during those years, titled Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey Off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure and Parenting (2022.) In a podcast about women adventurers by Rocky Mountain Books, Ward explains that she set out to write a travel book that chronicled their adventure, but as she wrote it became increasingly personal and revealed aspects of a traditional mindset that had to be overcome or surpassed to be herself. In the end is the memoir I wanted to read.
Ward takes the reader to Baffin Island, Malta, Everest Base Camp, Hawaii, New Zealand, the Caribbean, and many more places, often with two little ones strapped to her or close nearby. She traveled mostly on a shoestring budget, so these were not all-expense-paid trips to resorts. The transportation challenges, and her commentary of the stress of moving from one place to another (with or without kids,) could overshadow the freedom of travel. For example, they could fly somewhere else because bad weather or the bugs were dominating the experience, but the gamble of traveling somewhere to make flights earlier, let alone get to the airport, was daunting. Add the combination of being sleepless from an infant needing regular feedings, and the trip takes on a whole new level of complications.
After Maya, Ward’s and Paul’s first, was born, they went hiking from a backcountry lodge. There they met some other parents, albeit with older children. One mother said what Natalie and I had heard for years: You can still travel with kids, but it’s not the same. They realized that staying in one place longer and staying in the same time zone, would be helpful. That, and finding coffee as frequently as possible would combat the new-parent sleeplessness.
Ward surprised me by her background. No, not that she grew up in suburban Ottawa and had a Narnia-like woods to explore, but that she grew up a P.K., a Preacher’s Kid in an evangelical Christian community. In that community, children are expected to be good kids (in a neat and clean way reminiscent of Leave it to Beaver, oddly,) seek parent’s approval for big decisions, marry other Christians, and attend church, among other things. I grew up in that environment. Meghan tells how the turning point of her life, to move to the Rockies, explore the world, and meet and marry non-Christian Paul, started when she grew skeptical of some of the miracles described in the Bible.
Freelancing makes Ward’s travel happen. She sells articles and later blogs and writes this book. There is plenty of worthwhile anecdotes about getting content and meeting client’s needs. I feel that Ward’s calling was to showcase the humanity in the world, whether another culture or her own as a mother. So far as I know, this book is significant in that it addresses travel from a new parent’s perspective.
My only complaint about the book is something typical of a travel chronicle; I wasn’t always compelled to read the next chapter. I was confident — and somewhat bored by the idea — that I knew Meghan would go somewhere interesting and come back home. But there wasn’t an objective other than visit destinations and observe. She wasn’t delivering life-saving medicine by crossing a glacier; she was observing people and places to understand herself. I do that too! Reading that alone wasn’t enough for me.
Although I will read a book about a particular destination, say Japan, if I am interested in Japan, I usually don’t read a world traveler’s book about their last decade in various countries. The thing that kept me going was my sincere curiosity about Meghan sorting out her independent self and parenthood9. On the other hand, I think that should be sufficient for you too.
By contrast, I read climbing books because I enjoy the quest for the objective the author or subject undertakes and (mostly) skimming until I reach a longueur where the protagonist is usually in camp, or benighted on a ledge, and thinking about everything with added self-doubt and, usually, realizing how the dream of glory is overrated. Then as they struggle and face challenges how they often untie a mental knot through continuing on the process of climbing. Gritty things can be cathartic.
Lights to Guide Me Home was like a climbing book to me. A climbing book is always about an objective or an ideal in style and pushing yourself to whatever the limit to make it possible. Yet, for the climber, they discover their human frailty in either accomplishing the goal or changing the objective. Meghan climbs life and changes objectives, smartly and willingly. The climbing, or in the case of Lights, the travel, isn’t nearly as enlightening as the human challenges she faces in her relationship with Paul, her parents, and her role as a mother, while navigating life.
This review was originally posted on SuburbanMountaineer.com
Meghan Ward wrote a book that gives me all of the backstory of those Tweets and blog posts that gave me some courage during those years, titled Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey Off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure and Parenting (2022.) In a podcast about women adventurers by Rocky Mountain Books, Ward explains that she set out to write a travel book that chronicled their adventure, but as she wrote it became increasingly personal and revealed aspects of a traditional mindset that had to be overcome or surpassed to be herself. In the end is the memoir I wanted to read.
Ward takes the reader to Baffin Island, Malta, Everest Base Camp, Hawaii, New Zealand, the Caribbean, and many more places, often with two little ones strapped to her or close nearby. She traveled mostly on a shoestring budget, so these were not all-expense-paid trips to resorts. The transportation challenges, and her commentary of the stress of moving from one place to another (with or without kids,) could overshadow the freedom of travel. For example, they could fly somewhere else because bad weather or the bugs were dominating the experience, but the gamble of traveling somewhere to make flights earlier, let alone get to the airport, was daunting. Add the combination of being sleepless from an infant needing regular feedings, and the trip takes on a whole new level of complications.
After Maya, Ward’s and Paul’s first, was born, they went hiking from a backcountry lodge. There they met some other parents, albeit with older children. One mother said what Natalie and I had heard for years: You can still travel with kids, but it’s not the same. They realized that staying in one place longer and staying in the same time zone, would be helpful. That, and finding coffee as frequently as possible would combat the new-parent sleeplessness.
Ward surprised me by her background. No, not that she grew up in suburban Ottawa and had a Narnia-like woods to explore, but that she grew up a P.K., a Preacher’s Kid in an evangelical Christian community. In that community, children are expected to be good kids (in a neat and clean way reminiscent of Leave it to Beaver, oddly,) seek parent’s approval for big decisions, marry other Christians, and attend church, among other things. I grew up in that environment. Meghan tells how the turning point of her life, to move to the Rockies, explore the world, and meet and marry non-Christian Paul, started when she grew skeptical of some of the miracles described in the Bible.
Freelancing makes Ward’s travel happen. She sells articles and later blogs and writes this book. There is plenty of worthwhile anecdotes about getting content and meeting client’s needs. I feel that Ward’s calling was to showcase the humanity in the world, whether another culture or her own as a mother. So far as I know, this book is significant in that it addresses travel from a new parent’s perspective.
My only complaint about the book is something typical of a travel chronicle; I wasn’t always compelled to read the next chapter. I was confident — and somewhat bored by the idea — that I knew Meghan would go somewhere interesting and come back home. But there wasn’t an objective other than visit destinations and observe. She wasn’t delivering life-saving medicine by crossing a glacier; she was observing people and places to understand herself. I do that too! Reading that alone wasn’t enough for me.
Although I will read a book about a particular destination, say Japan, if I am interested in Japan, I usually don’t read a world traveler’s book about their last decade in various countries. The thing that kept me going was my sincere curiosity about Meghan sorting out her independent self and parenthood9. On the other hand, I think that should be sufficient for you too.
By contrast, I read climbing books because I enjoy the quest for the objective the author or subject undertakes and (mostly) skimming until I reach a longueur where the protagonist is usually in camp, or benighted on a ledge, and thinking about everything with added self-doubt and, usually, realizing how the dream of glory is overrated. Then as they struggle and face challenges how they often untie a mental knot through continuing on the process of climbing. Gritty things can be cathartic.
Lights to Guide Me Home was like a climbing book to me. A climbing book is always about an objective or an ideal in style and pushing yourself to whatever the limit to make it possible. Yet, for the climber, they discover their human frailty in either accomplishing the goal or changing the objective. Meghan climbs life and changes objectives, smartly and willingly. The climbing, or in the case of Lights, the travel, isn’t nearly as enlightening as the human challenges she faces in her relationship with Paul, her parents, and her role as a mother, while navigating life.
This review was originally posted on SuburbanMountaineer.com
February 13, 2023
I enjoyed the adventures and challenges of exploring the world from the perspective of a young Canadian and a young family. Just when you thought things would go horribly wrong…things worked out. I hope that is how life continues for Megan and her family. The world is a big place to explore and we are only here a finite time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2023
Hit me at the right time in my life. Adventures, babys and how it fits together.
It was a good book although nothing strikes me a wow storyline.
It was a good book although nothing strikes me a wow storyline.
March 5, 2023
An enjoyable read about finding the love in adventure—and the adventure in love! Reading this absolutely gave me the itch to travel again, and it reminded me of the times I've travelled with all of my kids (five!), but never to destinations like these awe-inspiring places. I read it in an afternoon curled up with a cup of tea and a blanket, reminding myself of all the places I've been and all the places I've yet to see. It encompasses the navigation of not just travelling the world, but also of a relationship and of the strong bonds of family. Megan's husband Paul's photography takes him all over the world, and she holds down the fort with the children, but they still make time to travel together as a family, giving their girls opportunities to experience things no one can teach in a classroom, and I just love that adventurous attitude! I recommend this book if you're looking to get lost in the memories of or the longing to travel!
February 1, 2023
Meghan Ward's memoir-based book first captured my attention as she is Canadian, and her story has Canadian (and Alberta) content. More than that, I admire her adventurous spirit, as I've always been an adventurer at heart too! Her vivid descriptions of travelling and hiking not only in Canada and Canada's Arctic, but also hopping around the globe to the Caribbean, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Nepal, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Rapa Nui, Ireland and Malta kept me eagerly turning the pages. The book is superbly written, portraying colorful and satisfying images of her and her family's visits and experiences in seldom travelled areas of the world. I would have given it 5 stars but for the fact that I felt that in a few chapters there was 'too much' recounting of mundane daily living details. I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
March 23, 2023
Lights to Guide me Home thoroughly captured my attention. Meghan's adventurous spirit, her thoughtful introspection, her courage in carving out her own unique lifestyle, her parenting journey, her honesty and thoughts on when to respect your uncertainties and intuition touched me on many levels. I also loved her expressive and wonderfully descriptive writing style as well as her personal integrity and honour of self.
I only wish I had exposed my kids to more adventure travel during their childhood. I have enjoyed lots of active travel on my own since retirement, but I am in awe of Meghan's daring adventures and her efforts to start her children on their own adventurous journeys. I now have very young grandchildren and this book has inspired me to introduce these little ones to their explorations in nature!
I only wish I had exposed my kids to more adventure travel during their childhood. I have enjoyed lots of active travel on my own since retirement, but I am in awe of Meghan's daring adventures and her efforts to start her children on their own adventurous journeys. I now have very young grandchildren and this book has inspired me to introduce these little ones to their explorations in nature!
June 10, 2023
I REALLY enjoyed this book, it has EVERYTHING I LOVE in it, adventure, the outdoors, travel, photography and it was raw with emotion for all those things. It was exciting to hear about how Meghan and Paul navigated international travel alone, together and with young kids. It was real and relatable and show the behind the scene stories when travel and adventure for work is so glamorized and it showed just how hard these 2 worked for what they want. Plus, ALWAYS CHOOSE ADVENTURE even when it seems hard, I loved how they charged full speed ahead into the unknown. I also loved how Meghan took us on the journey of figuring out ourselves and gave us opportunities to relate and have courage to unpack those emotions within ourselves! FANTASTIC READ! Loved it!! Plus, she’s local and it was to read about places we call home:)
March 7, 2023
This book is about how a person can consciously choose the life they dream of. Meghan writes about forging her own path in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. She then merges this path with the love of her life, and ultimately chooses to bring children onto that path. What does it mean for a woman and a couple to bring little kids on far-flung adventures? It means a whole lot of vulnerability and patience. Meghan writes about her experiences with honesty and clarity. She doesn't sugar-coat the reality of how much energy it takes to travel with children, and yet it's clear she chose a path that has enriched her life and the lives of her husband and children. An inspiring and liberating read.
July 10, 2024
I’m not sure this book could have found me at a better time, as I’m packing to go on a 2 week hiking trip in Europe. While we’re not bringing our 20 month old son with us on the trip, it reminded me that with some creativity, our adventures can continue.
I really appreciated Meghan’s honesty about how challenging parenting little ones can be, and how easy it is to lose yourself when you become a mom especially with a partner who works away frequently.
Overall, I would recommend it to any new mom who longs for adventure even though she’s too tired to figure out where to begin.
I really appreciated Meghan’s honesty about how challenging parenting little ones can be, and how easy it is to lose yourself when you become a mom especially with a partner who works away frequently.
Overall, I would recommend it to any new mom who longs for adventure even though she’s too tired to figure out where to begin.
June 2, 2023
An informative, detailed read that captures a family’s love of travel, no matter how difficult or how many things come up during their journey. I think it was a great read, I learned about places I didn’t really hear about before, and I loved the mention of Skoki Lodge, a place I plan on hiking to in the near future.
I love how one of her childhood memories is flipping through National Geographic magazines as this is something that sticks out in my memory of my childhood as well.
I love how one of her childhood memories is flipping through National Geographic magazines as this is something that sticks out in my memory of my childhood as well.
June 27, 2024
All the Canadian references were fun!
March 11, 2025
Meghan, thank you for your book “Lights to Guide me Home”. Your writing into the end of the book is so beautiful, it feels so honest and relatable. You are inspiring me to continue embracing discomfort, and to push further, in order to help my kids become their best selves.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews