An Interview with Steve Solosky and Linda Sloan: The Vision Behind Traveling Professor Small Group Tours

About: Steve Solosky and Linda Sloan are the founders and guiding forces behind The Traveling Professor, a small group tour company built on thoughtful travel, genuine connection, and personal care. Steve Solosky founded the company in 2008, bringing together his background as a college professor, author, and engaging public speaker with a lifelong passion for exploration. Known within the small group tour community, Steve designs journeys exactly as he would want to experience them himself—well-paced, comfortable, intellectually enriching, and never rushed. His philosophy emphasizes intimate group sizes, flexibility, and meaningful engagement with each destination, allowing travelers to feel informed, confident, and truly present. Linda Sloan, co-owner and tour leader, is the driving force behind the seamless execution of each tour. With a talent for selecting exceptional hotels and managing logistics with ease, she ensures that every trip runs smoothly from start to finish. Her upbeat “Let’s go!” attitude and warm, reassuring presence make travelers feel instantly at home. Linda’s favorite destinations include Ireland, followed closely by Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands. Together, Steve and Linda have created more than tours, they have built a welcoming travel community. They are especially proud of fostering strong connections among travelers, including a thriving network of women who have formed lasting friendships through their shared journeys.

1. Welcome to our interview series, Steve and Linda. For those meeting you for the first time, how would you introduce yourselves and the work you do together?

Our names are Steve Solosky and Linda Sloan, and we’re a married couple who own and operate Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor. Since 2010, we’ve been designing the kind of trips we’ve always wanted to take ourselves, in thoughtful, comfortable, and never rushed. We travel alongside our guests, keep our groups intentionally small, choose great hotels, and build in time for destinations to truly sink in. More than anything, our goal is to create well-planned journeys where travelers feel cared for, informed, and part of a travel family, not just a tour group.

2. Steve, your journey started as a math professor traveling to Paris on your own. At what point did you realize travel could become something much bigger?

Being a college professor was a rewarding career, but after 30 years of teaching statistics, I knew it was time for a new chapter. I wanted to create what I honestly believe is the best job in the world. After leading my first small group to Paris in 2009, I discovered that travel brought me not only the joy of exploring Europe, but an even deeper fulfillment in sharing those experiences and bringing real happiness into the lives of others. What better job could there be?

3. Linda, you met Steve while he was leading a tour in Florence. How did that moment change the direction of your life?

Steve was traveling to Florence, Italy with one of his small group tours, while I was there separately with friends. By pure chance, we ended up staying in the same hotel, and at a moment in our lives when everything simply clicked. We maintained a long-distance relationship for about two years, which turned out to be a gift, it taught us how to truly communicate and build a strong foundation. It soon became clear that I could help take Steve’s small group tour idea to the next level, and we chose to become partners both in business and in life. As Steve likes to say, “behind every great man is a great woman,” and he generously credits me with bringing a woman’s touch that elevated the quality and care of Traveling Professor Small Group Tours.

4. Many people struggle to imagine a fulfilling life after retirement. How did you both come to see this as your “second act”?

Steve is very thoughtful and intentional, he plans carefully and does nothing without a reason. When he decided to change careers, he took stock of the skills he already had. His advanced business degree provided a strong foundation for running a company, while years in the classroom gave him experience managing and guiding small groups. Add to that his natural leadership and motivational skills, developed through sports and teaching, along with extensive travel experience and an engaging, easygoing speaking style. All of it came together naturally and made leading small group tours a perfect fit.

5. Steve, your book The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris played a big role in launching your tours. What made readers trust you enough to travel with you?

I published the first edition of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris in 2009, and its success exceeded even my wildest expectations. The book reflects who I am—organized, knowledgeable, and sprinkled with a bit of humor, so readers felt both confident and comfortable following my advice. Before long, people started writing to me saying, “The next time you’re in Paris, we want to come along and see Paris through your eyes.” And just like that, a travel business was born.

6. You’ve intentionally kept your tours small. Why is the small group experience so important to both of you?

Honestly, we can make a lot more money by running groups of 20-30 people. But we decided to put people over profits. With small groups we can get to those places the other big bus companies simply cannot get to. We can book small intimate hotels. We can keep itineraries flexible.

7. Linda, you’re known for choosing great hotels and keeping everything running smoothly. What do you think makes travelers feel comfortable and cared for on a tour?

When you choose a special hotel, whether it’s one with sweeping waterfront views or private access near Machu Picchu, it immediately makes travelers feel appreciated. They know someone put real thought into every detail of their trip, and they return home saying, “You should have seen where we stayed.” Comfort matters: a satisfying breakfast to start the day, a relaxing space to unwind after sightseeing, and a great night’s sleep to be ready for what’s next. That’s what our travelers care about—and it’s what we care about too.

8. Steve, you’ve said your tours are designed the way you’d want to travel yourself. What details do you think matter most to travelers?

When travelers join a group tour, they want the confidence that everything will run smoothly, and that if something unexpected happens, it will be handled calmly and professionally. We know what to do when a train is canceled, when a traveler gets ill, or when strikes or weather force a change in plans. A perfect example was in Inverness, Scotland, when Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022. While many tour companies simply canceled activities for days, we rolled up our sleeves and reorganized transportation, guides, and sightseeing so our travelers still experienced the Scotland they came to see. That experience, and our willingness to take charge when it matters—truly makes a difference.

9. Your tours attract seniors and women travelers in particular. What needs do you feel are often overlooked by larger tour companies?

Small tour companies offer seniors and women a more personal, comfortable, and confidence-building way to travel. Smaller groups mean easier pacing, less waiting, and guides who can adapt plans to individual needs, especially helpful for mobility, energy levels, or unexpected changes. Women travelers often appreciate the added sense of safety, camaraderie, and inclusiveness that comes from traveling with like-minded people and attentive leaders.

10. You’ve visited many destinations together. Are there places that hold special meaning for each of you, and why?

Honestly, every destination has its own magic. Steve would likely say Norway is his favorite, in part because of his heritage and the deep personal connection he feels there, while Linda is drawn to Ireland for its history and the roots so much of American culture traces back to it. Peru and Austria are probably where we have the most fun with our groups. And nothing compares to the powerful mix of appreciation, patriotism, sadness, and pride that comes from standing on the Normandy Invasion Beaches.

11. One thing you’re especially proud of is the sense of community among your travelers. How did that develop so naturally over time?

We quickly found many of the same people came on trips with us over and over again. They like the consistency and familiarity of the type of travelers we attract and the type of tours we run. We’re surprised to find how many of the travelers who met on our trips actually travel together on trips they plan themselves.

12. Looking back over 15 years, what moment made you realize you had created something truly special?

Once, as we were saying our goodbyes at the airport after finishing a tour in Iceland, a line from The Wizard of Oz spontaneously slipped out of my mouth: “It’s not the places you go, it’s the people you meet along the way.” In that moment, it perfectly captured what makes our tours so special—it’s the people who share the journey.

13. If travel is a teacher, what lesson has it repeated to you the most over the years?

This may sound a little corny, but no matter where we come from or what our backgrounds are, people are far more alike than they are different.

14. Finally, for someone dreaming of travel later in life or even dreaming of a meaningful second career, what would you like them to know?

That’s an easy question to answer. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Be responsible, but take the risk—don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Stop making excuses. Pack your bags. Let’s go!

15. If a reader wanted to see whether your tours are the right fit for them, how would you suggest they begin that conversation with you?

Take some time to explore our website, especially the photos, and you’ll get a good sense of who we are and how we travel. We share as much information as possible, but we also encourage you to call or email us. That’s right, we will actually speak with you over the phone. We want to get to know you just as much as you get to know us, so we can be sure we’ll be a great fit traveling together.