Hey there! I’m Whitney O’Halek, founder of The Half Full Passport and long-time author of the travel blog Quick Whit Travel. I created this space specifically for single parents who want to show their kids the world, but anyone who loves to travel is truly welcome here.
You’ll find honest, practical, and down-to-earth travel content. The kind I wish existed when I first started exploring the world. I’m so glad you’re here!
I became a widow in January 2025 when my husband, Steve, choked on a large piece of meat, just 90 minutes into a nine-hour flight from Frankfurt to DC. It was our third flight that day, returning from a 10-day trip to Egypt. We were exhausted. That’s the only explanation I have for how something so tragic could happen to my strong, healthy, fitness-loving husband. Our daughter, Iris, was just six months old.
My world shattered, and a new life began, whether I wanted it or not.
When I first came up with the name Half Full Passport, I wanted it to be a family travel blog. But after losing Steve, everything I ever thought I wanted seemed silly and empty. But I’d been travel blogging and freelancing for nearly 20 years, and I couldn’t ignore the pull to keep writing. I quickly realized that while the internet is full of family travel and mommy blogs, there’s a glaring gap when it comes to traveling as a single parent.
So now, instead of seeing my life as half empty without Steve, I see my passport as half full.
I’m still committed to showing Iris the world–the way Steve and I always planned. Traveling solo with a child, however, is a whole different journey than traveling as a parenting team. It takes more energy, more planning, and a different kind of strength. But it’s possible. And it’s worth it.
I’m here to help you figure it out. We’re all just fumbling through, so let’s do it together.
