By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Tomorrow, I board a plane to Dubai. It’s a trip I’ve wanted to take for years.

But this adventure means more to me than visiting another country.

It reminds me of my dad.

He introduced me to the world of travel when I was young. Now, as I begin a new chapter, I want to honor that gift.

How my dad inspired my love of travel

My dad owned a travel agency when I was growing up in Wisconsin.

He loved discovering new places. He also loved sharing that excitement with others.

Because of him, I dreamed about seeing the world.

I imagined visiting distant countries, meeting new people and exploring different cultures.

However, life took me in another direction.

After high school, I pursued a career in broadcasting. That decision changed my life.

Thirty years of telling other people’s stories

For more than 30 years, journalism became my world.

I covered breaking news, investigated crimes and shared stories that mattered.

Eventually, my career brought me to Houston.

For nine years, I reported from a helicopter above the city.

I watched beautiful sunrises and sunsets from thousands of feet in the air.

I loved those moments.

Still, the demanding schedule left little time for travel.

I spent years telling other people’s stories. Meanwhile, I kept putting my own adventures on hold.

The trips my dad never got to take

My dad passed away in 2018.

Even today, I think about the places he wanted to visit,.

Australia was on his bucket list. So, in 2024, I traveled there on his birthday.

It was my way of honoring him and experiencing a place he had always dreamed of seeing.

I wish we could have shared more adventures together.

But I can’t change the past.

Instead, I can carry his love of travel into my future.

That’s what makes this next chapter so meaningful.

Why I’m traveling to Dubai

On October 13, I’m leaving Houston for Dubai.

I’ll explore a city I’ve never visited. I also plan to experience the desert, enjoy the water and discover a new culture.

Most importantly, I’ll finally give myself time to explore.

After years of early mornings and breaking news, that feels exciting.

Of course, I still love journalism.

I’m not retiring from telling stories.

Instead, I’m stepping away from daily helicopter reporting. I’ll continue my investigative work, true crime coverage and independent reporting.

Now, I’ll also share my travels.

A new chapter, inspired by my dad

As I prepare for Dubai, I keep thinking about my dad.

He showed me that the world offers endless possibilities.

I just needed to make time to explore them.

I wish he could join me on this trip.

But in many ways, he’s coming along.

His love of travel started this dream.

And now, I’m finally following it.

Sometimes the greatest adventure isn’t about where you’re going. It’s about remembering who inspired you to go.

Follow my journey here on ChopperRose.com and on my YouTube channel, Tammy Rose Reports.

My new book is now available

My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.