Michael Ballard of Chattanooga is arguably probably the most well-traveled individual on this planet in 2025. And his spouse Angela shouldn’t be far behind.
Michael and Angela Ballard, mid-lifers who’re fueled by wanderlust, this 12 months accomplished a visit from the southern tip of Africa to the northernmost level in Norway, over 13,000 miles, with out ever getting on an airplane. They traced the coast of West Africa after which took a winding path up by way of Europe. All advised, they touched 41 international locations.
It was fascinating to look at cultures and climates change, Angela Ballard stated in an interview.
The transcontinental journey was the centerpiece of a 12 months of journey that has taken the Ballards to greater than 50 international locations. They are a part of a worldwide journey group known as NomadMania, which has greater than 25,000 travel-obsessed members.
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Michael Ballard is now ranked No. 1 on this planet by NomadMania, having visited 188 areas worldwide in 2025. Ballard has already damaged the world file for areas visited in a 12 months, and he initiatives to finish up with over 200 areas visited by the top of December.
“Even some of the best-traveled people in the world tell me, ‘I cannot believe you have done that much this year,”‘ Michael Ballard stated in an interview.
Angela Ballard, with 154 areas visited, is in third place within the NomadMania regions-visited rankings to this point in 2025.
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NomadMania has divided the world into 1,301 areas, that are outlined as culturally and politically homogeneous areas. For instance, Tennessee is taken into account one area (which some would possibly debate), whereas Florida is split into three: North Florida, South Florida and the Florida Keys.
Together, the Ballards are amongst 5 finalists for NomadMania’s Biggest Traveler of 2025 award, which has been described because the Academy Award of journey. Because they’re a well-known pair amongst world vacationers, they’re thought-about a single entry within the contest. The winners are chosen based mostly on each the standard and amount of their journeys.
Michael Ballard, a retired Hamilton County Schools worker, and Angela Ballard, a contract public relations professional, have circumnavigated the world a number of occasions. They typically choose overland journey — automobile, bus, practice — to flying.
“My job now is to see, do, learn, experience,” Michael Ballard stated.
Since starting to journey extensively a number of years in the past, the Ballards have visited 150 international locations and all seven continents. Meanwhile, their web site, wemarriedadventure.com, has readers from greater than 181 international locations.
The Ballards, who’ve been married for 17 years, journey as frugally as they’ll. They additionally pack evenly, usually taking just one small carry-on dimension bag every. They are house in Chattanooga a part of the 12 months and on the street for months at a stretch.
This 12 months they allowed themselves an extravagance, a practice journey on the well-known Orient Express to rejoice Angela Ballard’s fiftieth birthday.
“It’s been something I wanted to do since I was 14,” Angela Ballard stated. “My expectations were through the roof.”
There had been only some minor distractions alongside the way in which between Venice, Italy, and Paris, France, she stated, together with altering engines at each border and an occasional lack of air-con when the practice was stopped.
The Ballards doc their journeys as contributors to Lonely Planet, Atlas Obscura and Google. On Google, their 360-degree pictures from their travels have gathered greater than 35 million views.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645.