MURFREESBORO, TN | MIDDLE TENNESSEE
A Place to Belong.
A World to Explore.
Travel and Art Club is a Social Connection Program for women, families, and small groups seeking meaningful connection, creativity, and shared experiences in an inclusive, sensory-friendly environment.
Mission Statement
At Travel and Art Club, we believe that belonging isn't something you earn — it's something you're given the moment you walk through the door.
Our programs aren’t about fixing people or forcing connection. They’re about creating welcoming spaces where people can relax, create, and build relationships naturally.
In small, sensory-friendly groups, people have the opportunity to try new experiences, share conversations, discover creativity, and feel included without pressure.
HOW WE DO IT
Three pathways.
One direction: forward.
CREATE —
Art Club
In our small-group art sessions, creativity is the easy part. The real magic is what happens alongside it — the conversations that start when hands are busy, the friendships that form over a shared project, the confidence that builds when someone finishes something they made themselves.
EXPLORE —
Local Travel Club
The world is the classroom. Explore takes our members into the community — restaurants, museums, shops, parks — to practice the real-life skills that matter most. Decision-making. Flexibility. Navigation. Getting comfortable being somewhere new.
THRIVE — Travel Experience and Consultation
Personalized travel planning and support designed to make travel more comfortable, meaningful, and enjoyable. Thrive helps people create customized travel experiences with thoughtful guidance, accommodations, activity planning, and optional personalized travel supports.
THE HEART BEHIND IT
Alanah Burkhardt
I'm Alanah, Founder of Travel and Art Club.
I started Travel and Art Club because I’ve always believed people grow best when they feel comfortable, connected, and accepted for who they are.
Over the years, I kept noticing how many women and families were looking for something that felt more genuine — not a huge overwhelming environment, but a place where people could create, explore, and naturally build relationships.
That’s what led me here.
Travel and Art Club was created to be a calm, welcoming space where connection happens through real life conversation and experiences.
I’ve always loved creativity, travel, and experiential learning, but what matters most to me is creating environments where people feel safe to be themselves.
What started as a small idea has slowly grown into a community centered around belonging, inclusion, and meaningful connection.
My hope is that when people walk into Travel and Art Club, they feel comfortable enough to exhale a little — and maybe leave feeling a little more connected than when they arrived.
Is this the right fit?
Built for a specific kind of person.
Here's how to know.
01
Wants real friendships but isn't always sure how to build them
02
Learns better through doing than through sitting still
03
Is ready to try new things with the right support in place
04
Thrives in small groups where they're known, not just supervised
05
For women, families, and small groups who want supportive experiences that encourage independence, connection, and personal growth naturally through shared activities.
06
For those seeking personalized travel planning and thoughtful support that makes new experiences, adventures, and exploring the world feel more approachable and meaningful.
A note on when we're not the right fit
If someone needs intensive clinical services, crisis support, or continuous one-on-one behavioral supervision, we may not be the best fit — and we’re always happy to help point families toward resources that better match those needs.
Not sure? We'll figure it out together.
WHAT FAMILIES ARE SAYING
Real growth. Real words.
Travel and Art Club has had a tremendous impact on my granddaughter’s life. The improvement in her social skills and her confidence are evident to everyone who knows her. Having friends to travel with gives her so much joy. Alanah is amazing in the way she directs and interacts with the girls. Emily never wants to miss an Art Day and gets very excited about any and every trip Alanah plans.
Charlotte Cone
I was at my wit’s end trying to find help for my grandson, who has autism and behavior challenges. After exhausting every option, I met Alanah—and everything changed. Even when insurance and funding fell through, she didn’t walk away. She showed up anyway, simply because she knew he needed her. That was five years ago, and her dedication, kindness, and genuine care have never wavered. Alanah has a truly special, almost magical connection with children of all ages. I recommend her to anyone without hesitation.
Revondia Crutchfeild
A grandmother raising her grandsons
Through Travel Club, my daughter, Xinlan, has had the unique opportunity to experience new places while also gaining valuable life skills. She has gained confidence in doing new and hard things and learned how to accept flexibility along the way. Traveling can be stressful, but Alanah has skillfully guided Xinlan all while holding her accountable for her part in the journey. I am so grateful for this program.
Barbara Keith
My son has discovered a new world of connection and creative expression through Travel and Art Club. He has been able to make a great friend close to his age and has become more comfortable engaging and communicating with peers and adults. He has also discovered a love of painting, and he uses it as a creative outlet as well as a tool for self-regulation.
Katrina Hughes
WHERE WE'VE BEEN
This isn't a field trip. This is the work.
Every experience is intentional. Every adventure is the curriculum.
Crystal River, Florida
Swimming alongside a mother manatee and her calf
Bar Harbor, Maine
Whale watching on the Atlantic
Hilton Head,
South Carolina
Tubing while dolphins surfaced around the boat
Utah
Bonneville Salt Flats, Capitol Reef, and a night sky most people never see
Phoenix, Arizona
Night hiking for scorpions and bioluminescent life in the desert
Stop preparing for life. Start living it.
Travel and Art Club is where that begins. A community for neurodiverse teens and adults in Middle Tennessee — built on belonging, adventure, and the belief that your person is already more capable than you know.
