We had the good fortune of connecting with Shona Brantley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shona, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my businesses years ago when planning a family vacation and wedding for a friend. I said WOW this is something I could do and it is so much fun! These experiences lead to the birth of Adventurous Excursions Travel and Astonishing Productions, LLC.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I live by the motto work on your “Living List”. Do things now while you are able body and of sound mind. Do things while you can enjoy it, remember it, and do it with the people you love and care about the most. You don’t have to wait until something tragic occurs and you are doing things before you or someone close to you kicks the bucket ie “Bucket List”. You on that trip! You plan that party! You work hard so you should enjoy the fruits of your labor while you can. Don’t wait because you don’t know what turns life can take. What makes me different are a few things: 1. I am a doer. So most of the places I have been and I have 1st hand knowledge about them. I am not the travel advisor that just looks at internet postings. I actually travel and run my business so I can tell you a lot about the places. I like hosting events so I understand what you want and I know someone who can do it. 2. I am a learner so if I don’t know I am going to learn. So I have taken classes on floral design classes, I have taken balloon classes, I know how to set up up lights. I want to know what goes into making it great so I can teach you. 3. I understand that everything that is expensive isn’t good and everything that is cheap isn’t bad. So it is important to me that you get fair pricing and services and I work really hard to make that happen for you. It wasn’t easy because people don’t trust you when you are new and people don’t think they need a travel advisor. I decided that I would keep working hard for the people who trusted me with their business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Omg! I have lived in the Atlanta area for twenty years so man the old spots come to mind so fast. So let’s see: I would take them down to the AU center to see the schools and get as close as possible to all the campuses. I would then go to Dat Fire Jerk Chicken. Then go over to Thrive for drinks and dinner and to see the Atlanta sign in front of the arena. I would then take them to the King Historic Area and stop by Harold’s Chicken and Ice bar for drinks and food. I would take them to Cirque on Tuesday for food and drinks. To get a little exercise we would go to Sweetwater State Park and do the Hunger Games trail then blow all of the hard work at either Thumbs Up Dinner or Blue Agave.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family and friends have always encouraged me to push through and strive to provide unique and personal experiences for others. I am from a family of entrepreneur’s my mom’s side of the family are all painters and carpenters who own,work and run their own business’s and my dad’s side of the family has owned buildings, restaurants and juke joints. I am originally from Mississippi so I wouldn’t call them night clubs! So I have always been around business so much that in high school my dad always made me organize his business receipts to get ready for his audits. So business is in my blood.

Website: www.astonishingproductionsllc.com adventurousexcursionstravel.com
Instagram: adventurousexcursions
Facebook: Adventurous Excursions Travel Astonishing Productions LLC

Image Credits
Willie Ross Prints