Meet Tara Condon | Travel Advisor

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

Hi Tara, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in Northern Virginia in a very loud and loving Persian family. My parents have been running a camera shop in the area for over 30 years, so to say that I understand the nuances of small business ownership is an understatement. Their grit, resilience, and creative thinking have shaped me into the person I am today, and capturing the same kind of magic that they have would be an absolute dream. One of the core pieces of advice that my dad gave me is to take the opportunity to work for myself, and this is a big part of what led me to working independently in the travel industry.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
“Tour with Tara”, like many ideas, didn’t begin overnight. I’d originally spent nearly eight years as a recruiter, and I was laid off from my most recent job in August 2023. From there, I took some time to recover from burnout, plan our wedding, and explore other career paths (UX/UI, learning and development, and even part-time work at a bookstore). Nothing really aligned with I wanted until I saw an advertisement for Fora, my host travel agency, on Instagram. I was inspired to give it a shot since I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 14 countries while growing up (another shoutout to mom and dad!)

As glamorous as it may seem, this career isn’t easy. I’m in the process of building a steady client base, which is easier said than done. This is on top of staying up to date with industry best practices, new tools, and social media management. But, through it all, I’ve learned that this career is incredibly vibrant and inclusive. It has given me the opportunity to build a brand that represents my love of experiencing new cultures and meeting new people…supported by fantastic food and wine, ideally! With that in mind, I hope to be the go-to advisor for those looking for a little bit of luxury, comfort, and fun.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is super difficult as I enjoy hosting out of my own house and making home-cooked meals, but the main aspects of Atlanta that I’d love to showcase are the food, drinks, nature, and history.

My favorite breakfast spots (both seated/casual grab-and-go) include the Silver Skillet, Atlanta Breakfast Club, Thumbs Up Diner, Portrait Coffee, East Pole Coffee and Sean’s Harvest Market. Truthfully, I’m usually a latte and yogurt cup kind of breakfast girl, but this should cover a lot of bases.

Lunch is a little tougher since portion sizes and options can vary. I think hitting up multi-use style spots like Ponce City Market or the food hall at Lee & White. Plus, gives us a chance to walk around and window shop, if we wanted.

My list of favorite dinner spots is long and hard to pick from (I even have a spreadsheet shared with close friends…yes, I’m that kind of person). Delbar is one of my all-time favorites as a Persian-American, even serving better Persian food compared to a diaspora hub like D.C. For tapas-style meals, Cooks & Soldiers is consistently good. For more unique but accessible dishes, Banshee is the way to go. I could go on and on, but other favorites include Antico’s, The Optimist, Highland Tap, and Lyla Lila.

For all of the activities in between, there’s truly something for everyone. Walking the Beltline is a must, especially if we want to hit up a couple of breweries along the way (personal favorites include Monday Night Garage and SweetWater). If we want to spend more time outdoors, Piedmont Park is a definite stop with a potential tour through the Botanical Gardens. I’d also add on going to the High Museum and the Fernbank Museum for some indoor options. Naturally, I’m also a big fan of a fancy nightcap – Ranger Station, Bar Margot, and 12 Cocktail Bar are for sure some of the best in the city.

This is still just the tip of the ATL iceberg, but I think this provides the best cross section of what our city has to offer!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout my parents for creating the spark that brought me to this point in my career, particularly with their work in running Ace Photo. They’ve only ever taught me to go after what I want and to live a life that is fulfilled, happy, and authentic. Without them, I’d be absolutely lost.

I’d also like to shoutout my husband, Liam, for being my biggest supporter and cheerleader. He really pushed me to find a career that I love, and it has been such a huge gift. Diving into the world of small business ownership isn’t for the faint of heart, and he’s been rolling with the punches since day one. After nearly nine years together, I’m not sure if there’s much I could do that would really shock him at this point!

Finally, a shoutout to our dogs, Argos and Helen. They obviously don’t understand the concept of travel advising, but they’re incredibly cute and always brighten my day!

Website: https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/tara-condon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tourwithtara/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarajcondon/