Lander University alumna and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Marie Goff has spent her life in motion – leading soldiers, crossing continents and now capturing the world one photograph at a time. From remote mountain ridges to quiet village markets, she documents the hidden corners of the globe through her lens while chronicling her journeys in a vivid, widely-read travel blog. Her work blends the discipline of a commander with the curiosity of an explorer, offering readers a rare window into places most people will never see.
Closer to home, Goff now is capturing significant South Carolina historic sites and events for a special America 250 exhibit for the South Carolina State Library to commemorate the nation’s founding era.
Her devotion to service and adventure began at Lander, said Goff, who earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1978 at Lander and completed 37 years in the U.S. Army and South Carolina National Guard.
“Lander inspired and cemented my curiosity about many subjects, including literature, people, places and events,” said Goff, who rose through the ranks of military service to become the first female general officer in the South Carolina National Guard. “I graduated from Lander armed with the thought that I could do anything. The liberal arts education that Lander provided was the foundation and impetus for a lifetime of learning.”
Adventures Around the World
Goff and her husband, Eddie Goff, a retired U.S. Army veteran, have visited 52 countries and six continents. Next year, they will visit Antarctica, the seventh and final continent on their “to do” list. That trip will be followed by a tour to India, with Japan, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand to follow. “In between, we’ll be traveling around South Carolina and other states.”
Goff caught the “travel bug” during a study abroad trip to Dijon, France, for summer school. Led by retired Lander Professor Joel Cleland and his wife Abby, the trip also included stops in England, Switzerland and Germany.
“That experience led to my love of travel,” she said. “I always recommend that students take advantage of these opportunities.”
France and Italy are among the couple’s favorite travel destinations. “We like to arrange trips around specific activities or highlights of an area,” Goff said, citing an eco-tour in Costa Rica, archaeological paths in Egypt and recreational vehicle tours of the U.S. West. “I locate a tour that aligns with the country’s highlights or with specific learning experiences.”
The couple recently took the “Band of Brothers D-Day Anniversary Tour,” an annual trip that commemorates the anniversary of D-Day by visiting the sites related to the historic World War II landing in France. “We were surprised to find that, even now, people in liberated countries still feel a deep sense of gratitude toward Americans,” she said.
However, Goff has found that some of their most unforgettable adventures are the ones where they are on their own. “We found ourselves in the middle of nowhere in one of Utah’s National Parks at dusk. Our hotel was just across the water, but we couldn’t get there,” she said, noting that with no cell phone service they were lucky to find another place to stay.
On a trip to Italy, a rockslide stopped the train, and the couple were on their own to get a bus to meet a train on the other side. “It took a while to get to our destination, but the experience of working it out on our own proved exhilarating.”
Still, she advises that “a guided tour is a necessity because there is no way to see everything and get to the front of the lines without one. We did it in China recently, and it was a lot of fun.”
Sharing Her Tours with Future Travelers
As her travel experiences broadened her knowledge and views of the world, Goff decided to write a travel blog in 2018, called “Travel Notes & Storytelling,” which features in-depth accounts of her travels and breathtaking color photographs to draw the reader into the stories. The site is a gold mine for aspiring travelers seeking information about future trips, as well as tips on what to see and do in countries around the world and the United States.
“Putting the adventures into words forces me to do research and ask questions, which helps me learn more and internalize the experience. The photography came later, but reinforces this.”
To sharpen her skills, Goff embarked on a specialized photography expedition to Jordan, second only to Israel for its biblical sites. The journey pushed her creativity as much as her technical abilities. The experience not only strengthened her proficiency behind the lens but also deepened her appreciation for the way photographs preserve culture, history and the beauty of unfamiliar places.
“I soon learned that in the photography world, one question leads to many, many more,” she said.
Whether encouraging newcomers to step beyond their comfort zones or offering inspiration to fellow veterans seeking new paths, Goff uses her stories to broaden perspectives and build connections. Her travels may span continents, but her impact reaches home, empowering others to see the world – and themselves – with greater confidence and curiosity.
To learn more about Goff’s adventures and travel tips, visit www.travelnotesandstorytelling.com.