Let’s get to know each other!
Hello! I’m Sierra.
Thank you for visiting my little digital abode! If you’re here, that must mean we share a common interest in traveling or hiking or adventuring… maybe all of the above! Let me introduce myself:
I’m a travel enthusiast who has been a nomad almost my entire life. I have lived in California, Texas, Utah, Washington, and abroad in England.
You might be wondering how I ended up in all those places! If you’re curious, please read on and I’ll do my best to break it down for you. But before that, let me tell you a little about the blog so you know what to expect :)
About Places She Goes
Rather than chasing the latest travel trend, my goal is always to focus on genuine connection.
Some of my favorite travel memories were created in tiny Yorkshire pubs or at a cafe in the middle of the Albanian Alps. What makes these memories special isn’t the photos that were taken for Instagram or the destination checked off my bucket list, but rather the people I met, the culture they introduced me to, and how my world-view was changed because of it.
Places She Goes is a place where you’ll find travel guides, personal experiences, and inspiration that are infused with slow travel principles.
Childhood
The first time I found myself abroad was at the age of 5. My uncle was marrying a woman from England, and while I didn’t quite understand exactly where England was or the concept of travel at that age, I did know I was in for an adventure.
We spent 2 weeks in England celebrating their marriage and exploring my new auntie’s home country. This trip became a core memory of my childhood that sparked curiosity and a passion for exploring the world.
Early Years
A couple years after the trip to England, my family made the first of many moves. I spent the first 7 years of my life in Southern California, spending my days soaked in the sun, climbing fruit trees, and expanding the scope of my imagination.
We moved to Susanville a few weeks before my 8th birthday, a small town in Northern California that is famously covered in snow for at least 5 months out of the year. We spent 3 years here, gardening and fishing at the local lake. A neighbor taught me how to ride horses, and I learned how to cut wood for our fireplace. My family now wonders why I love Little Women and Anne of Green Gables so much.
After 3 years in Susanville, we moved back to Southern California, where my parents ran a restaurant in a small mountain community known for its apples - yes, its apples. Oak Glen, California is famous for its many apple orchards and Gilmore Girls-esk atmosphere. A visit to Oak Glen means stepping into a cozy book where it always smells of autumn.
What a place for a ten-year-old girl with Anne Shirley-level dreams to grow up, right?
After spending a few years day-dreaming in the apple orchard-lined clouds, a national event pushed me out of girlhood and back down to earth - the 2008 recession…it was time to move again.
To Texas we went.
By the time we got to Texas, I was almost in high school and not too pleased about moving around as much as we did. It was hard at the time, but as I look back, I’m grateful for the skills I gained from moving every few years.
Making new friends and exploring new places…that is just part of who I am now. And even though it was the same country, going from California to Texas was a bit of a culture shock. That definitely prepared me for a life of travel.
I spent the rest of my high school years in Texas where I met life-long friends. I struggled with being away from California where my family and home was, but I am grateful for the little corner of Texas I now call “home.”
More recently…
I graduated high school in 2015 and spent 5 years working full-time, mainly in assisted living and memory care. I also did a lot of volunteering, and (you guessed it) moving.
The state of Washington was my home for a few years, where I lived on a farm. After that, I lived in Utah during the worst winter they had in over 30 years, and then back home to Texas.
When I eventually decided to go back to school, I knew I wanted something different. I was lucky enough to find an opportunity to move to England, the place that made a little 5-year-old Sierra fall in love with travel in the first place. I attended university in Leeds, an amazing Yorkshire city in the North of England that I now consider a home of sorts. While earning my bachelor’s degree, I was able to travel around the UK and Europe, including Albania, Montenegro, Romania, and Madeira, Portugal. That is when I completely fell in love with slow travel.
After graduation, I started Places She Goes, a place where I can share my experiences and my love for exploration. I moved back to California and started my career in Marketing and Public Relations.
I was so lucky to land a remote job where I could live out a lifelong dream of being a digital nomad. For a year, I tagged along with a family member who also travels full-time. We traveled around France, Belgium, Greece, and eventually, making my way back to England for around 6 months.
Now? I’m back in the States preparing for my next adventure, and trust me, it will be a good one. But at the moment, I’m focusing on spending time with my family and finding hidden gems in Texas.
My Favorite Travel Stuff:
If you’re looking to support me or are genuinely interested in my travel tools, I do have a few recommendations that I will place below. I receive a small commission if you decide to purchase anything through my links. But I want to be very transparent - I only choose products and services for these links that I believe in and use myself
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Discover the best places to go apple picking in Oak Glen, California, a picture-perfect destination in Southern California. Explore the top orchards and find insider tips for a memorable apple-picking experience.