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 traveler 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 and if you’re curious, please read on and I’ll do my best to summarize it for you. But before that, let me tell you a little about the blog so you know what to expect :)
About Places She Goes
You’ll occasionally find me in the big cities - London, Paris, Seoul…but if I’m being honest, I much prefer traveling in the countryside. It’s the small destinations that seem to be dripping in history, culture, things to do, and beautiful places to see.
Slow travel has been a popular phrase lately and I definitely connect to that ideology. To me, slow travel is about being mindful, practicing sustainability, and most importantly - seeking genuine connections to the people and places you visit rather than simply chasing the latest travel trends.
I want Places She Goes to be a space where you can find soft adventure ideas and destination inspiration. I’m not trying to reveal the next “hidden gem” but I do want to share my travel stories in hopes that they might inspire your own.
Childhood
When I was 5 years-old, I was lucky enough to go on my first trip abroad to England. My uncle was getting married to my now aunt (love you both!!) and I was bubbling over with excitement because I was going to be their flower girl!
We spent 2 weeks in England celebrating their marriage and exploring my 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 Northern California a few weeks before my 8th birthday, to a small town famously covered in snow for at least 5 months out of the year. We spent 3 years here, making snowmen in the winter and gardening and fishing at the local lake in the summer. A neighbor taught me how to ride horses, and I learned how to cut wood for our fireplace. My family wonders why I love Little Women and Anne of Green Gables so much.
After 3 years in Northern California, we moved back to Southern California, where my parents ran a restaurant in a small mountain community known for its apple orchards. Oak Glen, California has a cozy, Gilmore Girls-esk atmosphere. In Oak Glen it feels like you are stepping into a cozy book where its always 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 orchards, 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.”
In recent years…
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.
Contact Me
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.