Hello, my name is Heather
I was 29 years old the first time I set foot in Paris and I fell in love. Not lust, not simply enamored with its beauty and the excitement of something new, but completely, utterly in love. Over the last decade, my love for Europe continues to grow. So many places have touched my soul, given me new perspectives, helped me slow down, enjoy the present, and brought pure, childlike joy. And this is more accessible than people think. That’s what I want to share–to help others also have these experiences.
This may sound cliché and no place or trip is perfect or without its flaws. But as an American growing up in the hustle culture, in suburbia with big box stores and clogged highways, it is incredibly refreshing to walk on centuries-old cobblestones and sit at a café to watch the day go by. If you haven’t tried it, just take my word for it.
My travel “style” is less about seeing as much as possible and more about taking the time to get to know a place. I am happiest when I can allow the sites, smells, tastes, and sounds wash over me and just be. I am not glamorous but I do enjoy creature comforts, so you won’t be seeing me stay at hostels but I won’t be staying at five-star resorts either. I’d rather buy a handmade shawl made from the wool of sheep grazing outside the shop (yes, that’s happened) than purchase a luxury item on high street.
If any of this sounds relatable or interesting to you, welcome to Trace the World. I hope I can help a little when it comes to traveling–it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Please feel free to contact me if you’re looking for specific advice. There’s nothing I love more than sharing the joy of going somewhere new.
A note about the name: Trace the World pays homage to a dear friend, Tracey, who we lost way too early in life. She is a reminder that life is precious and we shouldn’t take it for granted. Ignore your email, hug your dog, call your family, share a bottle of wine with your friend, take the trip.
“These places that we take into ourselves and make part of us, so that we are made of all the places we’ve loved, or of all the places where we’ve changed. We pick up bits and pieces from each of them, and hold them all in ourselves.”
Lauren Elkin
Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice, and London
Trace the World 