About

Hi, I'm Allison!

After traveling full-time for almost 3 years, I decided to move to France and make Paris my base. I still spend a good deal of my time looking at flights and planning my next trip, but I'm enjoying settling into a routine here, building my community, and exploring the city.

My hope is that by sharing about my life and experiences here, I can help you plan an unforgettable trip to Paris or maybe even inspire you to move abroad as well.

Why Paris?

Paris caught me by surprise. Growing up, it was never my, 'dream' to live here, but now I can't imagine myself anywhere else (at least during this particular chapter of my life).

I love living in a city with so much history; and one that prides itself in preserving it. There are endless museums to check out, parks to sit in, and beautiful streets to wander. I often catch myself stopping mid-walk to admire the view or soak in the moment.

Paris is also a city where I feel I'm able to have a good life balance. People work hard here and are passionate about their hobbies, but they also value slowing down, taking time for themselves, and spending time with friends and family. Apéro in the park after work? Sign me up.

France as a whole, is also a very diverse country in terms of its landscape. I'm looking forward to exploring the various regions here and hopefully taking advantage of the train system and great flight options.

Then there's learning French. I've always wanted to speak a second language and now I have the perfect opportunity to do so.

Beyond all of this though, sometimes you just know when a place is right for you. That's how I feel right now in Paris.

Some of my favorite travel stories

Travel has and always will be a very important part of my life. It inspires me unlike anything else and has taught me how important it is to remain curious, open-minded, and kind. Here are some of my favorite memories from almost a decade of travel:

  • Completing a 10-day meditation retreat at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Nepal
  • Trekking to the top of Mt. Rinjani in Indonesia with two of my best friends
  • Going on a 4-day motorbike loop in Northern Vietnam
  • Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat in Rwanda
  • Spending 6 weeks in Peru and doing the 5-day Salkantay Trek
  • Going on a safari in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
  • Glacier kayaking in Alaska and seeing a pod of orcas on the same day
  • Hiking in Zhangjiajie, 'The Avatar Mountains' in China
  • Spending 5 weeks in Japan and seeing the famous snow monkeys
  • Befriending two Belgian dudes in Ecuador and traveling with them for 3 weeks
  • Staying at a summer camp for women in the French countryside with my mom
  • Studying abroad in Italy and living with an Italian host family