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Wayfaring Architect

Wayfaring Architect

Travel, walking routes, and design—through the lens of a female architect based in San Francisco

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About

Wayfaring (noun): traveling by foot, moving through places with intention

Architect (noun): one who designs and shapes the built environment

Wayfaring Architect is Where Travel Meets Design

An architect looking up at the stained glass and plants inside the Royal Greenhouse in Brussels Belgium

Based in San Francisco, I’m Heather Snow, a licensed architect, solo female traveler, and dog mom. I explore the City and destinations beyond through detailed itineraries, self-guided walking routes, dog-friendly travel guides, and reflections on studio life as an architect.

I walk almost everywhere I travel, because cities, towns, and trails are best understood at street level. Each guide reflects my perspective as an architect.

On the blog, you’ll find travel guides and walking routes, alongside insights into studio life and what it’s like to work as an architect.

One of my San Francisco walking routes was featured in The San Francisco Standard, where I was named one of the City’s “walking influencers.” They even branded my route up to Twin Peaks as the “Butt Burner.”

To see my architectural work, visit SNOW architecture. 

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    Stop 2 on our road trip: Charleston! We spent the Stop 2 on our road trip: Charleston! We spent the day wandering the historic district, admiring colonial architecture, charming window flower boxes, and, of course, indulging in plenty of oysters and Southern BBQ. 🦪🌸🍖
    One of my favorite road trips was a girls’ trip fr One of my favorite road trips was a girls’ trip from Atlanta → Savannah → Charleston → back to Atlanta. 

First stop: Savannah! I loved wandering through the squares admiring colorful colonial architecture and, of course, spotting the Spanish moss draping the live oaks. 

🏡 Homes on Gaston Street
🌿  Looking up at Bonaventure Cemetery
🌴  Walking through Bonaventure Cemetery
⛲️ Forsyth Park Fountain
📷️ Selfie in Forsyth Park
    Morning walks in Noe Valley. 1. Duncan and Castr Morning walks in Noe Valley. 

1. Duncan and Castro Open Space
2. Top of the 22nd Street Jungle Stairs
3. Newburg Street
4. Castro Street near 26th Street
5. Top of the Liberty Street Steps
    Watching the Winter Olympics inspired me to look b Watching the Winter Olympics inspired me to look back at photos from a trip through northern Italy in 2020.

It was the end of Carnivale in Venice and the beginning of Covid. We traveled through Venice, Verona, and Milan — and I’ll never see Italy that empty again.

I’m working on my Italian now and planning a return later this year. I just can’t decide which region to visit (or revisit).
    Beach scenes from a few days in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Beach scenes from a few days in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  I spent every morning we had there letting Pepper run free on the beach.  We caught a couple sunsets from the beach and went on some nearby hikes. 

1. Views from Carmel Meadows Trail looking towards Point Lobos
2. Sunset from Scenic Road in Carmel
3. Looking back at Carmel and Monterey from Carmel Meadows Trail
4. Carmel Beach with Pebble Beach in the background
    Fairytale Cottages, Secret Passageways and Gardens Fairytale Cottages, Secret Passageways and Gardens, and even a Frank Lloyd Wright house on the beach... Carmel-by-the-Sea was even more charming than I imagined.  I recently spent a few nights in Carmel and it was the perfect getaway from San Francisco for a few days. 

1. Cottage on Scenic Road
2. Frank Lloyd Wright house at Carmel beach
3. Thomas Kinkade gallery hidden down Der Ling Lane
4. Court of the Golden Boughs
5. Hansel Cottage
6. Storybook Cottage
    Day Trip down to Big Sur On a recent trip to Carme Day Trip down to Big Sur
On a recent trip to Carmel I decided to make a day trip driving down Highway 1 to see Big Sur.  I spent some time researching before I went since I planned on taking Pepper with me and dogs are generally restricted in most National and State Parks.  Despite the restrictions, there were actually still plenty of places dogs are allowed to walk around.  She also loves a good car ride and this was one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever done.  We also got a nice surprise, the calla lilies near Garrapata Beach were fully in bloom!
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