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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

Where travel, design, & creative living Intersect

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 cities, landscapes, and everyday places through travel, design, and creative living.

I’m drawn to walking as a way of understanding places. Whether in San Francisco or abroad, I experience destinations at street level, paying attention to architecture, neighborhoods, and the small details that shape how a place feels.

On this blog, you’ll find travel guides, walking routes, and road trip itineraries alongside reflections on design, studio life, and what it’s like working as an architect. I also share creative resources inspired by my work and travels.

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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    I joined Southwest Adventure Tours for a walking t I joined Southwest Adventure Tours for a walking tour of Downtown Salt Lake City, and I’m so glad I did. We saw so many places I would have walked right past on my own! 

As an architect, I love a good walking tour and especially discovering historic buildings, adaptive reuse projects, and public spaces that give a city its character. 

Some of the highlights from part 1 of 2 since I took so many photos…

📍Union Pacific Depot & the beautiful bar inside Asher Adams
📍Squatters Pub Brewery and some public art on medians
📍Caputo’s Market
📍Devereau Mansion
📍Abravanel Hall
    I recently spent a few days in Salt Lake City and I recently spent a few days in Salt Lake City and one of my favorite experiences was exploring Park City with Southwest Adventure Tours. 

We started at Utah Olympic Park, where we watched people using the bobsled track and ski jumps from the 2002 Winter Olympics. It’s great to see the facilities still in use today! 

After that, we wandered Historic Main Street and it is exactly the kind of place I love. Park City has preserved its historic western storefronts while creating a vibrant downtown with local shops, galleries, and restaurants. 

As an architect, I’m always drawn to places that value thoughtful design, historic preservation, and public art.
    I recently spent a day in Golden Gate Park visitin I recently spent a day in Golden Gate Park visiting all the special gardens that are free for SF residents — did you know residents can get into the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, and SF Botanical Garden for free, just by showing ID with proof of residency? 

1. Japanese Tea Garden Drum Bridge
2. San Francisco Botanical Garden
3. Inside the Conservatory of Flowers
4. de Young Museum’s observation tower + sculpture garden (free for everyone, not just residents!) 
4. California Academy of Sciences (not free, but walking through the Music Concourse in front of it for these views is) 
5. Outside the Conservatory of Flowers
6-7. Japanese Tea Garden
    Life Lately in San Francisco.... 1. Noe Valley l Life Lately in San Francisco.... 

1. Noe Valley looking towards Twin Peaks 
2. Sanchez Street in Dolores Heights
3. 21st Street in Dolores Heights
4. Noe Valley
5. Market Street
6. Stern Grove
    I recently made a trip to the de Young Museum in G I recently made a trip to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park to see the special exhibit of Monet in Venice.  Of course I also had to make a trip up the observation tower and into the sculpture  garden while I was there.  The observation tower and sculpture  garden are actually free to visit, even if you don’t have a ticket.  It’s one of my favorite things to do in Golden Gate Park.
    One of the best things about taking a day trip to One of the best things about taking a day trip to Angel Island is taking the ferry to get there.  Sometimes I forget you can get views of the Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge just by taking public transportation.
    Hiking to the top of Mt. Livermore on Angel Island Hiking to the top of Mt. Livermore on Angel Island is one of my favorite day trips from San Francisco - and one you can do without a car!  I recently took the ferry to Angel Island from the San Francisco Ferry Building and hiked to the top of Mt Livermore to have lunch with panoramic views of the Bay.  One of my favorite things about the hike is since you are on an island, there are views of the Bay for almost the entire hike.
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