Why Self-timers and Strangers?
When I'm out traveling the world, odds are I am going solo. Doing things alone should not mean that I have to miss out on capturing all of the wonderful moments. So, my travels became known as "Self-timers and Strangers" because those two things are what gave me the ability to start sharing my journey in the first place!
Meet Sarah Marie
Welcome to Self-timers and Strangers! I'm Sarah Marie. I have been solo traveling since I was 16 when my mom sent me to Australia for two weeks, and I have been in love with it ever since! I have spent most of my adult life taking advantage of my time off and going on as many adventures as possible. I am passionate about working with kids in an outdoor recreation setting, which has led me to pursue a full-time career in outdoor seasonal work. As you can imagine, my chosen path is not the most lucrative, so everything I do is on a low budget.
I grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Southwest Virginia, which laid a deep foundation for my love of nature and outdoor recreation. I spent my summers backpacking the Appalachian Trail, spelunking in Shenandoah, and rock climbing in North Carolina, which means I learned to appreciate nature at a very early age. I want to keep my footprint as small as possible, so my travels are intentional, and I practice Leave No Trace wherever I go.
While I was raised in Virginia, I was born in Louisiana. I like to tell people I grew up in a "Lousiana Household" that just so happened to be in Virginia. The mix of the two homes taught me the importance of culture. While I am not one to shy away from a good tourist spot, I enjoy researching and learning about the culture of a location before I visit it. Not only is planning and learning incredibly enjoyable, it's also a way for me to practice gratitude for getting to experience a new place.