Sarah Heath

Freelance Travel Writer, Travel Lemming

Sarah Heath is a freelance writer from East Tennessee. She now resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and dog. Her curiosity and passion for traveling intensified while living in Chengdu, China for several years. In her free time she enjoys hiking, studying Mandarin, cooking, and searching for all the best spots in the DFW and surrounding areas.

🏠 Local to: Dallas, Texas

📍 Currently: Dallas, Texas

🌟 Favorite Destinations: Texas, China, Tennessee, Thailand, Bali, Florida

🎓 Education: B.A. in English Literature

✔️ Fun Facts: Studies Mandarin Chinese. First job after graduation was with the Disney College Program. Lived in China for 3/12 years. Obsessed with spicy food.

Meet Sarah

Sarah Heath with an overlooking view at the NYC Summit Observation Deck — NYC Summit Observation Deck

Sarah Heath with a Temple on her background in rural China — Temple in rural China

Sarah Heath visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia — Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Sarah Heath smiling for a photo in Tokyo, Japan — Tokyo, Japan

📚 What was Your Favorite Travel Experience or Story?

I was born and raised in a small town in East Tennessee (population 2,000). Ever since I was a young girl, I dreamed of traveling the world and living overseas. The opportunity presented itself in 2016, when I found myself moving to a city in the West of China. Chengdu, home of pandas and Sichuan Hotpot, has a population of 21+ million.

Growing up in the hills of TN, I’d always preferred outdoor traveling. My travels to big cities were still limited and I’d never been to a city that big. I fell in love with it, but road trips to the countryside offered a much needed escape.

Chengdu is close to many snowy mountain ranges. So my boyfriend (now husband) and I often found ourselves loading up the car for road trips. Hours outside of the city, we could experience a slower pace of life in the villages of Sichuan.

Mosika, China is one of the most unique trips we took. This tiny village is essentially untouched by the modern world. There are no hotels, no restaurants, and no way to book things in advance.

You have to drive the windy roads, show up, and hope that you can find a homestay with a local Tibetan family. We spent our time wandering the beautiful terrain, sipping on yak milk tea, and trying local dishes.

🗺️ What’s Your #1 Expert Travel Tip?

While planning your itinerary, take some time to research your destination’s culture. Learn about the local etiquette, important customs, and even some useful phrases. This extra research will help you to prepare and pack appropriately.

This is especially important if you plan on visiting sacred spaces. By taking the time to do this we can be respectful guests in the countries that we are visiting.