Sydney Baker
School
University Of Washington
University Of Sydney
University Of Luxembourg
Expertise
European, Canadian, And West Coast U.S. Travel Destinations, Hiking And Nature-oriented Trips, Expat Life
- Sydney has visited 14 states, mostly around the West, and 23 countries, many as a solo traveler. Through her travels, she has learned that not every trip is Instagram-perfect and shares this reality and lessons with readers through her writing.
- A fan of languages, Sydney has studied numerous to varying degrees. In addition to English, Sydney is fluent in French, has attempted (and failed) to learn German, and would like to improve on her roughly 30 vocab words of Spanish next. And no matter where she travels, she always tries to learn a few basic phrases.
- A true Pacific Northwest girl, you can usually find Sydney in nature. When visiting a new city or country, she'll quickly find the closest body of water (whether that be a river, lake, or ocean) and/or nearest mountain (and constantly compare them to those back home). She typically prioritizes national parks and outdoor destinations in her travels as well as her favorite activities like hiking, horseback riding, swimming, and boating.
Experience
Sydney has been recording her life and travels in journals for over a decade, and more recently, for various online publications. Originally from Seattle, she has also lived abroad in Sydney, Montreal, and Luxembourg. A few years ago, after writing alongside a career in international education, she switched to full-time freelance and hasn't looked back. She's been published in Fodor's Travel, Good Housekeeping, Matador Network, Travel + Leisure, and more. She is passionate about sharing everything about outdoors-oriented trips and destinations and life and language abroad with readers through informed and well-researched writing.
Education
Sydney holds a BA in public health from the University of Washington and spent time as an exchange student at the University of Sydney. Most recently, she studied multilingual education and communication at the University of Luxembourg. Her multidisciplinary academic background helps her view travel from multiple angles and has given her top-notch research skills that inform her writing.
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Stories By Sydney Baker
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Planning a European backpacking trip? We can help you plan out your budget based on when you're traveling and which countries you plan to visit on your trek.
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Culture shock is an unwelcome but totally natural part of traveling. Let's discuss the phases of those feelings and some tips for coping with it while abroad.
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Paris is an incredible destination. But did you know there are lots of wonderful day trips you can take just outside the city of lights? Check out our list.
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Planning a trip down California State Route 1? We've picked 14 of the best stops from north of the Bay Area down to SoCal to help you plan your trip.
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Preparing for your next trip to Greece doesn't need to be overwhelming. We've prepared the ultimate packing list for you, as well as other things to consider.
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Looking to climb your way around the world? We have a month-by-month breakdown of the best peaks and ranges to climb every month of the year.
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Hiking is one of the best free activities to do in a new place. If you're hiking solo, you might want to brush up on these safety tips before hitting the trail.
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Explore compiled a list of the best U.S. train rides you could take. We found 13 luxurious train trips, ranging from less than an hour to multi-day treks.
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Explore our definitive list of the 13 best vacation destinations in the world for animal lovers, including jungles, mountains, beaches, and more.
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Trying to relax in a loud and noisy environment is pretty much impossible. If you're looking for some real relaxation, head to these quiet destinations.
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Before you pack your bags for Greece, you might want to brush up on some popular Greek phrases. This is what you should know how to say in the native language.