Introducing An Artist’s Tale, a monthly snail mail club with collectible artwork, illustrated travel letters, and activities paired with a new art tool. We’re beginning with New Orleans, with a different place to explore each month and a community to share your photographs and creations.
I started An Artist’s Tale, a monthly snail mail club, to share my travels in more depth and give you ways to use the ideas they inspire. Creating a physical version of the travel, art, and food shared on this blog has always been the goal. Each edition includes artwork to collect, an illustrated letter, stickers, and a zine with activities and an art tool to use with them.
The club follows the same process behind the work you’ve seen here. In the New Orleans post, photographs documented details such as the French Quarter’s blue street tiles. In Color Persists, flower photographs became color references. An Artist’s Tale takes that process further by giving you activities based on the colors and design of each place, then a community where we can share our photos and artwork. We’re starting with New Orleans. Each month will focus on a different place from my travels, with new artwork and activities to explore together.
My mission is Travel. Capture. Create. This is where all three come together. Each month and each place, through my travels and photographs, we will follow the colors, design, and details that inspired me there. I’ll draw from my existing experiences as well as future ones. There’s plenty in a single trip to keep working with long after the suitcase is unpacked.
The art we encounter might be a painting, but it could also be architecture, a carefully planted garden, or the lettering on a sign. I want to spend more time with those details, show you how they become artwork, and give you ways to try that process yourself.
Each monthly envelope includes:
Kiss-cut stickers featuring my original artwork.
A collectible 4×6 travel-art postcard, printed from my original artwork.
An illustrated, place-inspired letter that goes further into the experience.
A mini activity zine, with interactive activities.
A new artist’s tool each month.
An Artist’s Tale | Snail Mail Club, October 2026. By Sara Rose.
The first edition is inspired by New Orleans and will be mailed in the first week of October. Travel and art are the main focus of the club, with food woven into the stories and inspiration. As shared in my earlier posts, I rely on accounts from individuals I’ve met on my travels, giving context my photos alone cannot provide. That matters to me as this club grows: sharing my own observations while crediting the people whose work and knowledge help me understand a place.
Last Day to Sign Up for October’s Edition
Share your photos and artwork in my Discord and Instagram, linked in the zine. I’d love for us to compare what caught our attention, trade ideas, and see what everyone makes. All experience levels are welcome.
Today, September 30, is the last day to join for the first October edition. Join during October and you’ll receive November’s edition, etc. Monthly editions are mailed during the first week of the month, and postage is included.
Blog posts will also resume twice a month, and the podcasts are returning too! You’re welcome to keep following here, whether or not you join the postal club.
What’s one detail in a familiar place that you’ve started noticing lately?
Join An Artist’s Tale
Join An Artist’s Tale at AskSaraRose.com and choose the U.S. or international monthly subscription to keep receiving each new edition: An Artist’s Tale
Sign up by 11:59 p.m. Pacific tonight, September 30, for October’s New Orleans edition. Sign-ups during October receive November’s edition. Each edition is mailed during the first week of the month, and postage is included.
Share your photos and artwork in my Discord community, linked in the zine. Let’s compare what caught our attention, trade ideas, and see what everyone makes. All experience levels are welcome.
Blog posts will also resume twice a month, and the podcasts are returning too! You’re welcome to keep following here, whether or not you join the postal club.
What’s one detail in a familiar place that you’ve started noticing lately?
Join An Artist’s Taleand choose your monthly subscription to keep exploring with us by mail.
Step into a world of creativity with ThereGoesSaraRose.com, where photography meets hand-painted artistry. Discover the excitement of creating your own ACEOs, small masterpieces that capture the imagination. Perfect for collectors and artists alike!
A new creative chapter is unfolding at There Goes Sara Rose. After years of capturing color through photography, I am turning that same curious eye toward hand-painted artwork small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
Hello, fellow adventurers!
For years, my creative life has been built around noticing. I notice color hiding in weathered spaces, flowers wearing combinations no designer would dare suggest, and small details that are easy to overlook when we are moving too quickly. COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 grew from that habit of paying attention and using photography as a library for future creativity.
Recently, that same curiosity led me somewhere new. Instead of only capturing what already exists, I have been painting the little worlds living inside my own imagination. Somewhere between mushroom houses, unusual animals, dramatic skies, and headphone-wearing crabs, I discovered ACEOs and became completely obsessed.
If you love the excitement of finding a rare Pokémon card, discovering an independent artist, or collecting tiny objects filled with personality, you may be about to join me.
ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions, and Originals. An ACEO measures exactly 2.5 by 3.5 inches, which is the same size as a standard trading card. That specific size is the main rule, but artists are free to create almost anything within it.
An ACEO may be painted, drawn, collaged, printed, or created with mixed media. Some are one-of-a-kind originals, while others are signed or numbered editions of an artist’s work. Think of an ACEO like a trading card, except the image may have been painted directly onto the exact card you are holding.
That small difference changes the entire experience. You are not simply looking at an image of the artwork. With an original ACEO, you are holding the surface the artist actually worked on, complete with its brushstrokes, texture, decisions, and tiny imperfections.
How Did ACEOs Begin?
ACEOs grew out of the Artist Trading Card movement. Artist Trading Cards, commonly called ATCs, were traditionally created for artists to trade with one another rather than sell. The exchange was part of the culture, which meant selling the cards was initially considered controversial.
In 2004, artist Lisa Luree, also known online as Bone Diva, saw that collectors wanted the opportunity to purchase these miniature works. She developed the name Art Cards, Editions, and Originals to distinguish art created for sale from cards intended only for trade. The idea spread, and a new community of artists and collectors grew around it. [1]
That history is part of what makes ACEOs so interesting to me. They exist somewhere between fine art, trading-card culture, and creative community. It is an unusual combination, but unusual combinations are often where the most interesting ideas begin.
Why Tiny Art?
Creating artwork this small sounds easier than creating a large painting. After all, it requires less paper and less paint. What could possibly go wrong?
Apparently, plenty.
Every line, shape, and color has to earn its limited space. A composition that works beautifully on a large canvas may become crowded or confusing when reduced to trading-card size. Tiny art may use fewer materials, but it still requires planning, patience, and an impressive willingness to repaint something smaller than your thumbnail.
That challenge is exactly what pulled me in. The size encourages experimentation because each card can become a complete idea without requiring weeks of work or an empty wall. One card can hold a sunset, a creature, a joke, a strange fact about nature, or the beginning of an entire fantasy world.
My first ACEOs have already included mushroom homes, stalking tigers, gummy bears, tiny spiders, colorful crabs, and scenes built around light and atmosphere. Some ideas remain individual paintings, while others naturally grow into sets. The cards may be small, but they are giving my imagination more room than expected.
Why Do People Collect ACEOs?
If you have ever collected Pokémon cards, sports cards, postcards, pins, or other miniature treasures, you already understand part of the appeal. There is satisfaction in finding something special, protecting it, and adding it to a collection that reflects your interests.
ACEOs make original art easier to collect and display than many larger works. They can be stored in standard trading-card sleeves and binders, placed in miniature frames, displayed on small easels, or grouped together as a collection. You do not need a large home or a gallery-sized budget to begin supporting independent artists.
There is also something personal about knowing that only one collector can own a particular original. Prints and stickers allow more people to enjoy a favorite design, and I absolutely plan to explore those possibilities. Still, the original card holds the marks made during the actual creative process.
Once that original finds its collector, that exact little world belongs to them.
Where This Adventure Goes Next
Creating the art is the center of this project. Each new ACEO gives me something to paint, photograph, share, and learn from. Some pieces may remain one-of-a-kind originals, while others may eventually grow into prints, collections, or new creative ideas.
My available original ACEOs will be listed through TinyGallery and eBay, with reprints and stickers eventually on Etsy, while ThereGoesSaraRose.com will remain the home of the larger story. This is where I will share new artwork, behind-the-scenes experiments, lessons, and the ideas that connect one project to the next.
This new chapter is not separate from the adventures you already know me for. It was always the goal, and is another way of following the same curiosity that has always guided There Goes Sara Rose.
Travel. Capture. Create.
Sometimes I travel somewhere new and capture what I find. Other times, I travel into an idea and create what I wish I could find there.
What would you love to discover inside a tiny painted world? Leave a comment, follow the process, or send a raven. An email will also work.
Thank you, as always, for adventuring with me. Let’s see whether we can turn pocket-sized paintings into a dragon’s hoard.
Until the next time, checkout my current items for sale at www.AskSaraRose.com and head to my eBay!
A visual meditation on color, creativity, and noticing what persists. In this post, Sara Rose explores how nature, design theory, and saturated color inform her new photography book, COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 — and why choosing color is an act of creative resistance.
For years, I’ve followed my curiosity with camera in hand. I am attracted to color and new life like a bee to a fresh bloom. I’ve always been drawn to flowers and plants. I am especially captivated by spaces where color appears layered and weathered. These colors are imperfect and fight to be alive. Eventually the habit of noticing the small things becomes a routine, and then a mindset. Now, if I am ever “stuck,” I return to this growing library of colorful photography for inspiration. And now, you can too.
The best example I can give is a quote from Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games. In it, Peeta shared his favorite color, saying, “Orange […] more like a sunset kind of orange.” Orange is not typically a favorite color. However, in the context of a sunset, it’s undeniable that it’s one of the most beautiful sights in the sky.
Why does this matter? When you make a habit of learning art theory and design, your work slowly becomes less about you as the creator. It becomes more about the people experiencing it. For example, take the color blue. Blue evokes feelings such as trust, honesty, and calmness. If you work in healthcare, you may see a lot of blue in your design work. You may also use a lot of blue in your design work. The worlds of design, branding, and marketing would say this is both a wise and strategic choice for healthcare design.
Our creative streak doesn’t end at 5 p.m., though. What color combo are you wearing to your friend’s birthday dinner? When searching for a pop of color, does your design-mind revert to tertiary and contrasting colors? Stuck in the methods we were taught? Not breaking a mold? This is the reason I find nature photography intriguing. It focuses on capturing saturated colors or unique combinations. This approach challenges that part of our honed creativity. Would you wear dark reddish brown with a pop of chartreuse? No? Well, the Black Rose Anemone dons it every day and it is stunning!
Color doesn’t disappear just because trends say it should soften. It doesn’t apologize for being loud, layered, or alive. It persists — in cracked sidewalks, in stubborn petals, in unexpected combinations that shouldn’t work but do.
COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 is my reminder to myself — and now to you — that inspiration doesn’t need permission. That beauty isn’t only found in perfection or palettes approved by an industry forecast. Sometimes it’s found in contrast. In courage. In choosing saturation anyway.
2025 was a year of quiet growth for There Goes Sara Rose. This wrap-up reflects on global readership, the most-read travel stories, and a creative shift toward observation, design, and alignment — including a look at what’s coming next with Color Persists: Volume 1.
Somewhere along the way, this little corner of the internet stopped being just mine and started becoming ours. In 2025, readers found their way here from all over — across the U.S., the UK, Canada, Europe, and even as far as Singapore and Hong Kong — often through posts written years ago that somehow kept traveling. That’s because you kept reading, sharing, wandering, and coming back. For the first time since this site began, it feels right to say this has grown into an international community — built slowly, organically, and entirely because of you.
JetPack statistics for ThereGoesSaraRose.com, 2025.
Thank you for being here — for reading, sharing, and carrying these stories with you. Every visit, every quiet moment spent exploring a post, is what allowed this space to grow at its own pace. I’m grateful you’re part of this journey, and I can’t wait to see where we wander next.
2025: The Reframe
This year was about alignment. I moved to a new city I love, worked through graduate school, made new friendships, and developed a clearer understanding of how creativity fits into my life. Travel remained part of my world, but it shifted into something more observational — something I returned to when it felt healthy and meaningful rather than obligatory.
The posts I shared this year — about Point Lobos, Monterey, Santa Cruz tides, Sacramento food walks, and art spaces — reflected where I was in real time. They weren’t meant to be guides or itineraries; they documented place, presence, and attention as I experienced them.
Much of the work this year happened quietly and off the blog: graduate school and thesis development, therapy and long (sometimes difficult) conversations with friends, starting a research study and documenting that process at IDFieldGuide.com, developing my professional design portfolio, and writing Color Persists: Volume 1, to be released in January 2026. That clarity changed how I create and allowed this blog to function as a living archive rather than a performance schedule — exactly how I want it to exist.
Where Travel Meets Design
Travel matters to me as a designer because it expands how I see. For the past five years, alongside everything shared on this site, I’ve been photographing flowers and plants everywhere I go. These photographs were never meant to be souvenirs; they’ve always been references. I use them the same way artists have always used nature: to study color, contrast, texture, and light.
Over time, that practice became a personal design library, something I returned to again and again in my work. This year, I decided to make that library accessible to you.
What I’m Releasing: COLOR PERSISTS
As 2025 comes to a close, I’m excited to announce I have finished production on COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1, based on a collection of photography that has grown quietly alongside this site. It will be available globally in January 2026.
The book is built on how I actually work as a designer. Over the past five years, I’ve photographed flowers and plants during my travels and used those images as ongoing design references. This book offers a curated version of that same library. Below is a small preview of Color Persists: Volume 1 – including the cover, note to readers, an example of the colors in this book, and about the author pages.
Color Persists: Volume 1, Cover.
Color Persists, Message to Readers
Color Persists, Custom Color Wheel
Color Persists, About The Author
It includes 75 close-up photographs, each paired with five hex codes pulled directly from the image, for a total of 375 color references grounded in real environments. Think of it as a digital paint book, a working palette built from observation rather than trends. The focus is intentionally up close. Instead of documenting where I went, the book documents what I noticed: color, texture, and detail. In that way, it functions as both a micro travel record and a practical design resource.
The book will be available as a softcover 5×5, printed on high-quality luster paper and designed to be used as a reference tool rather than decoration. This is Volume 1, a snapshot of the last five years. The goal is for each year to eventually have its own volume of color to choose from, but this one stands on its own.
I’ll update this post with the link when the book is available to the public. Happy New Years Eve!
Visit the history of Monterey Bay with Sara Rose. Visit California’s first buildings neat Fisherman’s Wharf, some still in use today! Experience where it all began. Check it out at http://www.ThereGoesSaraRose.com
There’s a particular kind of magic you only feel when you walk — but not just from one destination to the next without noticing the environment . No, when you move slowly enough, notice carefully enough, the stones beneath your feet start to whisper. The streets, buildings, and harbors of Old Monterey do that. On my walk through the historic district of Old Monterey, I found more than just pretty architecture or seaside charm — I found layered time, complexity, and memory. I’d planned to explore the Wharf when history caught my eye first! It felt more like meeting the beginning of a place rather than just sightseeing.
Most journeys into Old Monterey start near the marina, where rows of masts rise like a makeshift forest and the water holds that familiar Pacific calm. Boats bob in their slips, gulls coast overhead, and the sense of the modern coast is strong — leisure, sailing, movement, sunlight.
The Custom House, California’s oldest government building, sits right beside the shoreline. Its pale adobe walls and teal-painted beams speak to an era when the harbor wasn’t about weekend cruises but international trade, political power, and constant change. A massive bronze anchor rests nearby, weathered into a green patina — a quiet reminder that Monterey has always been shaped by arrivals, ambitions, and the inevitability of movement. There was a sign outside the Custom House, “FREE TOUR,” and it was starting in only a few minutes?! Immediate YES.
Before we begin I am shocked to learn I stand at California’s first Government building, “The Custom House.” Now a museum, it is only the starting point of the tour today. As we leave the museum, we are shown, embedded in the pavement, a small circular medallion which said:
Following these markers takes you along a self-guide tour as well! It feels like being gently guided into Monterey’s layered past.
From what I learned, before Spanish or Mexican governance, long before the American flag rose over the Custom House, this land held lives like the Rumsien people for thousands of years. Their presence is the foundation beneath everything — the gardens, the wharf, the street grid, the adobes.
That awareness shifts the pace.
You begin to walk differently.
More present. More curious.
And the city rewards that curiosity.
Streets Where Eras Overlap
One of the first structures along the path is the First Brick House, built in 1847. It’s small and unassuming — the sort of place someone could walk by without much notice — yet it represents the moment Monterey shifted from adobe to brick, from traditional building methods to new ones brought by newcomers.
Just beyond it, you encounter a different chapter entirely: the maritime world of the mid-1800s. At the Old Whaling Station, a huge iron try-pot sits in the courtyard, once used to melt whale blubber into oil. Nearby lies the rare whalebone sidewalk, a checkerboard of white and weathered blocks — a physical remnant of a global industry that shaped this coastline long before tourists shaped it in other ways.
Despite the weight of the history, the site is calm now, held by gardens and courtyards. It’s the kind of juxtaposition Monterey does well: the beauty and the truth sitting side by side.
California’s First Theater & the Quiet Corners of the Past
Wander a bit farther and you arrive at California’s First Theater, its dark wood exterior shaded by trees and framed by a gentle slope of Pacific Street. It’s humble, a little creaky, and thoroughly charming — but more importantly, it’s a reminder that storytelling has always been essential here. Fun Fact: It has also recently re-opened for plays! More details here.
Long before film studios, before digital everything, people gathered in this wooden room to laugh, to listen, to feel connected. The footprint of the building is small, yet it holds an enormous amount of cultural memory.
And between these larger moments, you find the quieter details:
Arched courtyards, fountains dotted with lily pads, tiled benches warmed by the afternoon sun. These spaces soften the complexity of the past and offer a moment of reflection along the way — a way of breathing through the history rather than rushing past it.
Old Monterey isn’t a place you absorb from a map or a plaque. It’s a place you understand through movement. Through standing still in the marina breeze, stepping over stone thresholds, wandering through gardens shaped by different eras. The landscape itself carries the arc of the region — Indigenous continuance, colonial imprint, maritime labor, cultural reinvention.
Walking these streets felt like an invitation to see history as something alive — not past tense, but ongoing. A companion rather than a backdrop.
The Recipe for a Layered History
Some of the things I learned that day was that although Monterey’s waterfront looks peaceful today, this small stretch of coastline has lived many lives. It was home for thousands of years to e.g. the Rumsen Ohlone, long before Spain claimed Alta California in the 1700s and reshaped the region through missions and military control. In the early 1800s, under Mexican rule, Monterey grew into a bustling port—its hide-and-tallow trade, foreign ships, and constant political upheaval all flowing through the Custom House, the oldest government building in California. And in 1846, during the Mexican–American War, the American flag was raised here, marking yet another dramatic shift in power.
There’s far more history in these few blocks than any single post can cover, but walking through the Custom House, the Pacific House, and their surrounding courtyards gives a glimpse into the layered worlds that once converged here: Indigenous communities, Spanish colonists, Mexican officials, sailors, merchants, soldiers, and families, U.S. government—each leaving a trace.
For readers curious to dive deeper, the California State Parks pages offer excellent background:
The Path of History is a 2-mile self-guided route marked by the yellow medallions in the sidewalk. A downloadable PDF map is available here: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/575/files/montereyshpfinalweb080814.pdf Notable sites include: Old Custom House (1827) California’s First Theater Old Whaling Station Pacific House Museum First Brick House Casa del Oro Garden Hours vary by building and season; many are open mid-morning through late afternoon.
Closing Reflection
Old Monterey reminds us that history isn’t something you leave behind. It’s something woven into the ground you walk on — decisions and people that shaped what we see and so much of what we don’t. They are present, remembered-whether you notice it at first or not. These streets and courtyards and harbors remind us that beauty and complexity can coexist, that memory lives in landscapes, and that awareness deepens everything we experience.
A pause spent walking through this place felt grounding, humbling, and unexpectedly hopeful — the kind of presence I want to carry with me into whatever comes next. Until next week, try exploring by just following what catches your eye. You will be so incredibly inspired by what awaits your curiosity with open arms.
On King Tide day, Pleasure Point revealed an entirely different coastline — starfish, anemones, and tide pools glowing in the late-day sun. By dusk, the neighborhood lit up with surfers, walkers, and Christmas lights, and the moon rose over the exposed reef like a spotlight on the ocean’s quietest magic. See more at ThereGoesSaraRose.com!
Low tide on December 4th arrived at 3:48 p.m., just sixteen minutes before we pulled into Pleasure Point at 4:04 — that perfect sliver of time when the ocean has already retreated to its widest breath, revealing everything it’s willing to show.
It is King Tide week in Santa Cruz — meaning the morning of the day I went high tide reached 7.0 feet, one of the highest tides of the season. King Tides don’t always create the lowest lows, but they do create an exaggerated tidal range. And today, that range was enough to pull the waterline far back from the cliffs, exposing tide pools, seagrass beds, and creatures normally hidden beneath winter surf.
What I didn’t expect was how much the journey there would set the tone for the rainbow reveal.
Arriving at Low Tide: The Reveal Begins
The moment we stepped onto the stairs leading down to Pleasure Point, the late-day sun was spilling gold across the rocks.
The ocean had pulled back enough to uncover what felt like a forest of seagrass — long, wet ribbons glistening in the light, moving in slow breath with the last remaining wash of waves. The low tide wasn’t the lowest of the week, but because of the King Tide range, it opened the coast wide enough to walk among ecosystems usually hidden underwater.
Around it, sea anemones were everywhere — some open and waving gently, others closed tight with sand clinging to their bodies like chocolate chips on a cookie.
The rocks and seaweed mix were an array of artwork — eroded, honeycombed, carved by time and tides into textures that looked almost intentional with living color and curves for contrast.
It felt less like exploring a beach and more like walking across the seafloor — as if the ocean had quietly stepped aside to let us wander through its private rooms.
Sunset at Low Tide: The Soft Closure to the Day
As the sun lowered, it gilded every pool and rock ridge in amber.
The tide began a slow return, inch by inch, filling the seams and channels we had just walked through. People lingered on the rocks, silhouettes softened by the orange sky, all of us caught in that tender moment before daylight folds away but the adventure has not yet ended.
Evening at Pleasure Point: When the Tide Drops and the Neighborhood Wakes Up
As the sun slipped below the horizon, Pleasure Point shifted into an entirely different personality — softer, slower, and somehow even more magical. The tide pools were still exposed, glossy with seawater and moonlight, but now the bluff trail filled with people emerging from their homes for their evening walk. In the fading gold-and-indigo light, surfers still paddled out, tide pool adventurers adorned headlamps and flashlights silhouetted against the shimmering path the full moon laid across the water. That reflection stretched all the way toward Capitola, turning the low-tide reefs into a silver mirror.
Walking the trail after dark felt like joining a quiet local ritual. Families strolled with dogs, couples paused at the railings to watch the surf, and the neighborhood homes began to glow one by one. Some were trimmed with twinkling Christmas lights, others displayed vintage holiday décor in their windows. Even the houses themselves, with their mid-century angles and warm interior light, seemed to reflect the sunset they had just absorbed.
And then, as the sky deepened to navy blue, Pleasure Point delivered one last surprise: the moon rising bright and bold behind the windswept cypress trees. Its light poured over the ocean and onto the cliffside path, revealing just how alive the coastline remains long after the tide has reached its lowest point. This is the part of the day most visitors never see — the moment when the ocean quiets, and the community comes out to savor it.
It was quiet. It was beautiful. And it felt like a reminder:
Revelation doesn’t always come from the dramatic high points — sometimes it comes when something finally pulls back far enough for you to see what’s been there all along. Have you ever explored a coastline at low tide — or caught a King Tide in action? I’d love to hear what you discovered, saw, or felt. Share your tide-pool stories or coastal moments in the comments below.
These sites help you plan your timing so you arrive when the ocean is most revealing.
🌴 Exploring More of Santa Cruz
This coastal city has layers — surf culture, marine science, tide-pooling, redwood forests, wildlife viewing, quirky neighborhoods, and a creativity all its own. For deeper discovery:
Whether you’re chasing low tides, sunset colors, or quiet shoreline moments, Santa Cruz rewards curiosity — and always reveals a little more each time you return.
A quiet moment in Balboa Park became one of the memories that shaped my “in-between year.” From soundchecks drifting through arches to gardens layered with history, this post explores presence, creativity, and what this San Diego landmark taught me about designing a meaningful life.
It was late August 2024 when I found myself wandering through Balboa Park — one of those aimless, golden-hour afternoons that happen when your plane doesn’t leave for several more hours and your brain finally gets permission to breathe.
The sun was sliding behind the Botanical Building, casting a soft glow across a lily-covered pool. Somewhere beyond the plaza, a soundcheck drifted through the arches — The Doors, then Pink Floyd, echoing from the Spreckels Organ Pavilion like a memory waking up. It wasn’t loud, it wasn’t a performance. It was just enough to stop me mid-step.
I didn’t go to Balboa Park with intention, or an itinerary, or even the thought that this moment would matter. But looking back now — over a year later, after finding peace in quiet truths — I realize this was one of the moments that stayed with me. A memory from the “in-between year” that knew it belonged to a future version of myself.
Because the best travel moments don’t announce themselves. They find you. They ask you to be still.
For those who haven’t wandered its pathways yet, Balboa Park is San Diego’s 1,200-acre cultural heart — a sprawling network of gardens, trails, museums, historic architecture, and performance spaces just north of downtown. Home to 18 museums, the San Diego Zoo, the Starlight Bowl Amphitheater, miles of walkable promenades, and more than a dozen curated gardens, the park is designed for slow exploration. You can browse world-class art, watch a rehearsal drift from an open-air stage, grab something delicious from The Prado, or simply follow whatever path the day hands you. If you want to plan your own visit, the official park website offers maps, current exhibits, and accessibility details: balboapark.org.
Even in 2024, when I wasn’t posting much, the park felt like a reminder of how much a single place can hold. Balboa Park hums with layers. Spanish Colonial façades wrap around art galleries. Desert gardens unfold near koi ponds. Palm trees brush the sky beside Moorish columns. It’s not one story; it’s dozens of them stacked and shifting as you walk. Free art museums sit unassuming yet host paintings I’d only ever seen before in history books.
Those few hours, I drifted through all of it, just soaking in the atmosphere. I wandered the Prado walkways and explored the botanical gardens. I enjoyed the sun-warmed alcoves between the San Diego Museum of Art and the Mingei. There was art everywhere — much of it protected, all of it deserving to be seen in person. Screens flatten what the world intends to be dimensional.
And maybe that’s why this moment returns to me now. Because presence — real, grounded, unforced presence — is becoming the center of everything I create. Some things can be shared, the importance the history – but to be changed one must experience it for themselves. I can only relay how these places in California have changed me. You must decide to get up and be changed yourself.
I wrote in my Point Lobos post about the quiet season I stepped into. It included graduate school, new work, and new rhythms. There were also inner shifts that don’t happen on a public timeline. That year wasn’t loud, but it was formative.
Travel has always been how I process the world and myself. But in 2024, something shifted. I began thinking not just about experiencing moments like this. I also considered designing experiences that help others learn. These experiences help others reflect and explore.
That’s what led me deeper into instructional design. That’s what led me to graduate school. And ultimately, that’s what led me to begin writing a book.
For the last year, I’ve been deep in a Master’s program in Instructional Science & Technology — work that’s reshaped how I see places like Balboa Park. Travel isn’t just movement; it’s experiential learning. It’s design in the wild. And the more I studied how people learn, the more I wanted to help others create experiences that feel just as intentional and human.
That’s why I’m writing The Instructional Designers’ Field Guide — a practical, research-informed handbook for anyone building courses, trainings, or online learning environments. Whether you arrived in this field on purpose or by accident (like so many of us do), this guide is meant to feel like a compass: clear, friendly, and grounded in real practice. It’s for the curious, the career-switchers, and the quietly ambitious creators who want their work to actually make a difference.
This guide is for you if you’re stepping into online learning, just like this blog is for you if you enjoy experiential learning, second-hand. It is also for those entering course development, accessibility, or training design. This is especially true if you come from a nontraditional path. It’s built for the curious, the quietly ambitious, the people who want to create meaningful learning experiences that feel human.
And it turns out that travel, food, and design all belong in the same story:
Travel is experiential learning.
Food is sensory storytelling.
Design is how we shape the way others move through knowledge, places, and moments.
Balboa Park reminded me that those threads were always connected.
ThereGoesSaraRose.com is growing into what it has always been: a space where Travel, Food, and Design intersect.
Here, you’ll find:
✨ stories from the road — past and present ✨ the ways culture and creativity show up in unexpected corners ✨ behind-the-scenes looks at my graduate work and book development ✨ instructional design insights grounded in real lived experience ✨ reflections on curiosity, reinvention, and building a life you want to stand inside
I’m still Sara Rose. Still going places. Still learning, still designing, still following the small moments that light up the path forward.
Have you explored Balboa Park or a place that surprised you in a similar way? Tell me what stayed with you. I love hearing about the moments that change someone’s journey. Until next week’s blog, make sure to take some time to enjoy a special bit of Travel, Food, and Design!
After a season of stillness, I returned to the cliffs of Point Lobos—and remembered exactly why I started this blog. Between grad school deadlines and IDFieldGuide.com, I’ve been building something bigger than content. I’ve been building capacity. Here’s what’s been growing behind the scenes, and what’s coming next for ThereGoesSaraRose.com.
When I stepped away from posting about travel, it wasn’t because I stopped loving it. I stepped away to rebuild, reroute, and reimagine how creativity shows up in my life instead of “living for the weekends”. The intent was always to return when it felt right, after a season of silence.
That is not to say any of the last few years were easy. To uproot yourself after pivotal losses…from what you are comfortable doing to the life your soul aches for…can be mental war, takes time, help from others, and an endless amount of patience with yourself. I wanted clean, sea-salt air in my lungs, and surroundings that were thriving with nature and wildlife…a place that inspired creativity and healing. And most recently, Point Lobos delivered. But before we get to that… let’s talk about what’s shifted.
Part I: Why I Went Quiet
It wasn’t just burnout. What I needed was an intentional introspection, a full system reset. I asked myself: “What does a future that lets me do more of what I love, look like? What changes do I need to make so I can thrive and not just survive?” That answer led me to a new job, then a new location and graduate school.
I have been pursuing a Master’s in Instructional Science & Technology since August 2024. If you couldn’t tell from this blog, I love sharing things I’ve recently learned with others. I already loved changing the reader’s perspective, so this academic program was right up my alley. I am studying at a California State University near a paradise-like location with so many places to explore. Now, I’m deep in my research thesis, and you can follow more of that journey at www.IDFieldGuide.com. This has made for long days. There are timelines in every corner of my life. There is writing and more writing. I have been exploring and rediscovering what lights me up in between moments of intense emotions. I have begun to understand how healing a beautiful environment can be. At times, I have never been more at peace.
I initially felt lost, but I was growing. Strategically. Intuitively. So yes, this blog paused. But beneath the surface? So much was taking root. And now — it’s blooming again. This space has always been my soul’s portfolio. The camera never stopped clicking. And have I got stories to share.
Part II: Point Lobos
Let’s just say this: if you ever forget why the world is worth writing about, go to Point Lobos. The wind moves differently there. The land shifts from forest to cliff. Then it changes from tide pool and to black beaches. It’s like there is a new secret every few steps. It’s a protected land for a reason. Check out photos of what it looked like through my eyes below. You can also check out my socials for videos. More coming soon!
We were the last to enter the park before a sign went up, Parking Lot Full. “Oh geez, Fang. Are we going to have to turn around?” I ask, fully expecting a reply. My dog responds with his typical husky, harumph. “I hope not either,” as I pull forward to the ranger’s booth. $10, the appropriate Service Dog quiz later (pets are not permitted in the Reserve, check out more of those details here), and we are on our way to the Bird Island trail. Upon arrival, there are immediate beautiful views, and they continue throughout the rest of our afternoon.
Parking Lot at Bird Island Trail, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Point Lobos State Reserve, Bird Island Trail. Sara Rose, 2025.
Bird Island trail beach, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Bird Island, end of Bird Island Trail. Sara Rose, 2025.
Close up of Bird Island, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Bird island Trail, Point Lobos State Reserve.
The Hike
Not only was the trail to Bird Island much easier than anticipated, it was fairly accessible as well. We ended up with more time and energy than I thought; As this was more of a walk on the edge with fantastic views, I opted for another trail. Near the end of the Bird Island trail, it splits off into different options. One is a steep staircase that leads down to a beach, a short walk to Bird Island, or a third route up the hill to the South Plateau. We decided to take this upper trail.
South Plateau Trail sign, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Roots of fallen Monterey Pine, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Lichen + tree at Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Granite Point Trail sign, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Granite Bay at Granite Point, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Granite Point trail, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Carmel Mission, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025
Granite Point trail beach, Point Lobos State Reserve. Sara Rose, 2025.
Granite Point Beach, Point Lobos State Reserve.
The trail was much longer, and more steep, with twists and turns through the forest. It felt like we traveled through Middle-earth to a new realm entirely. On the other side of the Reserve, the trail resumed to a more beaten path. However, the beaches were small rocky bays with dark sand. They were not bright and sparkly but eerily breathtaking in their own way. The old Carmel Mission stood starkly against the fog and deep green of the local trees. This place makes me feel as though I have been yanked into the past, into a California barely disturbed. I know I will have to come back soon and explore more of this breathtakingly stunning Reserve.
My dog can’t read but I am still going to give him credit for being the best hiking partner I can ask for. When I was struggling, and I’d grab his harness handle and say, “Let’s go!” he pulled me up a steep path without hesitation, like it was the most fun game he can imagine. On the flip side, he goes slowly with me down slopes and stairs, he walks behind me on command when people are approaching us on the trail. We do still have a lot of learning to do together. But my dog is one of the most significant changes to my life (as of July 2023) and I can not imagine a better canine friend. Kudos to Fang and to many more fur-lined adventures!
Part III: What’s Next
ThereGoesSaraRose.com isn’t just reviving – it’s evolving. It’s not a polished blog, expect:
✈️ Updates from my past and current travels. Yes, I make time to go outside even in between all the due dates!
🎓 Behind-the-scenes commentary about grad school, the book release, IDFieldGuide.com, life pivots, and messy wins. Make sure to check it out if YOU are interested in digital education design!
🔥 Reflections about creativity, transitions, burnout, joy, and starting over.
Closing Note:
To those of you who stuck around: thank you.
To those of you just landing here: welcome.
To the next version of me reading this post months from now: you did it again!
2024 is a landmark year for women in gaming, with innovative titles from developers like SnapFingerClick and live streams from women in STEAM like myself, Sara Rose (NerdGlassesLLC on Twitch). Join as we celebrate the women reshaping our gaming experiences!
Happy Women-Led Games Showcase 2024! As we near the closing of the week, I would like to congratulate all women working in the gaming industry, you are some of the most talented and resilient individuals I have had the pleasure of working with! Congratulations to SnapFingerClick, a game development company made up of over 70% women! Awkward 2 (by SnapFingerClick) is as one of my most memorable games on Twitch! So last but not least, congratulations to my Twitch Channel, NerdGlassesLLC and my Twitch community for being featured on Steam and Awkward 2 during this awesome week!
Share your favorite Women-Led stream or game company in the comments, below or THIS SATURDAY for my return to Twitch! Check out our PRIDE stream Saturday 6/15/2024 at 12:00 PM PST for a colorful, interactive, 12-Hour event!
So, how does one create? To design something that is aesthetically pleasing and useful? That begins to tap into the world of a Multimedia Designer and Developer, an entire skillset, ever growing and rolled together.
Now, try this concept on for size: How does one review the stream objectively – when the product … the service …. is YOU? When you pour your heart into and project that your dace is literally on, it becomes more about tamping down your own demons. Getting used to the sound of your voice in editing, to stop cringing at silly moments that you actually enjoyed. Never in my life had I needed to look at myself so unbiasedly and realized, I was very judgmental on myself!
Not withstanding the hiccups Twitch.tv, Discord or video games struggled with during lockdown, I wrestled with my own demons. However, we all did something amazing during that time stuck at home, we reached out to each other-online. We had fun, we made friends. With the support of others on Twitch and my college project, the NerdGlasses channel and community (“The Nerd Herd”) grew overnight.
Then, the “impossible”, happened. Twitch hired me as an Affiliate streamer six days after I started streaming! The next few years brought more twist and turns than I thought possible. And here we still are, enjoying every moment. This story is not new to those who have been part of the journey – what may be new is the personal struggle to continue to create consistent content after lockdown.
Jump to 2021, Sara Rose has went there and back again, as I’d always intended! I pulled away from regular game streaming and I did the best thing I could think of: I traveled to grow and heal and shared it with you, here! http://www.ThereGoesSaraRose.com was born. One of the biggest trips of my life happened, 16 States in 16 Days!
Although not everyone in my life agreed on my travel plans – I am happy to say, The Nerd Herd (the name of our Twitch Community) was always a balance and held me accountable. Truly listening to everyone in an online community is the reflection no one asked for, and sometimes the truth is as harsh as the mirror from old fairytales.
Looking back, I jumped in the deep end of content creation, didn’t I? What makes me happy coming BACK to Twitch.tv? The need to learn, accept help from friends the promise to myself to always have fun FIRST. I believe Twitch is the melting pot which gives a creator the space incubate ideas and to continue helping others.
Remembering this stream began as a school project, I have an INCREDIBLY exciting announcement to share with YOU still yet! Mark your calendar and join the LIVE Event for FUN, ART and INTERACTIVE GAMING at Twitch.tv/NerdGlassesLLC at 12 PM PST for a 12-Hour Stream to find out more!
🎨🎵Art Special Feature! 🏛️Sacramento, CA: Second Saturday Art Walk, featuring the FIRST VIP Tour! May 2024. Explore more at http://www.ThereGoesSaraRose.com
If your passions include travel, food, and art, then Sacramento, California, has a hidden gem just waiting for you to uncover. On the second Saturday of each month, the streets of Midtown Sacramento come alive with creativity, community, and culture during the Second Saturday Art Walk (with a VIP Tour option) [1]! As someone who thrives on exploring vibrant local scenes, I couldn’t resist diving into this artistic extravaganza, and I’m thrilled to share my experience with you all.
Note: This Art Walk changes locations and artists each month. The Vip Tour options are NEW, this was the FIRST! Share your thoughts on the May 2024 Second Saturday Art Walk in the comments below!
The Heartbeat of Midtown: Where Art and Community Converge
Sacramento’s Midtown district is a lively neighborhood known for its eclectic mix of restaurants, boutiques, and galleries. But on the Second Saturday of each month, it transforms into an open-air art festival that showcases the incredible talent of local artists. We even made a stop through Lavender Heights, a landmark of Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ Community [2]! (Psst, get excited as the Lavender Heights Library may be an upcoming stop on the Vip Tour soon!) From 5 PM to 9 PM, the streets are filled with art lovers, curious travelers, and supportive locals, all eager to experience the magic of the Sacramento art scene.
Reminiscent of my first stroll through the streets of Sacramento, I was struck by the diversity of murals on display. Permanent art, we stopped to muse over meanings of the murals merging with walls and corners as if hidden Banksy installations of Sacramento. These conversations were fascinating as most of our group was from outside the area, commenting with fresh eyes.
To be quite honest, I could do a full tour of more murals in the beautiful golden hours of the day and been a happy camper. There are plenty of great coffee and breakfast locations in Sacramento, maybe we can try a self-guided tour soon! Build your self-guided tour at Wide Open Walls [3]!
The Tour spanned multiple blocks, with stops (and Vip snacks & drinks!) scattered throughout. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary paintings, intricate sculptures, or thought-provoking photography, there’s something for everyone. However, it was evident the majority of Sacramentens were not as interested to start so early in the day and, with the heat, I could see why!
Favorite Gallery
One of my favorite stops was the Self Designs Art Gallery on 18th street in Sacramento, CA [4]. This multi-artist studio space features an impressive array of artworks from resident artists. I spent a good chunk of time listening to the artist and owner of the gallery, whose name is Self, as he shared what it was like to discover a talent for drawing in adulthood. He was able to give us a tour of the Gallery and outside space where they host community events and artists. One of walls in the Gallery was dedicated to art students and another, a space to live painting. Anytime I can listen to an artist and how they work to make a difference in their community, I am at peace. Leaving Self Design Studio, I left feeling like I’d met a reincarnated Van Gogh, teaching us to create humbly, without fear, unaware of the depth of their own talents.
The VIP Tour option includes a stop at a private artists workspace and gallery. I was thoroughly impressed with the varied backgrounds of the different artists we were able to meet that evening, this stop included. An educated artist, Paul Benavides pushed to expose his early years to some of the best minds in the field. Now he creates through his, “rage against capitalism and the governmental and societal forces propelling it forward to our ultimate ruin.” [5]
M2. (2011) Acrylic 65, pigment dispersions, Sharpie over canvas. 96” x 72”. Artist: Paul Benavidez.
This was one of my favorite pieces of the evening. It is if an electron microscope snapped a photo in a moment mimicking the catalytic chemical inception of the Big Bang Theory. The lines and movement remind of the space between fingers in Michael Angelo’s God and Adam section of the Sistine Chapel. This piece made me humbled to wonder, “It is Science vs Spirituality or is it Science and Spirituality?”
Artistic Rights
There were many incredible art pieces of the evening, and many not shared in this article. Although this is a not-for-profit blog aimed at inspiring you to experience locations yourself, art is protected by copyright laws. If an artists or location requests No Photography or the artist was not present to give permission, their artwork is not featured as a main photo on this blog but may included in a gallery (photo collage) or in a photo background. As an artist myself, I aim to be inspired by and promote others. So get out there and support your fellow artists! Please contact Sara@ThereGoesSaraRose.com if you wish to communicate on any art piece promoted here (i.e. for prompt corrections or removal.)
Culinary Delights: Savoring Midtown’s Best Bites
No art walk would be complete without indulging in some delectable local cuisine, and as part of the VIP Tour, it came with the ticket! Midtown Sacramento boasts a fantastic food scene, and the Second Saturday Art Walk offers an opportunity to sample it. Although I couldn’t resist trying a few different options, my no means was I capable of pausing to take any snack-selfies; I worked up my appetite!
As the Tour ended at an Art Block Party, we made our last stop a sit-down experience, I recommend making a reservation at one of the many excellent restaurants in the area. As I had other plans for the evening-I sipped and relaxed in the cooling mist, waiting for friends to arrive. (Check out the rest of my evening at The Four Palms!)
Live Performances and Interactive Art: Engaging All Senses
The Second Saturday Art Walk isn’t just about visual art; it’s a multi-sensory experience. Throughout the night, I encountered live musicians, and several types of crafters at the Block Party. The evening was filled with different art, music, food, and cultures, creating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere.
Something to note for me was the vast difference in each in a community project. Connecting with these artists, it is always a struggle on knowing how to value your time, know your worth and price your pieces to financially fuel your passion. It was a beautiful reminder of how art can bring people together and create something truly unique.
Tips for First-Time Visitors: Making the Most of Your Art Walk Experience
Wear Comfortable Shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so make sure you’re dressed comfortably.
Bring Cash: While many vendors accept cards, having cash on hand makes transactions smoother, especially for smaller purchases and tips for street performers.
Arrive Early: If you want to avoid the heat! Or, if taking the VIP Tour, give yourself time at the first location to also check out the art before your Tour begins.
Stay Hydrated & Safe: Sacramento can get quite warm, even in the evening. Although water is offered at most of the stops, carry a large water bottle to stay hydrated. And don’t forget your sun-protection!
Support Local Artists: If you fall in love with a piece of art, consider buying it. Supporting local artists helps keep the community vibrant and creative.
Final Thoughts: Why You Shouldn’t Miss Sacramento’s Second Saturday Art Walk
The Second Saturday Art Walk in Sacramento is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and culture. Whether you’re a seasoned art aficionado or just looking for a unique way to spend an evening, this monthly gathering offers something special for everyone. I left feeling inspired, connected, and eager to return.
If you find yourself in Sacramento on the second Saturday of the month, don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the local art scene. Trust me, it’s an experience you won’t forget!
Until next time, keep exploring, savoring, and creating!
