Expat Life & Travel
Welcome to Bright Lights of America, an expat and travel blog for Australians moving to, and living in, the US. You’ll find a wealth of information on everything from planning your move, to visas, financial and tax issues, settling into expat life, and deciding where to live.
We know you’re here to start a new chapter in your
Hi, I’m Katherine
An Australian expat who loves living in San Francisco and helping other Aussies make their dreams of moving to the US come true. I’ve been travelling since I was a teenager, with and without my family and friends.
My first expat jaunt was to London, which I used as a base to travel Europe and to explore my own backyard. London is the perfect place to spark a life-long love of wanderlust.
Bright Lights of America began its life in 2015 when I moved to the US on my own to pursue a career opportunity. Since then it’s grown into a resource for expats who want to find the easiest ways round the bureaucracy and culture shock that sometimes comes with life in the US.
Expat Life
Australia Day in the USA
If you're going to celebrate Australia day in the USA, you may as well do it with a bunch of Aussies who you can reminisce with, or at least feel like you can be yourself. We've got a round up of the ...Read More
Donate to Australian bush fire relief from the USA
The devastating bush fires that are ravaging Australia have been burning for months now.
At the time of writing this post, 23 people have been killed in fires across Australia since September...Read More
Best San Francisco Christmas activities
Despite a lack of snow, San Francisco knows how to turn on the holiday charm and organise Christmas activities that will knock your socks off. From Christmas fairs to holiday high teas, we've rounded ...Read More
Travel Tips & Itineraries
Best San Francisco Christmas activities
Despite a lack of snow, San Francisco knows how to turn on the holiday charm and organise Christmas activities that will knock your socks off. From Christmas fairs to holiday high teas, we've rounded ...Read More
Travel back in time on a Jamestown train ride
The California gold rush town of Jamestown is easy to get to from San Francisco for a weekend getaway, with the added gift of being entertaining for adults and kids. Start with a Jamestown train ride,...Read More
Best time to visit Burney Falls, California
You need to visit Burney Falls, California for so many different reasons that will appeal to almost everyone who is looking for a weekend getaway or a stop on a road trip in the state's north. The pro...Read More
Latest Posts
Australia Day in the USA
If you're going to celebrate Australia day in the USA, you may as well do it with a bunch of Aussies who you can reminisce with, or at least feel like you can be yourself. We've got a round up of the ...Read More
Donate to Australian bush fire relief from the USA
The devastating bush fires that are ravaging Australia have been burning for months now.
At the time of writing this post, 23 people have been killed in fires across Australia since September...Read More
Best San Francisco Christmas activities
Despite a lack of snow, San Francisco knows how to turn on the holiday charm and organise Christmas activities that will knock your socks off. From Christmas fairs to holiday high teas, we've rounded ...Read More