TRAVEL TIPS AND INSPIRATION
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MEET THE BOUND TO EXPLORE TEAM
Hello! We are Brian and Julie, the married couple behind Bound to Explore. Our goal is to inspire others to fit more travel and adventure into their current lifestyles.
With full-time jobs, finding the time to get out and explore can be challenging, but we are here to show you it is possible! Our blog covers a range of topics including trip planning guides, hiking reports, and photography tips.
We hope you will follow along with us on our adventures!
EXPLORE AND DISCOVER
RECENT ADVENTURES

A few days late, but 2022 was a big year for us!
We moved to Washington at the beginning of the year, bought our first house in the summer, visited our 20th National Park (Glacier) together and hiked some fantastic trails.
We’re excited for more adventures to come in 2023! What is something you’re looking forward to this year!
3 months ago

And oh, what an adventure it was to get to this view! More on the journey ⬇️
Washington is famous (infamous?) for its bumpy forest service roads, but this one took the cake. The first 4.5 miles are relatively straightforward dirt road but the last 2.2 miles are awful. Deep ruts, potholes, you name it. It became evident very quickly why many choose to leave their cars and walk or avoid this road entirely. With 4WD drive and extra clearance, we never felt great until we parked at the trailhead and back at the road when we were done.
Arriving later than intended, we made a mad dash to make it to the lookout for sunset. It’s a little less than 2 miles to the top, and we bypassed bushels of ripe berries, just making it in time to catch the magical sunset! Worth it? Yes! But give it might be some time before we brave that road again.
3 months ago

A winter wonderland!
Finally got a chance to hike this very popular winter destination a couple weeks back(before the recent ice storm) and it did not disappoint!
Hope everyone is having a great holiday season!
3 months ago

One of the most popular hikes in Olympic National Park! Take a trip with us to Mount Storm King and add this one to your hiking list. You can find our full trip report on our blog. Link in bio.
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#washingtonstate #pnwonderland #olympicnationalpark
4 months ago

We said goodbye to fall and hello to winter, which arrived overnight. The last minute decision to drive up to the North Cascades was well worth the 7 hours (round trip) spent in the car. It doesn’t always happen, but when everything aligns, the results are magical.
5 months ago

A perfect early fall afternoon.
Sort of. Not pictured: the crowds of people also taking photos here 😂. But this is the price you pay when visiting a beautiful spot that you can park right next to!
📷: Brian
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#washingtonstate #pnwonderland #upperleftusa #livewashington #washingtontrails #mountbakersnoqualmie #washingtonexplored #findyourselfoutside #optoutside #washington #pacificnorthwest #nationalforest
6 months ago






It took driving the road from hell to just barely make it in time for sunset, but it was worth it!
Stunning mountain views in every direction, fall colors, an abundance of berries, and just under 4 miles round trip. This might just be the best hike in Washington!
📷: Brian
📍Winchester Mountain
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#washingtonstate #pnwonderland #upperleftusa #livewashington #pnw #washingtontrails #mountbakersnoqualmie #washingtonexplored #findyourselfoutside #optoutside #washington #landscape #pacificnorthwest #landscapephotography #firelookout #naturephotography #wanderlust #instanature #sharetheexperience #nationalforest #mountains #nature #hiking #adventure
6 months ago
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