Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Without question, we live in a pretty incredible time period in human history. Thanks to technological advances, the world is at its most interconnected, making travel accessible to the masses. Much like it has been since […]
Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd My first camera was an old Canon SLR that shot 35 mm film. Well, it was actually my dad’s old Canon that he let me use when I took a black and white photography class in […]
Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd The trail from the top of Snoqualmie Falls to the viewing platform below was a short, steep, climb through moss covered trees. Maples were still turning gold, even though November was ending, and the cool mist […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd After the life-changing year we had in 2017, with getting married and moving away from our childhood homes, 2018 was significantly more laid back. We once again stayed exclusively in North America, marking our second straight […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd When best laid plans fall through, improvisation is the spice of life. For a couple months leading up to our first wedding anniversary, Julie and I had been working through ideas of where we would be […]
The holiday season is officially upon us, filled with family, friends, and lots of food! Inevitably, we find ourselves in search of the perfect gift, and if you’re like us, that can often be a challenge. This year, we decided to put together a list of some of our favorite items that we love to use for our adventures. We hope you find something useful and if you have any tips, we would be excited to hear about them.
1. Australian Gold Tinted Face Sunscreen: I recently discovered the magic of tinted sunscreens. If you hate the white film that most sunscreens leave behind as you try to rub it into your skin, this will be you new favorite product, and you’ll want to give it as a gift to everyone you know.
2. Wool Socks: An accessory that you can never own too many of (Darn Tough, Smartwool).
3. Body Glide: This stuff works wonders for anyone not blessed with a thigh gap. I use it anytime I wear hiking pants, and it has even saved my at home on those rare occasions that I wear a dress.
4. Nuun Electrolyte Replacement Tabs: Awesome for anyone who likes to go backpacking or on longer day hikes. Brian and I often throw a tablet, or two, into our water bladders to help keep us going.
5. Snacks ( Gu, Shot Blocks, Stroopwafels): We go through these like hotcakes, so it’s always nice when Santa leaves a few in our stocking.
1. Neck Gaiters (Buff, Turtle Fur): Chances are that the person you are shopping for already has one of these, or both, but it’s always nice to have some variety.
2. Gloves: I swear I lose a glove at least once a year, so I could always use an extra pair, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the outdoor enthusiast in your life could too. These touch screen gloves are nice because they allow you to use your phone, and I also like these Freehands that are designed for photographers.
3. PStyle: This is the perfect, practical gift for a lady hiker, and it will have you both laughing as they tear away the wrapping paper. These handy devices allow you to pee while standing, which is something that has made my time in the woods much easier.
4. Trtl Travel Pillow:This fella is a favorite of mine, and I love that it doesn’t take up as much space in your luggage as a traditional travel pillow.
5. National Park or World Scratch off Map: A fun way for to keep track of where you have been.
6. Peak Design Camera Clip: This is clutch for photographers on the go. It locks on to your backpack, which eliminates having your camera dangling from your neck, and keeps your camera accessible. If you have someone in your life who always has their camera in their hand, this is the perfect gift! (Note: some versions are a little over the $50 range)
7. Packing Cubes: These are AMAZING! Definitely one of those things you don’t think you need until you have them, and then you wonder how you survived for so long without them. They help Brian and I stay organized when traveling, which is especially helpful when we are going on shorter trips and share a suitcase.
8. Backpacking Chairs: A luxury item that your friend doesn’t have yet, but doesn’t know what they are missing out on. These are great if you don’t mind carrying the extra weight, but they are also nice to have on roadtrips, or car camping excursions since they don’t take up much space.
9. Coffee Table Book: A classic gift that you can’t go wrong with. Some of my favorites include National Geographic: The Covers and Galen Rowell: A Retrospective.
10. Oofos Recovery Sandals: I initially bought these to help with a bout of plantar fasciitis, but I love them so much that I wear them all the time now. I even got Brian hooked! They are especially heavenly to slip on after a long hike, and I can’t recommend them enough to everyone (they also come in a slide version).
1. Wireless Headphones: If you need a gift for someone who travels a lot, spoil them with a nice pair of wireless headphones. We love our Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones!
2. YETI Cooler: The best, but the most expensive ice chests out there.
3. Kindle: A great idea for bookworms who love to backpack or travel.
4. Smart Watch:Brian loves his Garmin Fenix 5X, which sports awesome battery life and can track any adventure we take.
5. Fine Art Landscape Print: Stop by my store to see what prints are available for immediate order, or if you have a favorite from my portfolio or Instagram, or size request, feel free to reach out!
Gift Card! When in doubt, it is always nice to receive an Amazon Gift Card.
If you are looking for more gift ideas for photographers, check the post I wrote about my travel and landscape photography gear.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you place an order after clicking through those links, Brian and I get a small commission (this does not cost you anything extra!) This is not a sponsored post, all of the products I mention using were purchased by me, and all opinions are my own.
Gift ideas for people who travel, gift ideas for people who hike, gift ideas for adventure travel, gift ideas under $50, gift ideas under $25, stocking stuffer gift ideas.
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd It’s our second to last full day in Canada, and Julie and I are trying to decide what we want to spend it doing. Much of the trip has been a bit different than we had […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd The first time Julie and I laid eyes on Peyto Lake in person, we were blown away. Like so many of the lakes in Western Canada, the striking blue water is captivating. Is the water really […]
When we originally made plans to return to Canada for a second time in two years, we had a lengthy list of hikes that we intended to accomplish. While we had perfect weather in August of 2016, our earlier season visit for June of 2018 meant we had to modify some of our itinerary with winter still in effect.
Having previously hiked to the Plain of Six Glaciers from Lake Louise, we were excited to hike to one of the other main attractions in the area, Lake Agnes and the Big Beehive. Depending on the conditions when we reached the Big Beehive, we gave ourselves the option to extend our hike to a place called, the Devil’s Thumb which provides scenic views of Lake Agnes and Lake Louise. The forecast told us that Wednesday would be our best bet for avoiding inclement weather, so we packed up our gear and hit the road for an early start.
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Have you ever visited a place so magical that it captures your heart and makes you want return over and over again? For Julie and I, one such place is Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd One of the central appeals to staying in Vancouver, when planning our trip, was its close proximity to outdoor activities. As much as we enjoy visiting a new city, we find ourselves eager to get outside […]
In 2016, Julie and I took our first trip to Canada, spending a week exploring Banff and Jasper National Parks. After seeing a seemingly endless stream of photos of Alberta on social media, we were inspired to visit and explore this land of lakes and mountains for ourselves.
Our takeaway from that trip centered around how absolutely beautiful Western Canada is, and an immense desire to return as soon as possible. Coming home from that trip, we proceeded to build a list of places we would visit on our next trip, whenever that day arrived.
Fast forward to earlier this year when I started to piece together a trip back to Canada. This time starting in Vancouver, then making our way East to Yoho and Banff National Parks. Once again, Julie and I were excited to be heading back to one of our favorite places, and we were excited to see a few new ones.
Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd One of the things I miss the most about living in Southern California is the proximity to high altitude hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains. Sure, living in the Bay Area means that Brian and I […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd One of our favorite things about living in a different part of the state is the abundance of new opportunities for adventure. For the past year, Julie and I have done our very best to take […]
Earlier this month Brian and I had a free weekend, so we decided to take a day trip to Big Sur since it is so close to our home in San Jose. Even though we have been to Big Sur several times in the past, we still felt like there were a few nooks and crannies left to explore. Plus there are definitely no shortage of beautiful locations that we wouldn’t mind seeing again. On an overcast Saturday morning, we headed out with a plan to drive down to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and then work our way back up the coast. (more…)
Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd When we arrived in Lake Tahoe, I gazed at the snowy peaks and knew immediately that our plan to hike Mt. Tallac would have to be saved for another trip. The snow level seemed pretty low, […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd & Brian Callender Working full-time jobs means we live for the weekend, and more importantly, our weekend adventures. In the little over one year that we have lived in Northern California, we have made every effort […]
Yosemite is a magical place to visit anytime of year, but there’s something extra special about seeing the famous granite covered in a fresh layer of snow.
Perhaps that lends some explanation to the fact that three of our four visits there have been in winter. It’s also a good opportunity to avoid the summer crowds that overflow throughout the valley during the park’s peak season.
For our last winter trip to Yosemite in 2016, we snowshoed to Dewey Point and got engaged at Swinging Bridge. Easily one of the most memorable experiences of our lives, Yosemite continues to hold a special place in our hearts and beckons us to return. Two years later, we were excited to be headed back to Yosemite as newlyweds and in search of our next adventure, hiking Upper Yosemite Falls.
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd I have mentioned more times that I can count, we love waterfalls. So much so that we often go out of our way to visit them on vacations. On our visit to Shasta County, Julie and […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd One of the very best aspects about living somewhere new is the opportunity to explore your surroundings and uncover new adventures. Northern California has reinvigorated the love we have for our home state as we get […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd
I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t excited about visiting Pinnacles National Park. Before meeting Julie, I hadn’t heard much about the park, which had previously been a National Monument before receiving National Park status in 2013. And what I had seen in the research we had done as we planned for our trip: rock formations, hills, a reservoir, caves, didn’t pique my interest in the same way as some of the other National Parks do. For the record, I love visiting the parks and have a goal to visit all fifty-nine, but I am more inclined to high peaks and alpine lakes than desert landscapes. Perhaps then, one of the best things about being outdoors is the ability for nature, and our parks, to completely flip those preconceptions upside down. After visiting Pinnacles, I can safely say that the park is an underrated gem, and that is definitely saying something when you consider we have nine National Parks in California!
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Closing out a busy 2017, Julie and I were excited to visit our tenth and final National Park of the year. Having spent the previous three days in Zion, crossing off a couple of bucket list […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd What are you afraid of? For me, that answer has always been heights. Sure, there are probably some other things that can be thrown in there, but heights is my go-to answer. I remember one visit […]
In the summer of 2013, Julie and I went to Las Vegas for a wedding that Julie was shooting for a friend’s sister. With an extra day to spare, we decided to take advantage of the opportunity to explore, and we made the drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park, about 2.5 hours. After a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel, a place Julie had been dying to visit once the decision had been made to visit Utah, we arrived at Zion in the early afternoon.
During the summer, the park implements a shuttle system to cut down on the number of cars that are allowed to drive through the park. We parked our car, hopped on the shuttle, and rode to the end of the line, The Temple of Sinawava. From the shuttle stop, it’s a mile walk down a paved walkway to reach the Virgin River and the starting point for hiking the Narrows. (more…)
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Traveling while working full-time jobs means you take advantage of every opportunity to get out and explore. We love the long, multi-week vacations as much as anyone, but without question our sweet spots are weekend getaways. These […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Coming out of an incredible 2016, we knew 2017 would have a tough time competing. After all, we had two international trips in 2016 and none planned for 2017. Well, even without leaving the country, we […]
I first fell in love with Quaking Aspen trees when my family and I visited the Eastern Sierra in October of 2009. The trees burst into vibrant amber hues all around the June Lake Loop. On a hike, we walked through groves of golden leaves that danced and hummed their namesake tune. I felt as if I was in a fairytale.
In 2016, I was able to coax Brian into taking a spontaneous 48-hour trip to see the colors in Bishop, Mammoth, and June Lake, and I think the experience hooked him as well. Even though most of the trees were past peak color, it was still a spellbinding weekend.
Written by Julie Boyd | Photography By Julie Boyd The Cunningham Cabin Historic Site is located just off HWY 191 in Grand Teton National Park. The location features a short, interpretative guide, which tells about the history of the John and Margaret Cunningham who settled in the […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Julie and I have a well documented affinity for waterfalls of all shapes and sizes. It is perhaps one of our favorite finds on any outdoor trip or vacation. There is just something that soothes the […]
The trail from the top of Snoqualmie Falls to the viewing platform below was a short, steep, climb through moss covered trees. Maples were still turning gold, even though November was ending, and the cool mist from the river filled the crisp, autumn air. I walked hurried, full of excitement, to get the shot I had seen on Instagram of the falls from below. (more…)
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd & Brian Callender The old adage that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year certainly rings true in our hearts. Maybe it’s the cooler weather that comes with the winter season, or the festive […]
Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Yellowstone National Park, a diverse and expansive landscape, is America’s oldest designated National Park and collectively considered to be the first in the world. Established by President Grant in March of 1872, the park stretches across […]
My first camera was an old Canon SLR that shot 35 mm film. Well, it was actually my dad’s old Canon that he let me use when I took a black and white photography class in high school. I fell in love with photography during that semester, and before I knew it I was on my first trip to Yosemite trying to emulate Ansel Adams. In college I began shooting color film, and by the time I graduated the quality of digital cameras was catching up to that of film, so I bought my first DSLR, the Canon 20D.
Since then, camera technology has come a long way, and it continues to develop faster than I can save up to buy the next best thing. My travel and landscape photography gear isn’t the most expensive, or the newest, but it is what works for me and my budget. I invested in good lenses, and a stable tripod, and combining those things with my artistry has yielded me some photos that I am proud of. For those who are curious, here is what is currently in my camera bag when I am on the road, or shooting landscape photography. (more…)
