Author: Julie Boyd

Gift Ideas For Adventure Travelers

Gift Ideas For Adventure Travelers

Gift Ideas for Adventure Travelers | Written by Julie Boyd 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 

My Photography Gear: Hiking and Backpacking with a DSLR

My Photography Gear: Hiking and Backpacking with a DSLR

Hiking and Backpacking with DSLR Camera Gear| Words and Photos 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 

California Road Trip: Los Angeles To San Francisco Drive

California Road Trip: Los Angeles To San Francisco Drive

Los Angeles to San Francisco Drive | Written by Brian Callender & Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd California is at its best along the coast. Rolling green hills come to an abrupt end and crumble into the ocean along an endless stretch of 

Yosemite Trip Planner

Yosemite Trip Planner

Yosemite Trip Planner | Words and Photos by Julie Boyd Everything you need to know about planning a trip to Yosemite National Park. This guide combines general information about planning your visit along with our recommendations based on years of visits to this special place.

Essential Hiking Gear for Summer

Essential Hiking Gear for Summer

Essential Hiking Gear| Written By Julie Boyd and Brian Callender We often get asked about the gear we bring along on our hikes, so we decided to put together a comprehensive list of our favorites for summer hiking. We hope you will find this guide 

Minaret Lake Hike | Mammoth, California

Minaret Lake Hike | Mammoth, California

Minaret Lake Hike | Words By Julie Boyd |Photos by Julie Boyd and Brian Callender Deep blue waters, nestled in an alpine basin, below craggy spires that seem too jagged to hold themselves up is the reward for the long trek up to Minaret Lake 

Heli-Hiking in the Bugaboo Mountains with CMH Heli

Heli-Hiking in the Bugaboo Mountains with CMH Heli

Heli-Hiking in the Bugaboo Mountains with CMH Heli | Words and Photos by Julie Boyd This summer, I was invited by CMH Heli to attend their Content Summit at the Bugaboos Lodge in British Columbia.  The trip was an absolute dream! I spent three days 

Columbia Icefield Tour: Athabasca Glacier Hike

Columbia Icefield Tour: Athabasca Glacier Hike

Columbia Icefield Tour: Athabasca Glacier Hike | Words and Photos by Julie Boyd The first time I stood at the base of Athabasca Glacier was an unforgettable experience. To be in the presence of an ancient piece of ice is humbling, and to know that 

Hiking Mission Peak | Bay Area California

Hiking Mission Peak | Bay Area California

Hiking Mission Peak | 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 

Day Trip to Big Sur | California

Day Trip to Big Sur | California

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd 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 

Hiking Mt. Tallac | Lake Tahoe, CA

Hiking Mt. Tallac | Lake Tahoe, CA

Hiking Mt. Tallac | 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 for hiking Mt. Tallac would have to be saved for another trip. The snow 

A Colorful Trip | Fall Colors in Twin Lakes

A Colorful Trip | Fall Colors in Twin Lakes

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd 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 

Exploring the Cunningham Cabin | Grand Teton National Park

Exploring the Cunningham Cabin | Grand Teton National Park

Cunningham Cabin | 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 

Ethics and Getting the Shot

Ethics and Getting the Shot

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 

Seven Things to Bring on Your Next Road Trip

Seven Things to Bring on Your Next Road Trip

Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Behind the wheel and out on the open road, it’s a place where you have the freedom to go wherever your sense of adventure will take you. From the very beginning of our relationship, Julie and 

4 Places to Photograph Sunrise in Grand Teton National Park

4 Places to Photograph Sunrise in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton Photography | Words and Photography by Julie Boyd Alpine scenery doesn’t get much better than that in Grand Teton National Park. The craggy peaks of the Tetons rise above a green valley, giving visitors unobstructed views of the mountain range. Below, the Snake 

Travel Photography Tips For Beginners

Travel Photography Tips For Beginners

Travel Photography Tips For Beginners | Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd Photography is a huge passion of mine, so taking great photos when traveling comes naturally to me. However, just because you are not a photographer, doesn’t mean you can’t take 

Backpacking through the High Sierra Camps | Yosemite National Park, California

Backpacking through the High Sierra Camps | Yosemite National Park, California

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd The Yosemite High Sierra Camps are a series of six outposts in the Yosemite wilderness, spaced roughly between 5-10 miles apart. Their proximity was designed so that adventurers could explore the high country of Yosemite, without 

Seven Photos to Inspire you to go to Jasper National Park

Seven Photos to Inspire you to go to Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park Photos | Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd Jasper National Park in Alberta has a rugged beauty that calls to be explored. It is Canada’s largest National Park, and is home to some pretty epic scenery, including giant glaciers, thundering 

The Mountains are Calling| Chasing the Last Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras

The Mountains are Calling| Chasing the Last Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” – John Muir I was exhausted. I had just finished teaching a workshop on essay writing, shot my last wedding of the year, and I made it through mourning the loss of 

Driving the Icefields Parkway | Alberta, Canada

Driving the Icefields Parkway | Alberta, Canada

Icefields Parkway Itinerary | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Famous for its stretch of unmatched natural beauty, the Icefields Parkway travels between Banff and Jasper National Parks. The 175 mile drive derives its name from the Columbia Icefield, which feeds several 

A Photo Tour of Joshua Tree National Park | California

A Photo Tour of Joshua Tree National Park | California

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd Joshua Tree National Park lies in California’s Mojave Desert. While Brian and I prefer mountain landscapes, there’s no denying that Joshua Tree has a unique beauty that makes it worth visiting. Ranging from broken up rock 

Favorite Day Hikes in Southern California

Favorite Day Hikes in Southern California

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd and Brian Callender Brian and I are avid hikers, and love exploring trails in our local mountains. While there are a lot of trails near us in Orange County, we prefer to take the 1-2 hour 

Johnston Canyon Hike | Banff National Park

Johnston Canyon Hike | Banff National Park

Johnston Canyon Hike | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Created by erosion over the centuries, Johnston Creek flows through Johnston Canyon before emptying into the Bow River. The glacial blue waters flow under a canopy of lush forest and thunder over 

Time Travel Tuesday | Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras, California

Time Travel Tuesday | Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras, California

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd While Brian and I not-so-patiently wait for our trip to the Canadian Rockies later this month, we thought it would be fun to revisit some of our past trips in a new series called Time Travel 

The Best Adventures in Yosemite National Park | California

The Best Adventures in Yosemite National Park | California

Best Adventures in Yosemite| Words and Photos by Julie Boyd When I was 16-years-old, my dad pulled the car over to take in the majesty of Yosemite Valley at Tunnel View on a family trip to the park. Since that first moment, when I gazed 

Exploring San Francisco in One Day | California

Exploring San Francisco in One Day | California

Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd For my most recent birthday, Julie and I made the short trip up to San Francisco for the weekend. While we work to finalize plans for our next big vacation, these short getaways help keep the 

The Best of Monterey | California

The Best of Monterey | California

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd Monterey is a beautiful seaside town known for its stunning views of California’s Central Coast, and abundance of marine life. While many people come to visit iconic spots like the 17-Mile Drive and the Monterey Bay 

Idyllwild & Winter Hiking in the San Jacinto Wilderness | California

Idyllwild & Winter Hiking in the San Jacinto Wilderness | California

Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd It’s a rare occasion for Julie and I to have a weekday off together, so we always try to make the most of them when we do. With the school Julie teaches at on Spring Break 

The Best Places to Visit in Big Sur | California

The Best Places to Visit in Big Sur | California

Written by Julie Boyd | Photography by Julie Boyd On the Central Coast of California, Highway 1 winds through a section of rocky coastline known as Big Sur. Flanked by the Santa Lucia Mountains to the east, and the turbulent waters of the Pacific Ocean