National Parks

Mount Watkins Hike | Yosemite National Park

Mount Watkins Hike | Yosemite National Park

Mount Watkins Hike | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Mount Watkins Hike Details Starting Elevation: 8,049 ft. Distance: 7 miles, round-trip (if you hike to the very end) Elevation Gain: 1,240 ft. Hike Type: Day-hike Difficulty Level: Moderate Food Storage: There are four bear boxes located at 

Hiking Cathedral Lakes | Yosemite National Park

Hiking Cathedral Lakes | Yosemite National Park

Cathedral Lakes Yosemite | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd The hike to Cathedral Lakes had been high on our Yosemite list for the last few years and it’s easy to see why. Two alpine lakes, in the high country of Yosemite, 

Hiking to Stanford Point | Yosemite National Park

Hiking to Stanford Point | Yosemite National Park

Stanford Point Yosemite | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Unrelenting. That’s the feeling that was mutually shared between Julie and I on the hike to Stanford Point. In fact, several times, I found myself wondering aloud, when had we hiked a 

Hiking the Lakes Trail | Sequoia National Park

Hiking the Lakes Trail | Sequoia National Park

Hiking the Lakes Trail | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Sequoia National Park, well-known in part for its namesake giant trees, is also home to some fantastic alpine lakes. The Lakes Trail visits four such lakes: Heather, Aster, Emerald and Pear, 

Hiking Twin Falls | Yoho National Park

Hiking Twin Falls | Yoho National Park

Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd During our first visit to Canada in the summer of 2016, Julie and I made a brief stop in Yoho National Park. The highlight of that quick stop was Takkakaw Falls, the stunning 830 foot waterfall 

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 The Valley of Ten Peaks: Eiffel Lake Trail

Hiking The Valley of Ten Peaks: Eiffel Lake Trail

Hiking The Valley of Ten Peaks: Eiffel Lake Trail | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Eiffel Lake is a hidden gem in the Moraine Lake region of Banff National Park. This is a popular trail leads to an alpine lake with 

Hiking Vernal and Nevada Falls | Yosemite National Park

Hiking Vernal and Nevada Falls | Yosemite National Park

Hiking Vernal and Nevada Falls| Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd One of the premier hikes starting from Yosemite Valley, the hike to Vernal and Nevada Falls is a must-do when visiting the park. An incredibly popular trail thanks to its access 

Hiking Lassen Peak | Lassen Volcanic National Park

Hiking Lassen Peak | Lassen Volcanic National Park

Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a hike to its namesake peak, has been at the top of our list of places to visit in California for quite some time. Julie and I toyed with the idea 

A Weekend Road Trip to Redding & the Shasta Cascade Region

A Weekend Road Trip to Redding & the Shasta Cascade Region

Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd This post was sponsored by Visit Redding, but all opinions are our own. Since moving to Northern California in early 2017, the opportunity for new adventures has remained a constant in our lives. We push ourselves 

Hiking to Upper Gaylor Lakes | Yosemite National Park

Hiking to Upper Gaylor Lakes | Yosemite National Park

Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Gaylor Lakes, a short hike accessible from the Tioga Road in Yosemite, had been on our to-do list for some time. We had planned to do an overnight backpacking trip to Vogelsang, and found Gaylor Lakes 

2018 In Review — The Year of Weekend Road Trips

2018 In Review — The Year of Weekend Road Trips

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 

Trip Report | Visit Mount Rainier National Park

Trip Report | Visit Mount Rainier National Park

Visit Visit Mount Rainier| 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 

Hiking to Moraine & Consolation Lakes | Banff National Park

Hiking to Moraine & Consolation Lakes | Banff National Park

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. 

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Road Trip to Redwood National and State Parks

Road Trip to Redwood National and State Parks

Things to do in Redwood National Park | 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 

Glacier Point Hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point | Yosemite National Park

Glacier Point Hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point | Yosemite National Park

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 Falls Hike to the Top in Winter | Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Falls Hike to the Top in Winter | Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Falls Hike to the Top| Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd 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 

Hiking the Bear Gulch-High Peaks Loop | Pinnacles National Park

Hiking the Bear Gulch-High Peaks Loop | Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles Hiking | 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 

One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park

One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park

One Day in Bryce Canyon | 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 

Hiking Angel’s Landing | Zion National Park

Hiking Angel’s Landing | Zion National Park

Hiking Angel’s Landing| 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 

Hiking the Narrows | Zion National Park

Hiking the Narrows | Zion National Park

Hiking the Narrows| Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd 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 

A Late Fall Weekend Road Trip Through Washington

A Late Fall Weekend Road Trip Through Washington

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 

Hiking to Mystic Falls | Yellowstone National Park

Hiking to Mystic Falls | Yellowstone National Park

Mystic Falls | 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 

An Epic Day Driving the Yellowstone Loop| Yellowstone National Park

An Epic Day Driving the Yellowstone Loop| Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone Loop Drive| Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd Yellowstone National Park, a diverse and expansive landscape, is America’s oldest designated National Park and is collectively considered to be the first in the world. Established by President Grant in March of 1872, 

Hiking to Amphitheater Lake | Grand Teton National Park

Hiking to Amphitheater Lake | Grand Teton National Park

Amphitheater Lake | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd It’s Friday night, and our group is sitting in the living room of the Bentwood Inn, discussing the upcoming events of the weekend. Julie and I are getting married Saturday afternoon in Grand 

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 

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