Giant’s Causeway

Before most trips I spend quite a bit of time doing online research trying to figure out the best places to see. I had a difficult time doing that this time around because there were so many cool places to see. I just couldn’t decide! I ended up consulting a friend, who has spent much more time in this area of the world and had some helpful insight on how to see the most in our short amount of time in Ireland and Northern Ireland. When she told me about Giants’ Causeway I knew it had to be on our list, I mean it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! 

When we pulled up to the Visitor's Center of the Giant’s Causeway it was raining so hard that I could see the rain coming at us sideways! Keaton and I sat in the parking lot in the car watching the rain come down in droves. We  braced ourselves (aka put on our rain jackets) and decided that despite the weather we were still going to see the visitors center. I was super bummed about the weather but we had come this far! The thirty second walk from the car to the Visitor's Center completely soaked us. After taking refuge in the Visitor's Center for a few minutes we decided that we were going to brave it. It didn’t matter how soaked we were, we wanted to see the Causeway! 

I am so glad we made that decision because as soon as we stepped outside it was like the heavens opened! The rain stopped, the sun came out, and we had the best hour and half exploring all around the Causeway. We climbed on the basalt columns, nearly got blown away by the wind, and even got to see the boot. All in all it was an epic day. So grateful to Mother Nature for sharing a bit of her beauty with us. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Canon EOS-3]

Observation Point, Zion National Park

Zion National Park has a special place in my heart. I first visited the park back in 2015 and have jumped at every opportunity to go back and visit since. Zion is like no other place. The canyon itself has been been created very slowly over the past 250 million years, give or take a few years ;). As you drive through the canyon you are in complete awe of the towering red cliffs as the skinny road twists and turns mostly following along the path of the Virgin River. The Observation Point hike is breath taking. We ended up starting it from a different location than one usually would. Unfortunately a rockfall at the Weeping Rock trailhead thwarted our original hiking plans. We ended up hiking the East Rim trail, although it was the alternative route it really proved to be an awesome hike. It was nice to have the trail mostly to ourselves and see the views without and competition from other hikers. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]

Mt. Bachelor

When we arrived at Mt. Bachelor I was full of anticipation and excitement. I had not skied for a whole year (thanks pregnancy) and I was pumped to get back on my skis again. As we drove up we were greeted by bright sunny skies and beautifully groomed runs, always a good way to start off the day! The skiing was great and the views were just as good. I’ll be honest, once we reached the summit I felt like I was on the planet Hoth (where my Star Wars nerds at?). The landscape at the top of Bachelor truly felt otherworldly. I was so enamored with the view that I spent a good portion of my day pulled off on the side of runs photographing the amazing winter landscape.  [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]

Hiking in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon is a beautiful wilderness that is just a short drive away from my home in Salt Lake City. On this most recent excursion the weather was splendid -the snow was gently falling and the air was crisp. Snow has such a transformative power on a landscape. My husband and I have hiked this stretch of trail many a times during the summer months and I have always enjoyed how beautiful the scenery was. Trekking this short distance with our little dude in tow brought a different kind of appreciation for it in this winter weather. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]

Montserrat

Keaton and I woke up late the day we were going to Montserrat. The train left the Barcelona station at 6:45 am and we woke up at 6:20 am. We got ready faster than we ever have before and flew out of our hotel room. I know we didn’t fully sprint to the train station but I do know I was throwing elbows like a professional speed walker to make it to the train. By some sort of miracle we made it to the train (the next train wasn’t for another hour and a half and the train ride itself was an hour long). We certainly breathed a heavy sigh of relief as we made it to our seats. Just getting to Montserrat was a bit of an adventure - you have a few choices - you can arrive by train ride, bus, hike, or cable car. We opted for the cable car which provided incredible views but made my scared of heights soul cringe the entire trip up. Arriving in Montserrat was a little surreal. There in the backdrop of these beautiful mountains is this unexpected monastery. I can certainly see why many are drawn to this place, it really is a sight to behold. Although our time was brief we were able to take in the amazing architecture, hear the famous boy’s choir, and even take a quick little nature walk. I was really impressed by this place and eager to explore and visit again soon. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]

Havasupai

Back in July of 2015 Keaton and I were all set for Havasupai. Our bags were packed, our permits were purchased, and we started our drive down to Arizona. About an hour into our trip Keaton mentioned he was experiencing a bit of a sore throat, long story short, we both came down with strep throat. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our trip and hope that we could make this amazing adventure another day.

Fast forward to four years later when fate smiled upon us and we were finally able to snag permits and take our dream backpacking trip! Four days and three nights in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The town of Supai is incredibly remote, Havasu Falls is even further removed from the small isolated town. There are only a few ways to travel to the town and to the campsite - hiking, helicopter ride, or riding a donkey or horse.

We chose the backpacking option. The hike was full of amazing views of the Arizona desert. We started early in the day and were able to experience the sunrise as we made our way down into the canyon. The ten mile trek from the hilltop parking lot down to the campsite was exhausting but worth it in every way. I have never seen water so blue as I did in Havasupai. That brilliant blue in conjunction with the red rock backdrop was a completely stunning environment to experience.

It was so rejuvenating to spend time in this beautiful place. Over the course of our time there Keaton and I were able to hike about 30 miles and see an endless amount of waterfalls. I give many thanks to Mother Nature, the people of Supai, and our awesome babysitters (thanks Papa James and Grandma Bebe) for letting us have this experience. I hope one day we can experience this beautiful place again! [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]

Delicate Arch

When Archer (my son) was about 10 months old we went through a rough patch when it came to sleeping. I remember one evening about a year ago when he was having a particularly rough night. He wasn’t feeling well and he just couldn’t calm himself down. It was late in the evening and at that point I was just as exhausted as he was. I scooped up the little dude from his crib and brought him over to the rocking chair. He was fussy and I tried everything I could think of to calm him down. I fed him, I read him a story, I gave him a stuffed animal to cuddle with, I sang, but nothing could make little Archie relax. Then out of desperation (or maybe brilliance?) I decided to try the idea of a visual mediation. I picked one of my favorite spots, a place that I have always loved to hike, Arches National Park. (Quick side note - Arches National Park is Archer’s namesake so I was happy to to tell him about that beautiful red rock country.)

I started out by describing the winding road you had to take to make it to the trail head, how the trail starts nice and flat and how if you know where to look you can see some amazing petroglyphs. I described the red sand that lined the trail, the blue skies that juxtaposed so nicely with the stunning red rock, we even talked about the cryptobiotic crust and how it is a vital part in the desert ecosystem. By the time I talked him through the last corner of the hike where you get your first breath taking view of Delicate Arch, he had fallen asleep.

This hike is epic. No matter how many times I do it I am always blown away by the beauty of this unique landscape. To be able to share experience with my son (whether it be out of desperation when I’m trying to get him to sleep or when I actually get to hike it with him) it will always be a splendid experience. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]

Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park is truly a place of wonder. It became a national park in 1872 and was the official first national park to be created in the United States. It has so many unique and diverse features that encompass its 2.2 million acres. From the Grand Prismatic Springs that just seep with warm, vibrant colors, to the grandiose Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, to the abundant wildlife - bears, bison, elk. I love Yellowstone because of what it means. This place was/is so stunning that people were inspired to protect it when they first discovered it. I’m glad that people of generations past were inspired to protect Yellowstone so I, as well as future generations, can enjoy its’ grandeur. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]

Alta

Alta is a skier’s dream. This resort sits nestled at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon just outside of Salt Lake City. Alta has fantastic views, old school charm, and some great Utah snow. Alta opened way back in 1939 with one of the very first ski lifts. It’s skier-only which makes me feel like I’m a part of some cool exclusive club. The truth is Alta brings me so much joy in the winter months. There is nothing like feeling the cold wind whip at your face as you fly down the mountain gliding over the sparkling white snow. It’s exhilarating, exhausting, and entirely beautiful. It is an incredible experience - one that I love to have at the wonderful Alta [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]

Denali National Park

During World War II my Grandfather was stationed in Alaska. It was 1944 when a plane crashed in the McKinley mountain range. A rescue party was formed and my Grandpa was amongst rescuers who climbed Mount Deception as part of the recovery efforts. The rescue attempt was unsuccessful but the adventure seemed to sit with my Grandpa for the rest of his life. I never heard the stories from him personally but being there and seeing things that he might have seen made me feel close to him.

Denali was so much more spectacular than I ever imagined. We spent 8 hours on a school bus on a very bumpy road with a 6 month old baby. It could have been a disaster but instead it was magical. The light was incredible, the wildlife was stunning (we saw grizzly bear cubs!!), and we got incredible views of the monumental mountain itself! It really was a day I will never forget. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]

Fremont Street

When I was visiting Las Vegas I wasn’t completely in love with the strip. I wanted old Vegas. I wanted to see what you see movies. I made my way over to the Neon Museum and asked my guide about where to get the best Vegas experience. He suggested Fremont street. Surprisingly enough it wasn’t the old Vegas charm that pulled me in. It was the bright and vivacious street art. The colors captivated me and I spent a good hour photographing as much as I could. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Canon EOS-3]

Valencia

Valencia was just a flicker in our Spain trip. It was the first place we arrived in Spain and we were only able to spend about half a day exploring. When we arrived we had almost no sleep from all our traveling but we hit the ground running anyways. We went on a beautiful walk through the city’s main park, took a stroll along the waterfront, explored some historic spots, and ate some delicious paella. We saw as much as we could with what little time we had but I wish we could have spent more time in this beautiful city. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]