Oyster heaven 🐚 Anyone else obsessed? 📷: @rylander_west
Where I’d rather be, 99.9% of the time. Shot on @sonyalpha a6300 | 16mm | f8 | 0.5 sec | ISO 1000 #sonyalpha #alphacollective #bealpha
S I X Y E A R S ⠀ Happy Anniversary to my favorite travel companion, masseuse, business partner, snowboarding buddy, photographer, barista, comedian, life coach, lover, actor, pastor (and so much more) @nickvisconti. I wouldn’t be who I am without your significant influence in my life. Thank you for always pointing me back to Christ, showering me in constant grace and wisdom, and making me laugh every single day without fail. Words do not do justice to my devotion and love for you. I adore doing life with you. I love you endlessly Huz. ⠀ ♥️, Wifer ⠀ 📷: @benjhaisch
I love travel for so many reasons, but it's the inspiring, life-changing moments I continually chase after each time I pull out my passport... ⠀ It was at the age of 17 while on a class trip to Spain that I happened upon my first Monet painting in person — I had been painting in oils since I was 10, and the Impressionist Master's work had inspired me for years. I'll never forget what that moment felt like: to be serendipitously greeted like an old friend in an unfamiliar place. It was this experience that inspired me to eventually pursue art as a career, and led me to where I am today. My husband has a similar story: while drinking endless espresso at the tallest café in the Swiss Alps on a photoshoot with one of his sponsors when he was a professional snowboarder, he fell in love with coffee and its use as a natural fuel source, and "drink coffee do stuff" was born — first as a lifestyle motto, then evolving to an actual brand. ⠀ Do you have a favorite travel memory that inspired you to take a new path in life? I want to hear! Share your experience in a comment below and you could win a beautiful set of luggage from Speck Travel! To enter: ⠀ •share your story in a comment below and include #takemorewithyou •tag your travel buddies •follow @specktravel •sweepstakes ends May 26, 2019 ⠀ 📷: @missruthanne #specktravel #sponsored
There’s an ongoing conversation on the Internet right now about photos like this, and whether they inadvertently contribute to the rise of injuries and deaths we’re seeing around the world from people going a little too far to get “the shot” due to something they saw on social media. I recently posted a similar photo to this one and received a handful of comments from people reprimanding me for encouraging bad behavior. Here’s the thing: I’m always going to err on the side of outdoor exploration (while being respectful and mindful of environmental impact) with a healthy amount of risk sprinkled on top — I’ve gotten lost of Mexican jungles, have kayaked amidst iceberg-ridden Alaskan waters, learned to surf in a tropical storm... and really, this is all nothing compared to the lifestyle of many people I know. I live in Lake Tahoe where adventure is a way of life. Just because my husband (a former pro snowboarder and X Games athlete) posts a photo of himself doing an advanced snowboarding or skateboarding trick doesn’t mean he should leave a disclaimer for beginners to not attempt it themselves... but simultaneously, viral videos of people climbing skyscrapers inspire others to mimic their stunts and subsequently get hurt. I will say there’s no denying that social media and influencers have played a role in impacting our environment, whether it’s trampling on a superbloom or posting a drone shot way too close to wild animals. I do think there’s a line, and influencers should be mindful of their “influence” and seek to be leaders instead of encouraging inappropriate behavior. Simultaneously, at the end of the day, I believe individuals are 100% responsible for their own actions — there has to be a level of personal accountability and common sense. Please remember to respect your environment, know your own personal boundaries, leave no trace, and stay safe (but not too safe). ✌🏼
Celebrating life over death today and everyday. He is risen! 🦋
Lady of the lilies ✨ Ryland and I were stuck in crazy amounts of traffic the other week on our road trip down Highway 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay, but thankfully we found hidden little pockets of wildflowers like this lily field to keep us entertained. I was wishing I had a flowy dress to shoot here, but hey, work with what you’ve got right! What’s your favorite spot along the coast of California? 📷: @rylander_west
The Pacific Northwest will always hold a huge chunk of my heart — having lived in both Seattle and Portland in my 20’s, it’s always a treat to come back and revisit my stomping grounds + connect with old friends. If you’re in the Seattle area, come join me at @wayward in Bellevue today at 5 PM for a photo walk with @styleandcheek meandering through @bellevuecollection, concluding at @wbellevuehotel at 6 for some live tunes courtesy of @littlewinsmusic. Come shoot photos and then have a drink with me! 👋🏼 #explore_enjoy #wbellevue #northwestisbest 📷: @carchicoa
My heart is heavy to learn of yesterday’s tragic fire at Notre Dame Cathedral — a great loss for Parisians and all of humankind. It’s been over six years since I’ve visited the City of Light, and am coincidentally returning in a few weeks, but it will be heartbreaking to not be able to visit Notre Dame. We typically think of catastrophes like this happening in ancient times, and assume 12th century cathedrals and works of art that have already withstood so much are safe... so this feels especially shocking. I’m glad to hear that a good amount of the precious relics inside were saved due to the courage of the firefighters (including Jesus’ crown of thorns — who knew this was here?!). Have you visited Notre Dame before?
Will forever be obsessed with cabins in the mountains. I’ll take that little A Frame on the left, please and thank you. Which one would you live in?
I love nautical everything, so exploring @morrobayca after a day of pedaling down the coast was such a treat — somehow I had never been to this quaint little slice of seaside heaven before, where oysters from @mboysterco are as large as your hand and otters are as common as the seagulls. What an incredible experience visiting old and new spots around @visitcalifornia’s @amgentoc route these past few days. Thanks so much for following along — I can’t wait to share more soon! ⚓️ #VisitCalifornia #AmgenTOC #MorroBay 📷: @rylander_west
Okay, e-bikes are a GAME CHANGER! It’s gonna be hard to go back after experiencing @maddogscarmel’s exceptional vintage-inspired electric bicycles (perfect for @seemonterey’s hilly terrain!). If you saw me cruising along the Pebble Beach 17 mile drive at 20mph yesterday to get to this spot, sorry not sorry. Having a blast exploring the different bike cultures of @visitcalifornia, and getting excited for @amgentoc next month! 🚲 #VisitCalifornia #AmgenTOC #SeeMonterey 📷: @rylander_west
It’s been a few years since I’ve been a full-time bike commuter, and it feels SO good to get back on the saddle! 🚲 Stoked to be partnering with @visitcalifornia the next couple days as I pedal through a portion of next month’s @amgentoc route along the coast of California. First stop: exploring @visitsanjose_ca and the picturesque Quimby Road on an 18 mile ride with 2500’ elevation gain yesterday. Having grown up in the Bay Area, it’s amazing to explore my old stomping grounds by bike and experience it in an entirely new way. Next stop: the coast! Have you ever done a long haul bike ride? #VisitCalifornia #AmgenTOC #WaytoSanJose 📷: @rylander_west
#ad New on the blog (linked in my Story), I dive into Mexico City — the most cultural city I’ve ever traveled to. While I’m definitely a bonafide mountain goat, I’d like to consider myself a hybrid of city and nature, and getting lost-on-purpose in the largest city in North America last month was dazzling. It’s travel experiences like this that continually inspire me to make more thoughtful decisions in how I spend my time, talents, and money. I’m stoked to be partnering with @investwithcoin, a new conscious investing platform that encourages users to put their dollars where their hearts are, including Impact Areas like Modern Cities. Use promo code COIN2019 to receive $50 when you invest your first $100 at www.investwithcoin.com!
Portland has changed so much since I lived there 4 years ago. I enjoyed getting reacquainted with my old stomping grounds for 24 hours (check out my Story to see how l did it)! First step: check into this picture-perfect hotel 🌿