photography – Page 2

Changes Within the US National Parks You Need to Know Before Planning a Trip

Published on January 21, 2024January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Throughout the last few years, the national park system has changed the way visitors can access certain areas within the parks during peak seasons. Certain parks now require reservations for specific areas to limit crowds and enhance visitor’s overall experience. As of this year, there are 9 national parks that require some type of reservation when visiting.
If you’ve read other national park posts I’ve written, you know I’m frequently recommending planning at least 6+ months in advance, especially for popular parks. While I know this isn’t always possible or convenient, due to the changes with national parks, planning in advance is almost essential if you want to fully access and experience the parks as it’s not possible to purchase these reservations upon entering the park, they must be reserved in advance..

Types of Reservations that may be Required

Timed Entry Reservation. This kind of reservation requires visitors to reserve a ticket for a time period (ex. 6am-4pm). These kind of reservations may give you access to one section of the park, the entirety of the park, a road within the park, etc, depending on the park. If you aren’t able to access a timed entry reservation (if you’re planning a last minute visit) there are ways around this. If the time slot is 6am-4pm, that means if you enter the park BEFORE 6am, you’ll be able to get in. However, if you leave the park at any point before 4pm, you won’t be able to get back in until after 4pm. Similarly, you could access the park after 4pm.
Vehicle Reservation. This kind of reservation may be for a specific area in the park. For example, in Acadia National park, you need a vehicle reservation to drive up to Cadillac mountain.
Hiking Permit. This kind of reservation is necessary if you want to hike a particular trail in the park that requires a permit. For example, Old Rag trail in Shenandoah national park now requires a permit to access.

Parks that Require Reservations

*As of December 2023*

Acadia National Park, Maine– requires a vehicle reservation to access Cadillac mountain if visiting between May-October. This reservation costs $6 and can be purchased on the park’s website.
Arches National Park, Utah– requires a timed entry reservation (7am-4pm) between April-October. This reservation costs $2 per vehicle. Learn more on the park’s website.
Glacier National Park, Montana– requires a vehicle reservation (6am-3pm).
- Due to Glacier’s popularity, the park has split the major areas of the park into three sections that ALL require reservations if you plan to visit. All sections require a reservation between the hours of 6am-3pm during the months of May-October. The sections within the park that all need a reservation include:
- Going to the sun Road
- North Fork
- Many Glacier
Haleakala National Park, Hawaii– requires a vehicle reservation (3am-7am) that costs $1 per vehicle to watch the sun rise above the clouds at Haleakala Summit. Learn more on the park’s website.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado-requires a timed entry ticket from May through October. RMNP has split the timed entry tickets into two sections:
- Bear Lake corridor, timed entry reservation required to access the bear lake trails + access to the rest of the park, costs $2. Timed entry from 5am-6pm.
- Rest of the park, timed entry reservation for the Rocky Mountains national park, excluding the bear lake trails, costs $2. Timed entry from 9am-2pm.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia– requires a day use hiking permit if you desire to hike ‘Old Rag trail’ which is one the most popular trails in the park. Reservation required from March-November and costs $1 (each person is required to have a ticket). Learn more on the park’s website.
Yosemite National Park, California– requires a timed entry ticket to access areas in the park and a hiking permit for the Half Dome trail. The park has different types of reservations if you plan to visit this year:
- Horsetail Fall reservation– ticketed entry during the months of February on the weekends of February 10–11, February 17–19, and February 25–26, 2024. Note, this reservation is only required if you plan to visit on the listed days in February. This is a big attraction during the month of February in the park, so the reservations are listed for the weekends. This reservation costs $2 and is per vehicle. Purchase tickets on the park’s website.
- Peak Hour Plus reservation– timed entry ticket valid to enter the park from 5am-4pm and good for 3 conservative days! This reservation is required during the months of April-October. It’s $2 and per vehicle. Purchase tickets on the park’s website.
- Half Dome hiking permit– this popular trail now requires a permit to hike as an attempt to reduce crowds. Learn more about how to obtain a permit through the park’s lottery system here.
Zion National Park, Utah– requires hiking permits for Angel’s Landing, Subway, and the Narrows from top-down.
- Angel’s Landing– the park now requires a permit to hike the entirety of this trail (without a permit you can hike all the way to “scout lookout”). Similarly to Yosemite, permits are selected by a lottery system. It costs $6 to apply and if selected it’s $3 per person to hike this trail. Learn more on the park’s website.
- The Subway- this hike requires a permit if you plan to hike it between the months of April-October and is selected through a lottery system as well. Learn more here.
- The Narrows from top down– the narrows is one of the most incredible hiking experiences within the park! Many visitors hike this from the bottom up (I did!) but if you wish to hike the trail from the top down (16miles total), you’ll need a wilderness permit. Learn more here.
Muir Woods, California– requires a parking reservation to access this national monument. Learn more here.

Tips & Things to Know

Book the reservations as soon as you are able. On the park’s websites, there will be a time when you are able to book. Some parks allow you to book a couple months in advance, and if you miss out, they reopen more reservations 1-2 days before your visit for additional chance. It can definitely be stressful so I recommend logging on to purchase tickets as soon as the window opens (for example, most tickets become available on the park’s website at 10am).
Usually if you book a reservation for a campground within the park, the park counts this as your reservation for timed entry or vehicle reservations, depending on the park. Be sure to check exceptions to purchasing reservation tickets if you have a campground booked in the park.
If you can’t purchase timed entry tickets, find ways to experience the park outside of the timed restrictions (i.e., if timed entry reservations start at 6am, enter the park before then).
Do some research to determine which areas, activities, and hikes you may want to do that require reservations.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Published on January 3, 2024January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. Beck4 Comments

Glacier National Park is one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to. Glacier has been named the “crown jewel of the continent” for good reason. We were able to spend three full days in Glacier national park and experienced some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. Here’s a quick guide and overview of our time in Glacier.

Things to Know Before Visiting Glacier

Glacier national park is in the middle of nowhere! The park has done a nice job creating souvenir shops, mini grocery stores, and resturants but it’s limited.
During peak season (May-September), the park requires a reservation pass for four sections of the park. This includes Going to the Sun Road, North Fork, Many Glacier, Two Medicine areas. Learn more on the park’s website.
There are several options if you plan to camp in Glacier. As always, I’d recommended booking these at least 6 months in advance. Glacier was the one park we almost didn’t secure a camping spot due to popularity.
Be prepared to drive. Glacier is a large spread out park and most of the park is only accessible by one road.
Check 0n the park’s website for updates. When we visited there was a lot of road construction and trail closures due to wild life.

Must See Spots in Glacier

Going to the Sun Road

This is the top “must see” in Glacier. The going to the sun road is an iconic road that has several look out points and incredible mountain views that will leave you speechless! Here are some stops along the way:

The Loop– Hair pin turn on the road that allows views of stunning mountains
Weeping Wall– Named after a cliffside that has water dripping from snowmelt onto the road and your car!
Big Bend – Located just after the Weeping Wall, the best spot for photos or to watch the sunset :)
Logan Pass – The highest point on the road, also where the visitor’s center is located
Jackson Glacier Overlook– Pull off area to view Jackson Glacier
Saint Mary Falls – Trail head for Saint Mary Falls starts at this pull off
Wild Goose Island – Stop here to get a photograph of the famous island in the middle of Saint Mary lake!
Rising Sun– Cute area to stop in for a restroom break or snacks

Big bend stop off the ‘going to the sun’ road

Polebridge area

Polebridge is technically a mile outside of Glacier national park, but it’s still a neat spot to add to your itinerary if you have time! The town offers a sweet old fashion western feel and is home to the Polebridge Mercantile. This cute general shop has souvenirs, homemade eats and sweets and is definitely a must stop while driving through Polebridge. I’d recommend trying any of the huckleberry pastries!

Many Glacier area

The Many Glacier area is a quieter side of the park that offers stunning mountain views, wildlife, and iconic spots to see. We spent part of one day exploring this area and it did not disappoint! One of the main spots to check out while visiting is the Many Glacier hotel. The hotel has a swish chalet inspired design that truly allows you to feel like you are in a different country! We spent time exploring the inside of the hotel and the grounds. A popular hike in this area is grinnel glacier overlook. We hiked a portion but unfortunately didn’t have enough daylight to hike the entire trail. It’s still worth attempting even if you can’t finish to the top, the views were incredible! There’s also a boat from the hotel that takes you to various points on the trail if you don’t want to drive over to the trailhead, which also seems like a fun experience.

Must Do Hikes in Glacier

The high line trail

The high line trail is by far the most memorable hiking experience I’ve had in any national park. It’s accessible from the Logan pass visitor center. The high line trail a challenging and long hike but the views make it all worth it. It was surprisingly open when we visited the park in early July, typically it opens mid to late July due to snow melt. We weren’t able to finish the entire hike unfortunately due to weather conditions, we were able to hike about 8 miles round trip. Due to the weather conditions, there were times we were hiking through the clouds— that’s how high the trail is! Definitely be prepared for high elevation and altitude changes. Even if you don’t intend to hike the entirety of the high line trail, I’d recommend hiking part of it just to experience some incredible views!

Avalanche Lake trail

Avalanche lake trail ended up being one of our favorite hikes during our time in Glacier! It’s an out and back 4 mile hike that takes you to Avalanche lake. The trail starts with the trail of the cedars which is a beautiful paved path through the forest. The trail of the cedars can also be a 1 mile loop trail but if you’re going to the avalanche lake trail turn off, you’ll walk about .5 miles to the start of the lake trailhead. This is the one hike we saw a grizzly bear from a distance once we reached the lake, so go prepared with bear spray and bells, and travel in a pack with other hikers if possible.

Grinnel Glacier overlook trail

Grinnel Glacier overlook trail is accessible from the Many Glaciers area of the park. This trail is 11 miles round trip out and back. It’s pretty challenging but the views are incredible! Patrick and I weren’t able to hike the entirety of this hike due to time constraints but we did hike the first few miles and definitely plan to attempt the full hike someday in the future.

Hidden Overlook trail

Hidden overlook trail was the hike I was most looking forward to while researching Glacier! It’s accessible from the Logan pass visitor center. The trail has board walks that take you up a hill in order to see a hidden glacier lake. The views from this trail are some of the best from a short trail. When we visited we were only able to hike to the look out point of the trail and not the last half mile down to the lake due to bear activity. The park monitors wildlife activity and will close trails because of it. Luckily, we were still able to enjoy almost the entire hike! If you plan to hike hidden lake, I’d recommend starting early. The parking lot at Logan’s pass fills up incredibly fast and there’s limited parking. Since hidden lake is a fairly short hike, this is also popular for many visitors.

Other Tips for Visiting Glacier National Park

If you plan to visit several areas in the park, I’d suggest booking different campgrounds. I wish we would’ve done this but while I was researching, I didn’t realize how large Glacier is and how spread out the various sections are from each other. We stayed at Fish creek campground which is close to the main entrance of the park so there were days we drove 1-2 hours each way.
Research any permits or reservations you need in advance. As I mentioned, due to the popularity Glacier continues to have, the park has several reservations and permit requirements for specific areas and trails that aren’t available for purchase on the spot.
Be flexible with plans! The weather changes quickly in Glacier due to the higher elevations and location. It may rain, snow or hail even in the summer!
Always have bear spray and bells. Glacier is grizzly bear country and it’s essential to be prepared on hikes. The park will usually close a trail if there’s a lot of reported bear activity but it is still possible to have a run in with a bear on any trail.
Start early! This tip really applies to any big national park, but especially Glacier. It was one of the most crowded parks we’ve ever been to. By 7am, most trails and roads are flooded with visitors.
Fill up on gas and food. Although some of the campgrounds have lounges with food options, it’s not much so it’s important to be prepared for meals. Similarly with gas, there’s one gas station when you’re about to enter the main entrance of the park. Otherwise, you’ll have to drive 15-20 minutes outside of the park for restaurants and gas stations.

A New Year

Published on December 29, 2023 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. The week between Christmas and New Years is one of my favorite weeks━ the last week of the year, the perfect time to slow down and reflect on the final days of the year and prepare for the year a head. I kn0w there’s some controversy surrounding new years resolutions and goal making, but personally, I love this time of the year because of the chance for a “restart.” A restart or fresh start can be whatever it means to you! Cleaning out a closet, going through old emails, working on a vision board for the year, or writing down dreams, goals, and intentions for the new year.

I created a 2024 dream planning page that I’ll personally be using and wanted to share for anyone else interested. I typically write anything that comes to mind that I hope to achieve or strive for in the new year, even if it feels a little ambiguous at first! That’s what dreaming and goal planning is all about :)

I also wanted to share some of my favorite moments captured on film from the past year.

Wishing you all a wonderful end to 2023 and a magical start to 2024!

2024-dream-and-goal-planning-1 Download

2023 Favorite Moments Captured on Film

Fall camping in Allegheny National Forest

Bison viewing in Yellowstone National Park

Allegheny National Forest, PA: Fall Camping Tips

Published on November 7, 2023January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

This past weekend, I was able to spend time camping in one of my favorite places, Allegheny National Forest. Patrick and I first visited Allegheny last spring and enjoyed it so much we wanted to experience the forest during the fall season. We stayed at Red Bridge campground again, one of our favorite campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at. This time we were able to reserve a campsite in advance and choose a beautiful spacious spot surrounded by stunning fall foliage. Here’s a list of extra supplies we brought this time to prep for the chillier weather in the fall and to make the experience more cozy:

Fall Camping Tips & Cozy Supply to Pack

Tips:

Check the weather. Fall camping usually brings cooler temps at night and rain depending on where you’re located. While we were in Allegheny it did rain for most of the trip.

Pack lots of layers. There’s nothing worse then being cold and wet. Packing extra layers will provide options and extra warmth on the chilly nights.

Be flexible with plans. During our camp visit, it rained majority of the time which was challenging! Being able to make the most of the trip despite the weather is a must.

Reserve a camping spot in advance. If possible, it’s always reassuring to have a camp site reserved, especially in the fall season. Most seasonal campgrounds are only open through October so it’s usually more popular during the fall months depending on the location.

Supplies to pack for fall camping & for a cozy vibe while camping:

Tent with rain cover
Awning or area to cover from rain so cooking is accessible
Lights (string or lanterns) to help when it gets darker earlier
Comforter or extra blankets for sleeping
Supplies for hot beverages
Layers of clothing
Comfy camp chairs
Table cloth for picnic table
Cozy shoes and socks to wear around camp
Waffle maker for breakfast

Although some of these supplies aren’t necessary, it definitely made for a cozier experience while camping in the fall season.

Moments at Home

Published on September 12, 2023 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

I’m starting a new category on the blog dedicated to my love for design and creating cozy spaces. For as long as I can remember I’ve been rearranging and designing spaces. It started with my bedroom as a child. I enjoyed switching the art on my wall, moving the furniture around, and adding different accessories regularly. I’d become excited to show my parents, siblings, and friends the changes I had made. These habits shifted to my first apartment when I moved to Italy, back to my attic space when I moved back home with my parents, and now to my apartment I currently have on my own. I’ve always been highly influenced by the spaces I’m in. It impacts my mood, productivity, motivation, and inspiration. I feel so much joy from creating a space that feels warm, inviting, and peaceful. It creates a safe place for me to return home to. It’s what makes a house a home.

My design style and aesthetic has definitely evolved over the years and will most likely continue to do so. For now, these are the spaces that make up my home. The spaces that fill my heart, mind, and soul with clarity and fulfillment. The spaces that feel like me.

Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio

Published on September 4, 2023January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Along Lake Erie, just past Sandusky, you’ll find the charming quaint town of Lakeside. Lakeside is a special place for me, as my family used to visit regularly in the summertime when I was a child. I haven’t been back in years so Patrick and I decided to revisit during labor day weekend! I had such a great time reminiscing on childhood memories and relaxing in this timeless town, it truly has the same charm I remember from years ago. Lakeside is the perfect spot for a small town getaway! Here is some tips and things to keep in mind before visiting Lakeside.

Things to know about Lakeside

During the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day) Lakeside requires visitors to purchase day passes and auto passes. These gate fees can be purchased online before hand or when you first arrive at the gate. Lakeside is open all year and the gate fees are only during the summer season.
There are several hotels and bed and breakfasts and cottages available. This trip we booked our stay at Hotel Lakeside and loved it! All accommodations can be found on the website.
During the summer months we noticed most restaurants were open in the mornings until 3pm and closed and reopened at 5pm for the dinner crowds.
The town has a newspaper published with events happening each week, be sure to grab one when arriving to stay up to date.
Parking is limited and confusing. There aren’t many designated spots for those who aren’t staying in a cottage. You may have to do several loops around the area to find a parking spot.

We spent two days at Lakeside and this was the perfect amount of time for a short getaway. During our stay, we booked a room at the Hotel Lakeside which is an iconic landmark in the park. The hotel was built in 1875 and the charm is still alive today! If you visit for longer than a weekend, I’d recommend renting a cottage.

Things to do in Lakeside

Wake up early for donuts at The Patio. They have the best cake donuts! They still taste the same as they did when I was a kid.
Grab a cup of coffee at Coffee and Cream or Oh La La. Both cafe’s are nice options with a variety of coffee choices as well as breakfast and lunch bites.
Play mini golf. The course is unique and with 15 holes, it will make for a fun day or night activity!
Stop by the t-shirt shop under the dock awning! It’s a small little shop with some of the coolest apparel to take as souvenirs.
Have lunch at Blue Bird cafe. Located just near the dock in the center of town, Blue Bird has delicious sandwiches and salads with a great outdoor seating area right near the water.
Rent a bike or golf cart at Sypherd Cycle. One of my favorite parts about Lakeside is that almost everyone bikes or rides golf carts around the town. We rented bikes and it was so fun to feel like a local for the weekend.
Have dinner at Lakeside pizzeria, former known as Sloopy’s pizza. This is a town favorite for pizza!
Go for a swim in Lake Erie! There’s access from the “beach” area or from the dock.
See a concert or speaker at the Hoover Auditorium. Lakeside does a nice job finding entertainment for visitors and access to the auditorium is included in the gate fee.

Road Trip Film Photo Collection

Published on August 2, 2023December 31, 2024 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

One of my favorite ways to capture memories on a trip is through film photography. Last month I went on a two week national park road trip and brought along my Canon ae-1 35mm camera. This is my second film collection shared on the blog, and these are some of my favorite travel photos captured in timeless film. These photos were taken throughout several states and national parks highlighting the beauty of South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.

Film Collection 02 / Summer ’23

Sunrise at Mormon Row, Grand Tetons National Park

Views along the ‘going to the sun road’, Glacier National Park

The high line trail, Glacier National Park

Oxbow Bend look out, Grand Tetons National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park

Schwabacher Landing, Grand Tetons National Park

Wild Goose Island, Glacier National Park

Camping in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania

Published on April 26, 2023January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Last weekend, Patrick and I spontaneously decided to go camping in Allegheny National Forest. Camping has always been something that helps ground us and provide the perfect reset when life feels stressful. We’ve always talked about going to Allegheny and we finally made the trip happen! Here’s some photos of our quick trip to Allegheny and the camping list we always use that gives us the most comfort while camping.

Our time in Allegheny was short and sweet but it definitely has me excited to visit again in the future. We found a couple campgrounds in the area that were open already for the season, most were first come first serve, which always makes me a little anxious but luckily we were able to find a great spot. We stayed at Red Bridge Campground and we loved it! This campground felt scenic and secluded but also had plenty of amenities which is always a luxury while camping. I would highly recommend this campground, we plan to stay here again during our next visit.

Our Camp List

This is our camping list that we use when we go on quick weekend trip or a long road trip. Some of these items were investments to ensure we had the most comfort, especially for our longer trips. Most of these items aren’t necessary especially for a quick weekend trip but they definitely make us feel more at ease and comfortable which is our goal while camping or traveling on the road.

Sleep

Tent, with rain cover
Air mattress
Sheets
Blankets
Sleeping bags
Pillows

Hygiene

Travel toilet
Biodegradable waste bags
Toilet paper
Trash bags
Body wash and shampoo
Tooth brush and tooth paste

Cook

Newair refrigerator or cooler
Cooking utensils
Eating utensils
Plates
Bowls
Coffee mugs
Pots and pans
Stove top and propane
Jetboil
Cutting board
Stanley pour over stand
Containers/bags to store leftover food
Water cooler
Collapsible sink
Campsuds dish soap
Sponge to wash dishes

Comfort

Rinse kit (helpful for a quick rinse off or to assist with washing dishes)
Camp chairs
Hammock
Quick dry towels
Jackery generator (we use this to keep our refrigerator powered and other things we need to charge)
Cameras
String lights
Journals/books
Card games

Safety

Medicine kit
Lantern
Garmen inreach mini satellite gps (helpful when there’s no service!)
Quick start car battery charge

Misc.

Fire starter supply
Citronella candle
Small hatchet/shovel

Film Photo Collection

Published on March 1, 2023 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Over the summer, I started using the Canon AE-1 film camera. I’ve always loved the unique qualities film provides and the anticipation it brings to wait and see what the photo will look like. I experimented with different rolls of film and different settings throughout the summer to become comfortable. I took the camera with me on my road trip out west this past summer and finally, nearly 6 months later developed the film. This collection is so special to me and captured so many beautiful memories and sights throughout the summer. This will be my first film collection shared on the blog and I’m looking forward to many more!

Film Collection 01 / Summer 22′