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Hey there! I'm Sam, a BC-based outdoor adventure blogger.

I love hiking, camping, road trips, and exploring — and sharing those adventures (in detail) so you can be empowered to have your very own adventures... however that looks for you!

  • Gear
  • Hiking
  • Camping
How to Camp in the Rain: The Ultimate Guide of Tips, Tricks & Gear for Rainy Weather
How to Camp in the Rain: The Ultimate Guide of Tips, Tricks & Gear for Rainy Weather
Guide to Choosing & Buying a Down Jacket
Guide to Choosing & Buying a Down Jacket
Best Hiking Apps Guide for iPhone & Android
Best Hiking Apps Guide for iPhone & Android
Winter Hiking Tips & Tricks for a Safe Outdoor Adventure
Winter Hiking Tips & Tricks for a Safe Outdoor Adventure
Best Hiking Apps Guide for iPhone & Android
Best Hiking Apps Guide for iPhone & Android
Staying Hydrated on Hot Hiking Days
Staying Hydrated on Hot Hiking Days
Scrubba Wash Bag for Laundry in the Outdoors (Gear Review)
Scrubba Wash Bag for Laundry in the Outdoors (Gear Review)
Guide to Choosing & Buying a Down Jacket
Guide to Choosing & Buying a Down Jacket
How to Camp in the Rain: The Ultimate Guide of Tips, Tricks & Gear for Rainy Weather
How to Camp in the Rain: The Ultimate Guide of Tips, Tricks & Gear for Rainy Weather
Inspiring Outdoor Adventure Books
Inspiring Outdoor Adventure Books
Bear Safety for Hikers
Bear Safety for Hikers

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A beautiful ferry crossing ❤️ This was the fi A beautiful ferry crossing ❤️

This was the first night of our trip. We weren’t sure where we were going to sleep that night and ended up driving a lot farther than planned. 

As uncertain as we were, we ended up on the ferry at the absolute best time of day. It was an incredibly peaceful crossing ✨

Sometimes, the most beautiful moments come from times of uncertainty or lack of planning. That’s not to say we didn’t have lots of stressful moments because of it too, but this wasn’t one of them. 

I will chat about the stressful moments, but right now I wanted to focus on the positive ❤️

👉 Follow for more beautiful moments in BC!

#kootenays #kootrocks #gooutsideandexplore #explorearrowlakes #ilovebc #roadtrippers #bcferries #canadagram #pnwadventures
Where would you stay? ⬇️ We just finished a 6 Where would you stay? ⬇️

We just finished a 6-day road trip through the Kootenays and stayed in four very different places. From rest stops to small hotels to huge log cabins — we saw it all! 

What’s your top pick?

1) A beautiful log cabin on the lake. This is @lakefrontloghome just outside of Nakusp.

2) A small hotel with just the basics. This is the Prestige Inn in Nelson (the smaller sister hotel to the fancy Prestige Lakeside Resort).

3) A rest stop with beautiful views. This is the Slocan Lake Viewpoint. 

4) A rest top with a waterfall. This is Ione Falls between Nakusp and Halcyon. We stayed here for two nights. 

👉 Follow if you’re interested in the Kootenays and the Okanagan!

#roadtripcanada #kootenaybc #carcamping #livingontheroad #roadtravel #beautifulbc #loveroadtrips #roadtrip🚗
Absolutely magical ✨ I don’t know how we got Absolutely magical ✨

I don’t know how we got so lucky to be at Fletcher Falls at just the right moment for this to happen. Is was truly magical ❤️

📌 Save for when you need some magic 

#waterfalling #forestmagic #naturemagic #intonature #findyourselfoutside #magicalmoments #smallmomentsofcalm
Is there anything better than a mountaintop picnic Is there anything better than a mountaintop picnic? 😍

The last few years, I’ve been embracing small, magical moments. Which meant I couldn’t pass up an opportunity for a sunset charcuterie board at the top of a mountain with my husband!

The logistics have always sounded like a bit of a nightmare though – meat and cheeses go really weird when they’re left in a hot backpack for too long. And having any kind of warmish drink when you’ve just sweated up a mountain isn’t the greatest.

📌 Save for your epic picnic planning 📌

[AD] That’s where a cooler backpack comes in! You can easily carry all your yummy snacks and drinks up the mountain and they’ll actually be cold when you reach the top.

We loaded up our @everfun_official cooler with all kinds of goodies — guac, prosciutto, chocolate almonds, havarti, pita chips, apples, bars, and two drinks each — and hiked up the mountain! We absolutely loved having fresh food and cold drinks at the top! Plus the 5-star view of Okanagan Lake was the cherry on top.

Is there a better way to spend a Friday evening? I think not. 

⁉️ What makes the Everfun cooler backpack awesome?

- Keeps your goodies cold for 20 hours! (But you’ll probably eat them all first).

- Lots of storage room – there’s enough space for 30 cans (if you’re so inclined) or tons of snacks.

- Leakproof. Fill this bad boy with ice and don’t worry about it leaking everywhere!

- Comfortable. Even though it’s not necessarily made for long hikes, I found it quite comfortable the entire hike! The shoulders are large and padded so they don’t dig in even when loaded up with food.

- Works as a table. This definitely wasn’t part of their original design, but it works super well as a table for your picnic! Plus, it has a flat bottom so it doesn’t fall over.

- Affordable! So many coolers are insanely expensive, but this one comes in at less than $60 CAD. Plus, you can save 10% with my code EXPLORETHEMAP!

👉 For my full review, head on over to my blog or YouTube! Link in bio.

#picnicwithaview #picnicideas #hikingsnacks #kelownaviews #outdoorsygals #dayhikes #hikerslife #hikeyourownhike #hikinggear #pnwadventures #explorenature #sponsored
Lakeside picnics & reading >> 👉 Share with a f Lakeside picnics & reading >>

👉 Share with a friend who loves picnics, reading, and peaceful days on the lake!

From the get-go, this trip has been about taking it slow and going with the flow. 

Admittedly, we haven’t done the best with that. We’re very much planners and it’s been hard to let that go. I had a rough plan for this trip, but almost all the details have been unknowns. Pair that with limited service and it’s an adventure!

Not knowing where we’re staying for the night has been the hardest. 

But, that also meant we had lots of time for doing what ever we felt like — like reading on the beach for most of the day and being incredibly peaceful ❤️

We loaded up our @everfun_official cooler (full review on the blog!), grabbed our books, and enjoyed a super relaxing few hours overlooking the beach, eating snacks and reading. This wouldn’t have happened if we’d planned everything.

👉 Are you a planner or not? How do you like to unwind on trips? 

⁉️ For a full review of this cooler, head on over to the blog! Spoiler: it’s awesome! There was no way we were leaving it at home for this road trip!

#picnicwithaview #peacefulday #smallmoments #westkootenays #roadtripcanada #kootenay #beautifulbc #ilovebc #travelstory #outdoorsygals
The Kootenays have been spoiling us ❤️ We’r The Kootenays have been spoiling us ❤️

We’re on day 3 of our trip through the West Kootenays. We’ve been blessed with amazing weather and have really enjoyed how laid back it is, especially compared with Kelowna. 

We’ve slept in rest stops, “showered” in hot springs, and read books on the river. 

Have you been to the Kootenays?

#kootenays #westkootenays #explorearrowlakes #explorebc #visitnature #lovebc #bccanada #travelstoked

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