Southwest Passport

This post was written by me through an activation with HireInfluence on behalf of Southwest Airlines. Although I received compensation for participating in the campaign, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Traveling hasn't always been a part of my life, but once I started, it didn't take long for it to become an essential aspect of who I am. It's been a passion of mine for the past two years and my love for it only continues to grow as I travel more. I love the excitement of visiting a new city or country for the first time. It's such an amazing experience getting acquainted with the sights, culture, and customs of a new place. Every place I travel to holds a special place in my heart, but some of my favorite destinations I visited this past year include Iceland, New Zealand, and Thailand.

This winter I'm excited to announce that I'll be partnering with Southwest Airlines for an international getaway! The most exciting part is that I won't know the destination until December 2nd. Tune in to https://www.facebook.com/tiffpenguin/ where I'll be doing a live video to reveal the destination. You can also follow along with the #SouthwestPassport tag on all of my social channels. Check out more details below!

Twelve Southwest Travelers will be assigned a Southwest Airlines International Destination to/from which he/she will travel between December 4, 2016 and December 14, 2016. Each Southwest Traveler will document his/her trip online by posting images. Each Southwest Traveler will include a Giveaway Prop as part of a posting included in his/her Traveler Content. Each Traveler will only post one Giveaway Prop as part of his/her Traveler Content posted between December 4, 2016 and December 14, 2016.

Prize: 12 winners possible
Each winner will receive one (1) $500 Southwest ® gift card

To enter: (1) follow the Southwest Travelers and watch for the Giveaway Prop as part of the Traveler Content;
(2) when you see that a Southwest Traveler posted Traveler Content that includes a Giveaway Prop, Tweet/Post on Entrant’s Twitter/Instagram account that image/video tagged with the corresponding Southwest Traveler’s Corresponding Location Entry Hashtag and #SouthwestPassport; and
(3) include why you want to visit the destination to which the Southwest Traveler is traveling. Postings on Facebook or any other platforms or services do not qualify for a possible entry.

Location Entry Hashtags:

#PuertoVallartaGiveaway

#CaboGiveaway

#MexicoCityGiveaway

#CancunGiveaway

#ArubaGiveaway

#JamaicaGiveaway

#PuertoRicoGiveaway

#NassauGiveaway

#PuntaCanaGiveaway

#LiberiaCostaRicaGiveaway

#SanJoseCostaRicaGiveaway

#BelizeGiveaway

On the Road in Oregon with Zappos & Blundstone

The lush landscapes of Oregon along with its incredible variety of sights make it the perfect destination for a fall adventure. I've teamed up with Zappos and Blundstone to show you how I spent the week exploring one of my favorite states in the US. Thanks to Zappos' awesome customer service and fast free shipping I was able to get my Blundstone boots the day after I ordered them and was ready for adventure. 

The Blundstone BL584 boots have the perfect mix of ruggedness for the outdoors and style for the city.

Boots that provide both comfort and quality are hard to come by, but Blundstone has me covered. I ask a lot of all my gear, especially my boots, and I was amazed at how the Blundstone boots performed during the trip. It was a week of classic PNW weather with nonstop rain and muddy trails. The Blundstones didn't miss a beat and kept me adventure-ready with sure footing and dry feet.

Backpacks.com Ambassadorship

Before every trip I go on, I make a list of travel essentials and a good backpack is always near the top of the list no matter what type of trip it is. I ask a lot of my backpack so it’s important that it’s able to fulfill all of my diverse needs whether I’m out hiking on trails, traveling by airplane, or exploring the city. On any given day, my backpack will be holding my camera and lenses, plenty of snacks, water, and any hiking and camping supplies I need for the day’s adventures. A lot of backpacks only excel in some of these arenas so it’s always amazing when I’m able to find a pack that can serve all of my needs. For my recent trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, I decided to turn to the new Backpacks.com in order to find the best possible pack for this particular trip. While searching for the perfect pack, I came across packs of all shapes and sizes suited for all sorts of different adventures in nature and the city. I ended up deciding on the awesome Topo Designs Rover Pack. It was perfect to fit all of my camera gear, my waterproof jacket, food, snacks, and of course, bear spray, while also being comfortable enough to wear on extended hikes on some of Glacier National Park’s most beautiful trails. With this pack, I was confident that all of my gear was protected from Montana’s ever-changing weather. Here are a few of my favorite images with the new backpack!

A Day Off the Slopes in Whistler

Located just 2 hours north of Vancouver, the town of Whistler, B.C. is a treasure trove of winter activities of all types. Understandably, most of the attention normally goes to the incredible Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. Boasting 200 trails across a sprawling 8,171 acres of skiable terrain on two mountains, Whistler Blackcomb draws people from all over the world to experience this world class ski resort for themselves. What most people don't realize is that there is plenty to do in Whistler even if you're not planning on hitting the slopes. Planned in collaboration with Tourism Whistler, we took part in an action-packed day of activities off the mountain. We also made sure to take some breaks to refuel at a couple of the must-eat spots in Whistler!

There's no shortage of awesome spots to eat in Whistler so it was definitely tough to pick a spot for breakfast, but The Gone Eatery's delicious food, chill vibe, and super convenient location makes it a winner in my book. The breakfast sandwich is perfect fuel for a day of adventure in the mountains.

Next up was a snowshoeing adventure on the Medicine Trail in the Callaghan Valley. It was an amazing experience being surrounded by the snow-covered trees, walking across frozen lakes, and drinking healing tea. Perfect way to unplug from city life and take in the vast expanse of nature here in Whistler.

There's no better way to explore the Whistler backcountry than by snowmobiling through the many trails of Cougar Mountain! The snow was really falling by this point and it was amazing to see the landscape completely blanketed in snow as we explored high and low. With so many amazing activities offered here in Whistler, there's really something for everyone.

It's one thing to zipline in the daylight, but it's impossible to describe the feeling of twilight ziplining 650ft above the canyon floor in near white out conditions. In the dark with the snow rushing past your face, the sense of speed is just unreal. Everyone has to experience this at least once in their life. 

After a long day of adventuring, it was time for some dinner and drinks at Garibaldi Lift Co. You can either sit by the fireplace and thaw out or grab a table by the window and watch the snow fall on Blackcomb Mountain. Definitely try one of the Caesars! Thanks for following along with me on my action packed day in Whistler. Hope you guys get out there soon!

5 Reasons Why You Should Add Havasupai To Your Bucket List

In search of paradise? Look no further than this oasis nestled deep in the Arizona desert. After embarking on an 8 mile hike that descends into the deep canyon of Havasupai, you arrive at the town of Supai where the members of the tribe live. From this point, only 2 miles remain until you reach the campground and the first of several incredible waterfalls. With blue green water rushing down stunning red orange rocks, it's easy to see why Havasupai was considered a sacred place upon its discovery. The tribe very graciously opens up their land to adventurers so that others can experience the unreal place that they call home. Planning a trip here isn't the easiest since reservations must be made well in advance, but the effort is well worth it. There are endless things that make this place so amazing, but here are 5 that should be more than enough reason for you to add it to your bucket list ASAP!

1. Take in the iconic Havasu Falls

Havasu Falls is a sight for sore eyes after the 10 mile trek into the canyon. Take some time to rest your legs and admire the incredible contrast of the brilliant blue water and the stunning sandstone landscape.

2. Size up Mooney Falls

At 196 feet, Mooney Falls stands as Havasupai's tallest waterfall. Even taller than Niagara Falls, it's easy to feel small at this grand waterfall.

3. Experience some nightlife

Whether it's a full moon or the Milky Way is out, you don't want to miss out on experiencing Havasupai after dark. Some of the best memories are made after the sun goes down!

4. Catch some rays at Beaver Falls

What could be better than soaking up some sun after a hike to Beaver Falls? If you're lucky, you might have this place all to yourself.

5. Take in the beauty of New Navajo Falls

This place is the definition of a desert oasis. With countless angles to photograph, don't forget to save some time to take a dip!

Top 8 Can’t Miss Adventures in the Canadian Rockies

Picking your next travel destination is never an easy task when there's an infinite amount of places that are worth checking off your list. However, this time around, the choice was clear. Having seen hundreds of photos and hearing dozens upon dozens of stories from adventurers like myself, The Canadian Rockies was at the top of my travel bucket list. These world-class mountains have just about everything a photographer or traveler could be looking for. Not only are some of the most beautiful attractions easily accessible, but it also offers some equally incredible lesser-known views that you have to work for. 

It's always been a dream of mine to road trip through Alberta to experience the Canadian Rockies for myself. What drew me to the Rockies were the incredibly varied mountain peaks and ranges, glacier fed lakes with colors more brilliant than any I had ever seen, countless overflowing waterfalls, and picturesque views around every corner. Many places struggle to live up to the idyllic scenes captured by skilled photographers, but this place left me with my jaw on the floor around every corner with the unmatchable beauty of its landscapes that absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. Here are my top 8 adventures in the Canadian Rockies you don't want to miss! 

1. Cave dwelling at Johnston Canyon: Sometimes going off trail will take you to some of the most incredible places. Step foot into this cave and onto another planet as you take in the otherworldly view.

2. Skating the Icefields Parkway: The Icefields Parkway is hands down one of the most scenic roads in the world. Skating it was even more epic!

3. Kayaking Moraine Lake: Kayaking on Moraine Lake really allows you to appreciate how grand this lake really is as you get closer to the trademark peaks that tower high above. You’ll want to head here early to have it all to yourself.

4. Catching a sunrise at Two Jack Lake: You can never go wrong with a sunrise session at Two Jack Lake. This spot offers tons of top-notch angles to photograph.

5. Exploring Sunwapta Falls: Mother Nature can leave you speechless sometimes and this is definitely one of those spots. Watching the water rush around the perfectly placed island and crash down the falls just downstream is an experience I'll never forget.

6. Take in the epic views of Lake O’Hara: Lake O’Hara is one of those untouched places that is just bursting with natural beauty. Epic views for days with no crowds makes this place one of my favorites.

7. Find the perfect spot to hang out overlooking Peyto Lake: Could there be a more perfect spot to hammock? I don’t think so.

8. Living life on the edge at Crescent Falls: Perched over the edge of these falls, the sheer power is enough to take your breath away. If you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.