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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 25/09/2026

The scariest part for me was driving down from the Alpine Visitor Center late at night after taking astrophotography photos. I was terrified of wildlife jumping in front of us on our way down. We also drove Old Fall River Road to the tundra one day. That was a much slower drive, but just gorgeous!

A driver's perspective from inside a vehicle on Old Fall River Road, a narrow dirt road curving uphill through a forest of pine trees and bare trunks. The bright sun shines in a blue sky with light wispy clouds, casting shadows across the road.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 25/09/2026

We didn't have reservations to visit Bear Lake Road on our first day in #RockyMountainNationalPark, so instead we spent the day driving along Trail Ridge Road and stopping at pretty much every spot that looked stunning 🌲 There were a lot of stops 😅 #Scape #ForestFriday #hiking #nationalparks

A rocky hiking trail winds through a mountain landscape, flanked by grassy meadows and a dense forest of evergreen pine trees. A steep, rocky hillside rises on the left beneath a bright blue sky filled with scattered white clouds.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 21/09/2026

We have stopped at quite a few waterfalls while road tripping across the country. But so far, none have been quite as unique as Seven Falls in Colorado Springs. It's made up of seven individual waterfalls with a staircase running alongside. #BlueSkyMonday #MountainMonday #Waterfall #Dogfriendly

Minerva and Sam holding their dogs Toby and Lily with Seven Falls cascading in the background.

The Mountain Elevator entrance and the stairs leading up to Eagle's Nest at Seven Falls.

Wide-angle view of Seven Falls and the canyon staircase from the Eagle's Nest observation area.

The covered seating area with international flags and the start of the 224 stairs at Seven Falls.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 08/09/2026

Colorado Springs was our first stop along our 4,800+ #roadtrip traveling from our home in Alabama all the way to Grand Teton in Wyoming. Visiting Garden of the Gods was a great way to get used to the high elevation while #hiking with our dogs. #RockinTuesday #ColorADay #BlueTue

Panoramic view of red sandstone spires rising above a dense green forest with mountains under a cloudy sky.

Paved red walking path winding through Garden of the Gods with informational plaques and giant sandstone rock towers.

Woman walking a small white dog along a dirt trail surrounded by green brush and red rock formations at Garden of the Gods.

Tall sandstone rock formation with a historic plaque beside a paved walkway and wooden guardrail.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 07/09/2026

While driving along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, we stopped off to walk along some of the trails 🌲 #BlueSkyMonday #MountainMonday #RockyMountainNationalPark #nature #photography #travel #nationalparks

A person wrapped in a colorful geometric blanket walks away down a dirt trail in a mountain meadow surrounded by evergreen trees under a partly cloudy sky.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 25/08/2026

We spent the last 5 days exploring Grand Teton. This is Mount Moran reflecting in Jenny Lake. I still can't get over how beautiful the area is 💚 #RockinTuesday #TidesOutTuesday #ColorADay #BlueTue #hiking #nationalparks #grandteton

Scenic view of Mount Moran reflected in the calm waters of Jackson Lake, framed by pine branches, a pebbled shore, and a fallen weathered tree.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 24/08/2026

This was our view a couple of days ago of the Grand Teton mount range from across Jenny Lake. #BlueSkyMonday #MountainMonday #hiking #nationalparks #grandteton #wyoming #grandtetonnationalpark

Scenic view of Jenny Lake framed by evergreen pine trees, with the rugged, rocky peaks of the Teton Range rising under a clear blue sky.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 19/08/2026

It's been a bit, but we are finally on another road trip! This is Seven Falls in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It's a #waterfall made up of seven cascading waterfalls 🌊 #colorado #coloradosprings #waterfallwednesday #roadtrip #hiking

A tall waterfall cascading down a steep rocky canyon at Seven Falls in Colorado Springs, accompanied by a long, steep metal staircase built into the cliff side alongside the falls and a covered viewing deck at the base.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 09/08/2026

Sunset at #HurricaneRidge in Olympic National Park 🌲 This was our last night of our 2.5 week exploration of the #OlympicPeninsula #Stunday #ColorADay #OrangeSun #nationalparks #travel #pnw #olympicnationalpark

A breathtaking image of a vibrant sunset over the Olympic Mountains, with the sun's warm glow illuminating the evergreen trees and highlighting the distant peaks of Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 08/08/2026

Unfortunately no, we drove north of Joshua Tree along I-40, but didn't have time to stop in (we were driving to Yosemite). We did see some Joshua trees on the drive, though! One of these years we'll make a road trip to the southwest national parks 😊

Sam stands next to a Joshua tree near the Mojave Desert.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 07/08/2026

Congaree National Park Floodplain The park floods around 10 times a year, and those floodwaters bring in nutrient-rich sediment that helps grow some of the tallest trees in the eastern U.S. #Scape #ForestFriday #CongareeNationalPark #dogfriendlytravel #hiking #nationalparks

Flooded forest in Congaree National Park with tall trees rising from still water, reflecting the sky and highlighting the unique landscape seen along the boardwalk trail.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 06/08/2026

Hiking along Grand Valley Trail, part of Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park 🏔️ #HumansOfBlueSky #ColorADay #YellowThu #Hiking #nationalparks #olympicnationalpark #pnw

Bright yellow and orange wildflowers bloom in the foreground, lining the rocky slope of the Grand Valley Trail. A hiker stands blurred in the background, gazing out at endless blue mountains beneath a sky scattered with fluffy clouds.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 05/08/2026

You might not know it while driving through the Columbia River Gorge, but this area is home to one of Oregon’s most popular stops, #MultnomahFalls #WaterfallWednesday #ColorADay #RedWed #oregon #nature #photography #travel #hiking #pnw

Image of a sign reading "Multnomah Falls Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area," with the iconic waterfall visible in the background.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/08/2026

Shi Shi Beach was one of my favorite hikes along the Olympic coast. A little muddy at the start of the trail, though 🥾 #RockinTuesday #TidesOutTuesday #hiking #pnw #pacificnorthwest #nationalparks

A close-up of a purple sea star clings to a rock covered in barnacles and seaweed in a tidepool at Shi Shi Beach WA, with jagged sea stacks and gentle waves in the background under a bright blue sky.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 03/08/2026

We took this in the dried up Broadwell Lake while driving through the Mojave Desert. The wind was just whipping through and the sun was so intense ☀️ #BlueSkyMonday #MacroMonday #MinimalMonday #roadtrip #California

Close-up, low-angle view of parched, deeply cracked desert ground stretching into a blurred distance. A faint sliver of blue sky and distant mountains are softly out of focus in the background.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 25/07/2026

Just a bee enjoying the lavender in Sequim, Washington 🐝 Also one of my favorite pictures of our visit to B&B Family Lavender Farm 💜 #bloomscrolling #nature #photography #gardens #sequimlavender #pnw #BlueskyArtShow #Flowers #NaturePhotography

Close-up view of purple lavender blooms swaying under a bright blue summer sky at B & B Family Lavender Farm in Sequim, with a rustic barn and mountain backdrop in the Olympic Peninsula.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 18/07/2026

We didn't know that #Sequim, WA was known as the Lavender Capital of North America until we checked into our hotel during our #OlympicPeninsula road trip. So we had to visit one of the nearby fields, B&B Family Lavender Farm 💜 Our #lavender bouquet even survived the 2,500-mile road trip home! 🐝

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 02/07/2026

We pulled over a couple times on our way through the #appalachianmountains for some beautiful views of downtown Gatlinburg. #gatlinburgtn #mountainviews #smokymountains #roadtrip #naturelovers #nature

Panoramic overlook view of downtown Gatlinburg nestled in a lush green valley, surrounded by dense forest trees with the Great Smoky Mountains rising in the background under a cloudy sky.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 30/06/2026

Mingo Falls sits just outside the #GreatSmokyMountains #NationalPark and is just 15 minutes from one of the other #dogfriendly trails in the Smokies, the Oconaluftee River Trail. #waterfall #travel #nature #photography

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/06/2026

Sounds delicious! 😋 I wish I remembered the food taste more. The dumplings we had were amazing. Where about in the upper Midwest?

Dumplings and food from Wildberry Restaurant

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/06/2026

A10 #ParkChat Driving from Colorado Springs to Great Sand Dunes, I didn't expect for the dunes to be that HUGE. As we drove up, we thought the small specks we saw along the ground were bushes. Nope, those were people.

Curving wooden boardwalk trail winds through dense forest in Congaree National Park, with sunlight casting long shadows across the planks and railings.

A zoomed-in view of the base of the massive sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, showing dozens of people gathered and walking near the edge of the dune field. A strip of green trees and high grasses separates the sandy foreground from the tan, undulating slopes of the main dune mass.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/06/2026

A6 #ParkChat I'd second Olympic. Specifically for the waterfalls and the Pacific Ocean Waves

A tide pool near the base of rocky sea stacks shows a small rainbow forming in the mist, with waves lapping at barnacle-covered rocks under a bright blue sky at Shi Shi Beach WA.

A scenic view of Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park, where multiple narrow streams of water cascade down mossy, rocky cliffs into a deep gorge, surrounded by lush green forest and tall conifer trees. A fallen log crosses the gorge near the falls, and a wooden viewing platform is tucked into the trees on the right.

Two hikers, one wearing a yellow shirt with red hair and the other in a blue sweatshirt, stand in front of Marymere Falls, a 90-foot tall, narrow waterfall in Olympic National Park. The area is surrounded by lush forest and fallen logs. A wooden railing is behind the hikers.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/06/2026

A5 #ParkChat It's Half Dome on Yosemite for us. We spend our honeymoon climbing to the top together (and encouraging each other on the cables!)

Sam and Minerva at the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/06/2026

A3 #ParkChat While in Rainier, we kept driving past this place called the Wildberry Restaurant. We had no idea it was Sherpa cuisine and that it is owned by world famous mountaineer Sherpa. They had so many cool mountaineering equipment and history inside. Their food was delicious! 😋

Pie from the a Wildberry Restaurant near Mount Rainier National Park

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/06/2026

A3 #ParkChat Our first real road trip was to Glacier NP. We didn't plan very well and most everything was closed. But I will always remember my first time seeing the mountains from across Lake McDonald

Minerva mesmerized by the view at Lake McDonald - Glacier National Park.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 04/06/2026

A2 #ParkChat I'd love to be transported back to Ruby Beach in Olympic. I'm not sure if it counts as much of a hike, though!

The ocean meets a foggy horizon, with driftwood and sea stacks dotting the foreground of Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington. Minerva, Samuel, Toby and Lily stand in the foreground soaking wet and smiling.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 03/06/2026

Spent some time playing around with long exposure #photography along the Oconaluftee River Trail in the #GreatSmokyMountains #hiking #nationalparks #dogfriendlytravel #dogtravel

A large stone and concrete bridge spanning the Oconaluftee River, with a rocky shoreline in the foreground near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor center.

A wide-angle view of the clear, flowing Oconaluftee River under a blue sky, illustrating the scenic landscape along this dog-friendly trail in the Smokies.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 01/06/2026

While we do enjoy Gatlinburg (who can say no to the taffy?), we wanted this trip to focus more on getting outside and spending time in the mountains with the dogs, so we decided to drive south through the mountains for Oconaluftee.

A small white dog named Toby wearing a blue harness, lying in the shallow water of the Oconaluftee River to cool off during a dog-friendly hike in the Smokies.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 01/06/2026

There's the Gatlinburg Trail, which starts right in Gatlinburg, and the Oconaluftee River Trail, which is about an hour south of Gatlinburg deeper into the mountains near Cherokee, NC. #dogfriendly #greatsmokymountains

Oconaluftee River Trail in the Smokies, showing a wooden directional sign and a person hiking with a dog on the wide, gravel path.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 01/06/2026

Last month, we spent a quick weekend getaway in the Smokies with our dogs Toby and Lily. If you've ever looked for dog-friendly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you probably already know that out of the 800+ miles of trails, dogs are allowed on exactly 2. #nationalparks #hiking

A man and woman sitting on a stone wall in front of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance sign with their two small dogs, Toby and Lily.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 02/05/2026

After climbing 9,000 feet up Mount Hood (~80% to the top), we got a mirror-like reflection of the mountain from Trillium Lake 📸 July 2024 #mounthood #oregon #coupleswhohike

A couple sits on a wooden dock at Trillium Lake, gazing at the snow-capped Mount Hood reflected in the still water. The surrounding evergreen trees frame the scene under a clear blue sky.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 22/04/2026

Mingo Falls is just a 15 minute drive from one of the two dog friendly trails in the #GreatSmokyMountains (Oconaluftee River Trail). We walked up 163 steps to this incredible spot 💚 #dogfriendly #waterfall #waterfallwednesday #hiking #earthday

Mingo Falls cascades down a tall rock face surrounded by dense green forest just outside the Great Smoky Mountains. Fallen logs and mossy rocks fill the foreground as water rushes through the stream at the base of the waterfall.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 16/04/2026

A5 #ParkChat We more recently got back FROM Congaree National Park. We learned that it protects the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in North America

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 16/04/2026

A3 #ParkChat We saw this sunset in the Great Smoky Mountains a couple years ago after walking down from Kuwohi.

A beautiful sunset in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Trees stand to the left and right of the image. Green, tree covered mountains are seen in the distance. The sun is setting behind the clouds and beyond the Appalachian mountain range.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 16/04/2026

A2 #ParkChat We was some overlapping edges on these jagged rocks while hiking along Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. Hopefully this counts!

A hiker stands atop a jagged rock outcrop along the Grand Valley Trail, gazing out over a dramatic landscape of forested ridgelines and distant snow-capped peaks, including Mount Olympus under a partly cloudy sky.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 16/04/2026

A1 #ParkChat We are definitely hodophiles! We'd love to road trip through some of the western National Parks like Zion, Pinnacles, Lassen and Redwood. It's normally us two, but we like to include our two pups whenever we can.

A silver Subaru parked on a road in Badlands National Park, with rugged rock formations in the background under a pastel sky. Two small dogs sit inside the car, visible through the windshield, wearing colorful harnesses. The scene captures a road trip vibe in a stunning natural setting.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 09/04/2026

A11 #ParkChat There's a glamping place just west of Forks called Mossquatch that we loved while exploring Olympic. They lean heavily into the moss and Sasquatch-ness in their setup, too. It's really cute!

A visitor poses next to a giant, moss-covered "Mossquatch" creature sculpture in the dense, enchanting forest of Mossquatch Resort, a nature destination on the Olympic Peninsula.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 08/04/2026

We spent an extended weekend exploring #CongareeNationalPark with our dogs. I think we got lucky in late March with barely any bugs, but I’m really curious what it looks like in person when the water is higher or when the fireflies are out. #nationalparks #hiking #southcarolina #dogfriendlytravel

Two small dogs on leashes sit on a wooden boardwalk trail in Congaree National Park, surrounded by tall trees and dappled sunlight as the path stretches into the forest.

The iconic Congaree Mosquito Meter near the start of the Boardwalk Trail, showing the current insect activity level in the cypress swamp.

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Minerva & Sam @witheachmile.com · 06/04/2026

It really is a beautiful area and a quiet trail. We walked right above some of the floodplains, too. Thankfully there weren't too many mosquitoes and bugs from the standing water!

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