Not ready to stop daydreaming about Santorini? Check out this post on Santorini as a honeymoon destination… it was one of the first posts on this blog!

I always have a hard time toting around my DSLR and an extra lens or two when I travel. I’m hoping to soon take the plunge and purchase a more portable camera bag– something meant to hold my camera, but that will also allow me to bring along my wallet and phone and a couple of other small essentials while I go sightseeing during my travels. That’s why I’ve  decided to devote this travel style post to stylish camera bags! These are all purpose-made camera bags that come with protective lining and compartments inside. I hope you like this little round-up!

I’m always drawn to messenger bags. I  like the fact that you can sling them over your shoulder and keep them out of the way, and I also like the fact that they’re nice and spacious. I, personally, tend to be drawn toward more rustic leather bags, as you’ll see above, so the price point on these is a little high. Here are three of my favorites that I’ve found: 1. ONA, The Brixton laptop and messenger bag. $419. 2. The ONA Brooklyn camera satchel in chestnut. $329. 3. Epiphanie Austin satchel in black. $156.

The nice thing about camera bags disguised as purses is that they’re cute (obviously), and that they don’t attract attention to your camera equipment. If you’re traveling to an area where pickpocketing and petty theft is a problem, this can really play to your advantage. Plus, these have over-the-shoulder styles so that your gear will be safely tucked under your arm. Not to mention these babies go with everything! Here are my favorites: 1. Kelly Moore B-Hobo camera bag. $169. 2. Kelly Moore Songbird Bag. Price not available; it’s backordered. 3. Epiphanie Charlotte bag in burnt orange. $154.99.

Who doesn’t love a fun pattern to spice up an outfit? These are some of my favorites (I’m completely smitten with the first one–it doesn’t look anything like a camera bag, and it’s perfect for summer). 1. Georgia Nautical satchel by Jo Totes. $107.  2. Ketti Handbags Chevron Designer Camera Bag. $210. 3. Ketti Handbags bag in Penny Mum. $210. 4. ShootSac deluxe shooter’s kit with Sprightly cover. Price not given. Shootsac has a kind of cult following among wedding photographers, so this is a great way to carry a couple of your best lenses on the go without toting all of your equipment with you.

What’s your favorite bag above? I’m in love with those leather ONA messenger-style bags, but that Georgia Nautical satchel from Jo Totes is much more budget-friendly. What do you use to carry your camera on the go?

I love this photo shoot in Miami, Florida, because it’s got such a vintage vibe—it truly looks like it was shot in the 1960s, and it’s very Mad Men in its retro style. Here’s what fabulous photographer Roberto Chammoro of Kane and Social said about this shoot.

I came up with this concept after hearing some of their interests. We pitched some ideas back and forth and in the end we decided on a 1960′s family florida vacation, a la Mad Men… I guess Mad man, woman and child :)

We spent a day driving all around Miami florida to spots I had picked out that still had an old-school vibe..I gave the images an old feel in the post production. I believe it worked out pretty well.

I’m sure you’ll be just as wowed as I was by these photos. They really, truly look like they’re from another era. Be sure to visit Kane and Social on Facebook to see more stunning photography. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

The first time I heard Birdy on one of my Pandora stations, I was so captivated by her pure vocals and soulful musical arrangements. She is only 16 years old (!!!), and her voice is hauntingly beautiful. I just love it. Be sure to listen to her renditions of 1901, Skinny Love and Just a Game.

Birdy has a lovely debut album out now that features covers, but she has an album of originals in the works. Be sure to check out her website and follow her on Facebook for updates. With such a remarkable album at age 16, you know she’s got tons of amazing music ahead of her!

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After our first year of traveling around the U.S. we realized we were covering too much space too quickly and missing some of the best things. Now, three years later, we tend to take our time and really check out an area’s best features. From Florida, to Ohio, to Northern Montana, we’ve spent at least a month in each area exploring back roads, seeking the best hikes and looking for hidden gems whenever possible in states and regions most people haven’t heard much about.

Arizona has been a personal favorite of mine, since I lived here for a while as a kid, and time and time again we end up back here on Ghost Town missions, seeing the major sights or just roaming around back roads in our 4×4 truck or my vintage dirt bike. This winter we decided to rent a cabin outside of Flagstaff to give us even more time to see all the awesome sites in the area. We choose Flagstaff for its annual snowfall as well as its proximity to so many amazing sights, giving us a mixture of things to do over the winter months. One of the best things about the Flagstaff area is that you get a snowy winter while only being a short drive from warmer places like Sedona and Phoenix.

We compiled a list of our favorite hikes and historical landmarks discovered during our times in the area:

Lava River Cave: This hike is .75 miles each way inside of a perfect example of a lava tube. The hike starts with a climb down a rough pile of boulders and rocks, but once you’re inside, the tube is relatively easy to traverse with occasional low and/or rocky areas. There isn’t much life inside, but there are some beautiful mineral deposits on the cave ceiling that, when highlighted by your headlamp or flashlight, look like an intensely starry sky. Before we went, we had the foresight to pick up a couple head lamps at a local outdoor store before heading here – something you will never regret if you are into caving at all. They are as necessary as good traction on your shoes, as you’ll need your hands free often. Lava River Cave can be hard to find on maps (I had a guy ask me where it was on a back road near our cabin, 10 miles south of Flagstaff), it’s 14 miles north of Flagstaff and just a couple miles off the same road you would take to the Grand Canyon down a couple forest service roads (see map: http://tinyurl.com/d7vunfw).

Two Guns: Two Guns is a mixture of ruins, historical obscurity and a run-down Route 66 tourist stop. When you first take the freeway exit you are greeted by a run-down gas station and the entrance to an old campground called Kamp Two Guns. Two giant water towers painted in a southwest theme, a barn-style building (formerly the office and gift shop) and another out building remain, usually with interesting graffiti and art on the walls (a constantly changing part of this place). From here you can see several ruins on the other side of a canyon that are accessible by a short walk or drive from the gas station parking lot. The ruins are stone and mud buildings, some of them rounded with roofs still standing, though most are in pieces. Cages & signs from an old zoo, shelves, rusty metal and other remnants of when the place was still used remain as evidence of a time when Route 66 made history. If you look for it, or happen upon a “guide” like we did the first time we visited, you might be able to find a historical cave that played a major part in the last stand of a group of Navajo and their horses, trying to escape some soldiers (alleged history, but nonetheless a compelling story).  We first came here in 2008 on a specifically “Ghost Town” road trip. It’s always fun to return to places like Two Guns to see how they change, and being unmaintained, it changes often. Two guns is at exit 230, East of Flagstaff. Just a couple exits more and you can visit the most well-preserved Meteor Crater in the world!

Walnut Canyon: Walnut Canyon is a must see and just a short distance from Flagstaff headed east. The main trail here can be quite a climb with 240 steps, but overall is not a very long loop. After a short while you will start to see ruins of an ancient civilization on all sides of the Canyon. I love to picture people living in places like that, children running along steep trails comfortably, people walking from the shaded side of the canyon to the people living on the sunny side to pick up some medicine or trade food. In the winter the trail can be icy so they closed part of it while we were there. Wear good shoes and pack a lunch! Any of the rocks down in the canyon make a great place for a picnic.

Williams, Arizona and Elk Ridge Ski Area: Williams is a great little day trip town any time of year. It’s busier in the summer when the big Grand Canyon crowds pass through, but no matter when you go it’s a true Route 66 town. We last visited in the middle of a snowstorm, which made the town even more interesting – an Arizona Route 66 town in a snowstorm is something to see. There are nonstop vintage signs, gas pumps, statues, a ’50s-style diner and tons of cute little gift shops all in the few short blocks of downtown. Nearby at Elk Ridge Ski Area, assuming it’s winter, you can spend the rest of the day sledding or skiing, or go camping and hiking at nearby Kaibab Lake.

Sunset Crater and Lava Fields: Sunset Crater is an awesome cinder cone from a volcano just northeast of Flagstaff. I find it especially interesting because of its young age of only 900 years, a time when the area was very much populated. You don’t necessarily need to take a steep hike to the top of a volcano to see the signs (though you can at Lenox Crater Trail). There are a couple of places to access the lava fields but the main trail, Lava Flow Trail. Sunset Crater is a great start to a loop off the main road that leads to our next favorite spot, Wupatki National Monument.

Wupatki National Monument: Wupatki Pueblo is an ancient Navajo village unlike any others in northern Arizona, as it’s built into the sides of and on large rocks in the middle of the desert, rather than a cliffside village like many other ruins in the area. The pueblo is very much intact despite its early misuse by settlers, and even includes a well, pottery and a ball pit where games with other villages were played. It housed as many as 100 people at its peak.

Navajo Nation: The largest Indian Reservation in the country, Navajo Nation is a beautiful and mostly barren place with striking views throughout. A mixture of canyons, deserts and alpine forests cover 17 million acres of open, untouched land. This is one of my favorite places to camp in the state. Like most Arizona reservations, there are few fences if any, and often farm animals roam vast areas, as can you. More than once we’ve taken “Indian Road (insert number)” and picked any random camping spot, sleeping under the stars and waking with the energy to explore Monument Valley, The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, or just taking the long drive straight through. The Sunsets are always epic, and starry skies are as dark as they get.

Mormon Lake: A visit to Mormon Lake features a great drive to a tiny little town that seems out of place in Arizona. While much of the area’s snow had melted, Mormon Lake still had a couple feet and a snowshoe and alpine ski rental shop, across from an old dive bar, restaurant and gift shop the likes of a Colorado mining town or Montana mountain village. Being from Montana, I’m used to seeing Elk and Bear signage everywhere and Mormon Lake embraces that motif fully. Although we never saw more than the occasional deer in our yard near Flagstaff, Mormon Lake has a 200-head herd of Elk year-round. If you like off-the-beaten-path retreats for a great pile of pancakes or a beer, this is the perfect spot.

Sandy’s Canyon Trail: Sandy’s Canyon is one of many trails we found by accident on one of our weekend roams in the Flagstaff Area. If you’re looking for a hike in a new place, we always recommend stopping whenever you see a cluster of cars parked next to a forest service road; it’s often a local favorite. Also, you can usually tell by looking at the cars if people are biking, hiking, kayaking by whether or not they have racks on them and what kind. This canyon trail was a bit steep and icy in the winter but so worth it. The canyon was warm with reflected heat from the cliff face and surprisingly full of death-defying rock climbers for such a chilly day. Then main hike is just a couple miles, but If you feel like taking a really long hike, you can hike all the way to Walnut Canyon on the Arizona Trail. Sandy’s Canyon Trail is just north of Mary’s Lake southeast of Flagstaff.

Oak Creek Canyon Trail: This trail is on the winding road to Sedona from Flagstaff, a must-drive if you love winding roads, fantastic views and going from dense forest to bright red desert in a short time. Oak Creek Trail starts out with a bonus, the ruins of an old homestead including several out buildings and one built into a cliff wall. We again hiked this trail in the dead of winter and because the trail is inside the canyon it can be a bit cold–cold enough that the creek crossings were literally frozen enough to walk across the ice (I never thought I’d be walking across a frozen body of water in Arizona) and there were icicles as tall as people hanging from the cliffs. However, the hike was easy and we kept a good pace, easily keeping warm. Any time of year you can tell the canyon flourishes with life due to its protection from the elements, making it an oasis between the Sedona Desert and high desert forests of Flagstaff. Along the road to Sedona are several amazing campgrounds, hikes and viewpoint areas not to miss!

See a Map of these hikes and locales: http://tinyurl.com/d7vunfw

We’re nerds for a living (programming and web design) and often we’re nerds for recreation. I love to visit ruins and get immersed in an ancient culture, examine plants, animals, insects and rocks close up. We often buy books on local anthropology and animals and photograph everything we can as we go. Nature is an awesome break from our computers on the weekends, but in no way a break for our brains! We hope you enjoy some of our favorite places in this part of the country!

Well, actually, I’m going to share a little bit from Amy, and THEN I’m going to let the photos speak for themselves.

Here in British Columbia we are blessed with beautiful picturesque scenery, and every winter we get some pretty cool visitors from the north. The Snowy Owls live and breed in Alaska and the Yukon but have been finding their way down to Delta, BC for the last few years because the food up north has been dwindling. The Snowy Owls are only here during the winter months but the Short Eared Owl, Bald Eagle and Blue Heron, can be seen all year round.

I ran into a guy who was in just for the weekend from NY, he heard about the owls and wanted to shoot them, well not shoot them, photograph them! It goes to show that we should not take our nature and animals for granted, we should get out enjoy them both and if you have a camera take a few photos!

Be sure to visit Amy’s website for more beautiful photos, and stop by her Facebook page to say hi!

Aren’t they just stunning? The winking snowy owl is my favorite. If you want to get your bird-watching on, these beautiful images were taken in Delta, BC. Happy weekend, folks!

Photo sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Lovely, huh? Check out Far and Far Away on Pinterest for more travel inspiration.

Marisa and Leon are from the U.K., but now live in Dubai for work. They had an intimate wedding in Zoagli, located on the northwestern coast of Italy right by Portofino. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, this wedding is like a dream. And the ethereal outdoor reception by candlelight will definitely take your breath away! This wedding is the epitome of la dolce vita. Congratulations on your wedding, Marisa and Leon! Here’s to a marriage just as beautiful as your big day.

Thank you to Julian Kanz Photography for sharing these gorgeous photos with us! He did a phenomenal job documenting the lovely details of this wedding. See more of Julian’s work on his Facebook page!

This stunning venue is Castello Canevaro, a seaside castle that functions as an event space and hotel with beautiful rooms. If you’re spending time in Portofino, be sure to check out this lovely family-run gem. The wedding was organized by Alice by SposiamoVi Italy, so if you’re planning an Italian destination wedding, be sure to get in touch with Alice to make sure your wedding goes just as beautifully as this one!

Did you notice the limoncello favors and the lights hanging in the trees? Perfect little touches to a special day. Want to see more of Julian’s fantastic photography on Far and Far Away? We recently shared another gorgeous wedding he shot in Cinque Terre… take a look!

Rosa Mexicano. This is a great spot to get together with friends on a Friday or Saturday night. It’s a little pricey, but it won’t break the bank. The atmosphere is bright and bustling. It serves excellent Mexican food made with fresh ingredients, guacamole made by hand tableside, and seriously the best cocktails I’ve ever had. If they’re serving it, get the La Sandia (tequila, watermelon juice, fresh rosemary and lemon). They also make a mean mojito!

Shopsins. A fantastic brunch spot in Essex Street Market. You’ll probably have to wait in line about half an hour (more on weekends) since it seats so few people at a time, but it’s so worth it. The menu is overwhelmingly large, so you may need that 30 minutes to peruse and figure out your lay of the land, anyway. My recommendation: the Original Slutty Cakes (pancakes with pumpkin, peanut butter, pistachios and cinnamon). You’ll feel awkward asking for them, but you’ll feel awesome when they arrive at your table in all their aromatic glory.

The Green Table. This ecofriendly eatery in Chelsea Market serves farm-to-table cuisine from local growers. The deviled farm eggs (four ways) are a great starter, with flavors from wasabi to bacon-relish. As for entrees, the Merguez and Lentils and the Chelsea Cubano sandwich are both winners. They also have great seasonal cocktails, including a killer bloody Mary and a great drink that I can’t remember the name of. (I think it’s “Smoke and Spice”… the drink has a really nice, potent lime base with a super-spicy kick at the end. The rim is dusted with paprika and chili powder.)

Cafe Cluny. This chic spot in the West Village is perfect for a casual romantic dinner. The ambience is intimate, the lighting soft, and the decor simple yet eclectic (think aged, French-style mirrors and butterflies pinned in shadowboxes).  The food is artfully presented and packs in complex flavor. Great wine list, too! The apple pie and vanilla ice cream will knock your socks off.

Beekman Bar and Books. Okay, this is more of a bar than anything, but it does serve a bit of light fare if you’ve got the munchies. The atmosphere is moody and intellectual, with plush armchairs and bookshelves lining the walls. It’s very classy but unpretentious—great if you’re looking for an after-dinner drink where you can actually have a conversation without raising your voice. Get one of the signature cocktails, the Monkey Business. It’s made with (deep breath)… vodka, St. Germaine, lime juice, ginger beer, Agnostura bitters, muddled mint and cucumber, a mint sprig and cucumber garnish. It. Is. Fantastic.

What are your favorite restaurants and bars in New York City? I’d love to try them out… let me know in the comments below!

Erin Little!

Congratulations, Erin! I’ll be in touch soon so that we can get this lovely new book into your hands!

Thanks everyone for your fabulous comments and for sharing the love on Facebook! You guys are the best. For more info on this great book, be sure to visit the Without a Spare website, and if you haven’t already, like Without a Spare on Facebook and say hi to Bonnie!