We go
We experience the destination ourselves, from the headline sights to the quieter detours.
The people behind the guides
We travel slowly, look closely, and share what is genuinely worth your time.
Backpacks & Flipflops is built from repeat visits, original photography and the practical details we wish every travel guide included.
Why we created Backpacks & Flipflops
Travel advice should feel like it came from a well-traveled friend.
We started Backpacks & Flipflops for travelers who want more than a list of attractions. We return to places, notice what makes a day easier, photograph what we actually experience and share the recommendations we would give to friends.
Our guides cover lake days, memorable stays, local restaurants, dog-friendly stops, scenic drives and the real logistics of traveling with a large RV.
“The best guide is honest about both the unforgettable moments and the details that help you enjoy them.”
Firsthand visitsEvery guide begins with time on the ground—not a rewritten press release.
Original photographyThe places you see are the places we experienced through our own lenses.
RV-tested adviceRoad-day details tested with a 42-foot fifth wheel and an eye for what large rigs need.
The travelers behind the site
We share the trips we would enthusiastically recommend to friends.
Backpacks & Flipflops blends Chris’s original photography with the practical notes we collect together on the road—from memorable stays and local favorites to parking, timing and RV logistics.
We favor slower travel, repeat visits and honest recommendations that make a destination feel both inspiring and manageable.
How we build a guide
Curiosity first. Practical details always.
We want every article to make a destination feel inspiring and manageable.
We notice
Parking, timing, crowds, costs, dog access and RV logistics all make it into our notes.
We photograph
Original images show you the character of a place and what the experience actually looks like.
We share
We publish the advice we would use ourselves, including what we would skip or do differently.
Our Inland Northwest connection
Coeur d’Alene keeps pulling us back.
After three summers getting to know its lakefront, trails, restaurants, RV parks and quieter corners, Coeur d’Alene became more than another stop. It is one of the places we know well enough to help other travelers experience with confidence.
That repeat-visit perspective now shapes everything we publish—from North Idaho escapes to national parks and road trips farther afield.
Our four-legged field tester
Callie helps us notice which stops really work for travelers with dogs.
Our Border Collie mix often comes along for the ride, adding another practical lens to trails, patios, lakefront walks and road-day stops.
Plan with firsthand insight
Start with the place we return to every summer.
Explore our Coeur d’Alene guides, practical planning advice and original photography.