Hao Travel

Expansive view of a densely forested mountain landscape during peak fall foliage, with waves of orange, yellow, and green trees blanketing the hills. A rock ridge cuts across the middle, revealing exposed gray stone beneath the trees.

Scenic overlook of a steep cliff in upstate New York covered in fall foliage, with vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves stretching across a dense forest. A branch with orange leaves frames the top left corner, with farmland and distant mountains visible on the horizon.

We did it. We found likely some of the best colors of the season, and quite frankly, that we’ve ever seen. Thatcher State Park is just on Albany’s doorstep and has some beautiful overlooks. We can’t wait to go back to explore some more.

White church steeple rising above fall foliage in a cute little New England hillside town

Crowd of photographers with phones and cameras pointed at distant church steeple across autumn landscape. Everyone trying to get “the shot”

What the camera saw / What we saw

On our drive, we debated the meaning of "peak.”.

As it turns out, the peak is just whenever you show up... Or maybe that maple soft serve ice cream. Or this moment, trying to frame the same shot as everyone else.

The Genius Bar inside the Apple Store at Grand Central Terminal, with a person seated at a wooden counter under a grand chandelier and tall arched windows.

The Apple Store at Grand Central Terminal with a glowing Apple logo above an arched entryway, as people gather around the balcony in the historic station.

An Apple Store display with a sleek MacBook mounted next to a cursive black “hello” sign above shelves of Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and other accessories.

A glass cube Apple Store entrance with a glowing Apple logo and neon frame, as people walk in and out beneath a modern white canopy.

We always have to stroll through an Apple Store whenever we see one: test out some keyboards, check out the displays, and marvel at some beautiful architecture.

Reflection of two people smiling into a shiny mirrored surface outdoors, surrounded by angular architecture and staircases. One wears sunglasses and a graphic t-shirt, while the other wears a cap, gray shirt, and backpack.

Two people stand side by side taking a photo in front of a wall of black-and-white city images. Their reflection appears slightly doubled or blurred, creating a ghost-like effect.

Two people take a mirror selfie in an elevator, with the reflection distorted so one face appears stretched and warped. One wears a light gray t-shirt with a colorful graphic and dark shorts, while the other wears a gray shirt, red shorts, and a green cap.

NYC shows you a different face every time. Sometimes it’s art, sometimes it’s architecture… sometimes it’s just your forehead stretched like taffy in an elevator door.

View of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone from the Lower Falls lookout. A winding river cuts through steep, layered canyon walls in shades of tan and rust. Pine trees cling to the slopes, and a bright rainbow appears in the mist near the bottom of the image. The sky is overcast with patches of blue peeking through.

We caught this view at the Lower Falls right at the perfect moment in an otherwise cloudy day. The sun showed up for five minutes, threw a vivid rainbow into the mist, and then peaced out.

Visiting Yellowstone the week after all the roads reopened gave moody skies, but also: fewer crowds!

A wide view of Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone, seen from above on an overcast day. Vivid rings of blue, green, and orange radiate from the hot spring’s center, with steam rising into dramatic gray clouds.

Ground-level view of Grand Prismatic Spring with thick steam obscuring the vibrant colors. Faint rainbow hues mix with mist in front of a tree-covered hillside under a moody sky.

We visited Grand Prismatic on a cloudy day, and it was still absolutely stunning.

Getting up close was incredible, but my favorite part was watching the colors reflect in the steam.

The overlook turned out to be our favorite spot—it had fewer people and offered a full view of the area.

See a National Park pic, post a National Park pic!

Our favorite: Rocky Mountain National Park. What’s yours?

A snowy view of Old Faithful erupting in Yellowstone National Park. Steam rises dramatically against a backdrop of snow-dusted pine trees and a cloudy sky. The photo is taken from the Old Faithful overlook vantage point, showing the forest and geyser from above.

Old Faithful hits different when you can see your breath.

Turns out: a few hundred feet of elevation + one surprise snowstorm = new appreciation unlocked.

Anyone else a fan of off-season Yellowstone?

#OldFaithful #YellowstoneNationalPark #ThreadsTravel #ColdAirHotSteam #TravelWithoutTheCrowds

We found these mud pots just past Fairy Falls, and somehow… no one else did. A rare moment of actual solitude in the park, which made the bubbling, burping earth feel like our own personal show.

What’s your favorite unexpected spot in a busy park?

#yellowstonenationalpark #mudpots #haotravel

A full double rainbow over the Denver skyline.

Nothing like a double rainbow to brighten your day! We snapped a picture of this beauty yesterday!

Happy Pride month, everyone. Just like traveling to new places, the world gets more interesting when we explore and celebrate what makes us all different 🤗

Love that reflection!

When you've found your own personal geyser…
Three miles past the Grand Prismatic overlook, and just past Fairy Falls, we were treated to our own personal show.
Imperial Geyser was active for about 40 seconds out of each minute, and we were pretty much the only people there.
#yellowstonenationalpark

A vivid bluebird perches on a weathered tree stump against a textured, mineral-rich background in a geothermal area.

A large black raven sits on a wooden post with a red warning sign that reads, “Danger: Fragile Thermal Area,” surrounded by forest and fallen logs.

A marmot with a fluffy tail perches on a lichen-covered rock ledge above a fast-moving river, seemingly looking out over the water.

A grizzly bear grazes on a lush green meadow near a stream, partially shaded by a pine tree in a peaceful wilderness scene.

A young mule deer stands alert on rocky terrain with sparse vegetation, its large ears perked and gaze turned over its shoulder.

A baby bison leaps beside its mother as a herd grazes on a sloped grassy hillside, with a dark, dramatic sky looming in the distance.

A moose with a patchy coat stands beside a gravel path in a forest clearing, surrounded by tall pine trees and spring growth.

The 7 most huggable animals we saw in Yellowstone… sadly zero of whom wanted to be hugged.

#YellowstoneNationalPark #AnimalPhotography #HaoTravel

A tall column of white steam and water erupts from Grand Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. Dense mist surrounds the geyser, with pine trees and a rocky hillside in the background.

One of the few times a day Grand Geyser goes off, and we showed up right then. It felt like Yellowstone welcoming us in.

#YellowstoneNationalPark #GrandGeyser #HaoTravel

It seems that this area might become our home base for several years starting this fall. Do you have any standout favorite trails?

Every sunset requires the universe to conspire-the right clouds, perfect light, ideal conditions. When it all comes together like this, you realize you're witnessing something completely unique. No sunset will ever be exactly like this one again. #chasingsunsets #grandtetonnationalpark #travelvibes

Blue Star Spring in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin on a rainy day. Clear turquoise water surrounded by white mineral deposits and textured rock, with soft ripples from raindrops adding detail to the surface.

Blue Star Spring was the first geothermal pool we saw after Old Faithful.

Rain had just started falling, and the ripples added a delicate texture to the water—an extra layer of detail that we were lucky to catch.

A bison grazes near the edge of a forest with tall pine trees in Yellowstone National Park. Wisps of steam or mist rise from the ground in the foreground.

🚨 ALERT: This is now officially a bison stan account 🚨

They're impossibly friend-shaped, so, so, fluffy, yet manage to look both huggable and majestic wandering through Yellowstone.

This was just the beginning of some of the incredible wildlife we saw.

#YellowstoneTrip #BisonBuddy #HaoTravel

You’re driving through Yellowstone NP when… #nationalparks #traveladdicts

Wildlife photographers at Yellowstone spend days tracking grizzlies through the wilderness. Has anyone tried a simpler approach?

“Excuse me, Mrs. Bear, would you prefer your portrait by the thermal springs or catching salmon at the falls? The golden hour lighting is spectacular at both.”

Car side mirror view on an open country road with blue sky and fluffy white clouds overhead. The mirror shows a winding road stretching into the distance with green prairie landscape on either side. The warning text 'Objects in mirror are closer than they appear' is visible on the mirror. The perspective captures the essence of a road trip through rural America with beautiful weather conditions.

Adventures in mirror are closer than they appear ✨

The best journeys aren't about the destination, but the side quests along the way.

Guess where we are headed? Hint: It’s where nature’s canvas is painted in sulfur and steam…

#RoadTripAdventures #OpenRoad

A calm mangrove-lined waterway at Curry Hammock State Park in Florida. The blue sky and scattered clouds reflect perfectly on the still surface of the water. The shoreline is dense with green mangroves, and the overall scene feels peaceful and still.

The mangroves at Curry Hammock felt like their own little world — still water, quiet paddles, flashes of life below the surface.

Everything moved slower like the water was asking us to pay attention.

#Travel #FloridaKeys #CurryHammock #Kayaking #Mangroves #HaoTravel

Love this angle!

Wow how cool is that!?

A rocky summit ridge along the 10-Mile Range in Summit County, Colorado. Jagged boulders frame the foreground with steep drop-offs on either side. In the distance, multiple ridgelines and peaks fade into the hazy blue horizon under a clear sky.

Traversing the 10-Mile Range was one of the most technical hikes we’ve ever done. It was full of scrambles, narrow ridges, and jaw-dropping views.

#Hiking #Class4Scramble #SummitCounty #MountainViews #HaoTravel

Very cool framing!

The greed is unbelievable 😔

That is wild! 🙂‍↔️

Interior view of the Gaylord Opryland Resort. A large glass atrium ceiling arches above tropical trees and garden pathways. A gazebo covered in flowers sits in the center. Hanging overhead is a massive red treble clef framed in a decorative circular light display.

We didn’t plan to visit the Gaylord Opryland — a barista recommended it, and we figured, why not?

Tropical gardens, indoor rivers, and the occasional lost conference-goer. It was unexpectedly peaceful and very much our vibe.

#NashvilleFinds #GaylordOpryland #IndoorGarden #Travel #HaoTravel