America's Best Idea: Celebrate National Parks Week

How old were you the first time you visited a National Park? My first was Zion National Park in Utah. While it’s become one of the most visited parks and, some would argue, overrun with tourists, it continues to be my favorite. The number of memories that span my 40-some years of exploring the Virgin River as it carves its serpentine path through canyon walls, endless nooks, secret crannies and side canyons continues to add up. It’s no surprise then that it was the feeling of being in Zion that called me back home to Utah after seven years of living and working in Washington, D.C. Sick with bronchitis and burnt out from training too many clients in the gym for months on end, I hunkered down in my studio apartment in Adams Morgan on a gray, wintry day, wishing I was in the desert again. I imagined the feeling of the hot sun on my skin, the smell of warmth baking the sand underfoot. If only I could look up through Zion's towering red rock box canyons at the cerrulean sky instead of concrete buildings and never-ending gray clouds. I reflected on the hours, days, and months spent walking the Virgin River in search of sensitive native fish and toad species when I was a Wildlife Biologist out of college; the days of guiding clients on fitness retreats into the backcountry, dodging flashfloods and sleeping under an endless blanket of stars seemingly exploding from the dark sky; and catching toads with my brother and sisters.

How had I strayed so far from the solitude, the quiet, the grounding of the red sands that shaped my DNA and coursed through my very veins? It wasn’t long before Ihealed from the bronchitis, and I went back to work and the clients I’d grown to love. But I wasn’t the same. Within two months I’d sold everything and said my goodbyes. Similar to what John Muir said of his Yosemite home, the desert was calling and it was time for me to go.

Can you relate to my experience? What special experiences have you had with our National Parks, America’s Best Idea, that ground and breathe the life back into your over-stimulated mind and tired office body? When will you stop running long enough to return, to be still, to reconnect with the land and with yourself?

National Parks Week

This week KÜHL observes National Parks Week, and in celebration, we’ve joined with our friends at O.A.R.S., AFAR, and Chaco to send you and a friend on the Grand Canyon trip of a lifetime – a hiking trip for two, outfitted in $500 of KÜHL clothing. Learn more about the trip and register for your chance to win.

Keep an eye on our social channels this week as KÜHL employees share more of our favorite National Parks!

Gear Up for the Trip

You’ll need the right gear for a trip to the desert, so here’s what I recommend: Parajax – New this spring, this lightweight, UPF 50 jacket has quickly become a staple in my adventure bag. I’ve worn it on a rainy, windy stand-up paddle session on Oahu and hiking in the desert. It worked like a charm in both settings to ward off chills and protect me from the sun. Sun Blade or Sun Dagger – These new releases from KÜHL demonstrate our commitment to providing the best in sun protection. The durable construction holds up against wind or rain, while the wide brims protect precious skin from the intense summer sun. I just sent my bird-watching parents on an African Safari with these hats, and they sent back rave reviews. Airspeed – Hands down my favorite men's shirt from KÜHL. The knit panels are soft and cooling, while the UPF 30 keeps me playing outdoors longer – all while ‘dressing’ for dinner on the river! Alloy – In my opinion this is one of our best looking performance sweaters for men. The UPF 15 and wicking properties keep men active, protected, and looking great. Now available in a Hoody, too!

Melanie Webb is KÜHL's PR Manager and Editor of The Outsider, by KÜHL.