This month, as we celebrate both National Parks and Recreation Month and Great Outdoors Month, we’re reminded of the awe-inspiring beauty, rich history, and quiet moments of reflection that await us just beyond our doorsteps. In honor of this special time of year, we’re sharing a personal reflection from Brownieland’s Robyn Kranz, whose passion for our National Park System is matched only by her belief in their power to teach us who we are and who we can become. We hope her words inspire you to venture out, look closer, and experience the extraordinary in the great outdoors.

As summer continues, many people are traveling, and one of the top destinations is our National Park System (NPS). For those of you who know me well, there is nothing I love more than visiting the National Parks. My goal in life is to see all of the parks, but I’m not stopping there. There are over 400 units in the NPS, which includes National Seashores, National Historic Sites, National Battlefields, etc., etc. I want to hit all 400+ units. (For the record, I’ve managed 110 so far.)

We all know the beauty of a National Park, from the wildflowers in the spring at Great Smoky Mountains NP, to the jaw-dropping colors of the sunset at Grand Canyon NP, to the night sky at Bryce Canyon. The sheer majesty is breathtaking. But what about Lincoln’s Home in Springfield, IL, where you can actually see where he lived and buy a key that is an exact replica of the front door key of his home in Springfield? (Guilty!) Or MLK’s birthplace, where he was born and lived for twelve years in Atlanta? Or even the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, which is evolving to tell all of the stories, not just the ones about Custer’s Last Stand?

Our history is so critical to who we are and who we will become. We need to know it, learn it, and hear all sides of the story to get a true understanding of who we are as a nation. Don’t just read the history books, take the journey. See the places, feel the power of those who came before us. I promise you’ll learn not only about the people and places you visit, but you’ll also discover something within yourself that you never knew existed.