It doesn’t take Earth Day to celebrate our favorite things about this planet, but it’s as good a day as any to reflect and recommit to protecting the world around us.

While I’ve always loved trees and wildlife, as I’ve grown older, I’ve grown more passionate about preserving all aspects of nature and reducing my impact on it as much as possible. This is in part due to personal growth and efficacy – I’ve learned more about changes I can make in my daily life, sustainable products have become more accessible, etc. In addition to incorporating new habits at home, I’ve made changes to the way I travel. Many of these changes have been so simple they’ve become second nature (no pun intended!).

The other factor influencing my increased interest is perhaps even more important, because it’s the precursor to acquiring knowledge and taking action. Simply put, I continue to care more about the planet. This has less to do with the wisdom of age, or future generations, or compelling data, or climate change – or any number of things people often reference as motivation. For me, the motivation has more to do with my personal experiences exploring the Earth.

The more time I spend in nature, the more I want to protect and preserve it.

This Earth Day, I’m continuing to think about small changes I can continue to make in my personal life. I’m also reflecting on the incredible experiences I’ve had exploring the outdoors and looking forward to more of those adventures in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

In order to continue enjoying the outdoors, there has to be an outdoors worth enjoying. I, for one, and committed to making sure I do everything within my power to make sure that remains the case.

Reflecting on what motivates you? Consider spending more time in nature and see what inspires you. Looking for inspiration? Here’s a round-up of some of our outdoor adventures to kick-start your bucket list.

Mountains and Valleys

• Mt. Rainier National Park
• Olympic National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Banff National Park

Coastlines and Beaches

• Big Sur Coast
• Long Beach
• Ruby Beach
• Cannon Beach
• Waikiki Beach

Island Adventures

• Hawaii’s Big Island
• Channel Islands National Park
• The Florida Keys
• Orcas Island and San Juan Island
• Whidbey Island and Camano Island

Trees and Parks

• Muir Wood National Monument
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park
• E.C. Manning Provincial Park
• Allegheny National Forest
• Stanley Park and Riverfront Park

Flowers and Plants

• Skagit Valley Tulip Fields
• VanDusen Garden
• International Rose Test Garden
• Elanden Gardens
• Conservatories

Lakes, Rivers, and Waterfalls

• Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
• Lake Serene
• Jenny Lake
• Colter Bay
• Wallace Falls and Teneriffe Falls

Snow and Ice

• Yosemite National Park
• Glacier Bay National Park
• North Cascades National Park
• Columbia Icefields
• Mendenhall Glacier

Volcanos, Geysers, and Hot Springs

• Yellowstone National Park
• Craters of the Moon National Monument
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Mauna Kea
• Crater Lake National Park

Gorges, Rocks, and Deserts

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Pinnacles National Park
• Columbia River Gorge
• Ginkgo Petrified Forest

As REI likes to say, “A Life Outdoors is a Life Well Lived.”

I think so, too. Happy Earth Day!