Happy 100th Anniversary National Park Service!

And a special high five to Yorkie Cooper – Bark Ranger at Lake Mead National Recreational Area. (I met this Tea Cup cutie in Nevada and he inspired this post!)

I like to think Bodie and I are well-traveled, having zig-zagged the US three times and yet it puts this country’s sizable charms into perspective to realize we have visited only 5 of America’s 59 National Parks together! (Sequoia and Joshua Tree in California, Arches and Canyonlands in Utah and Great Sand Dunes in Colorado.) Now we have a whole host of scenic additions to our Bucket List and when we hit the rustic road we are going to be appropriately-styled, thanks to the new Pendleton Pet Collection by the Carolina Pet Company – doesn’t the iconic blanket-stripe styling just make you want to get your outdoors on?

Carolina Pet display the Pendleton Pet Collection at SuperZoo in Las Vegas

The collection is cleverly themed to reflect the emblematic colors of 10 featured parks including Badlands, Yosemite and Arcadia. Here you can see the Great Smokey Mountain ensemble including the dog coat ($49-59), Explorer collar and leash ($49 & $69) and deluxe pet beds made with Memory Fiber. ($99-$169).

Photo: Domaci

I love how the Grand Canyon range captures the sunset-terracottas of the scenery. And that both the dog food storage bags (with velcro seal and clip) and travel food/water bowls ($29) come with a matching trim in grosgrain ribbon.

Photo: Domaci

Prior to the wonder of Bodie I visited the Grand Canyon and Yosemite – ironically two of the most dog-friendly National Parks in America! You can learn about five more Fido-faves here: 7 Dog-Friendly National Parks.

The iconic Glacier National Park range echoes the classic cream Hudson Bay look inspired by exchanges at the original frontier trading posts. You can even match your pet’s look with luggage ranging from a rolling duffle with detachable strap and vegan leather ID tag ($220) to this striking four-wheel spinner suitcase ($399).

If you wanted to really go all out, Pendleton have teamed up with fellow American heritage brand Airstream to create a stunning limited edition trailer (just 100 produced) adding their earthy flair and Native American detailing to Airstream’s ‘retro-futuristic’ design. (Read more in this wonderful piece from Mother Nature Network.)

Photo: Airstream

This scene is so appealing and we love that a) the kitchen area is wallpapered with a map of Yellowstone b) the trailer comes with an America the Beautiful: The National Parks and Federal Recreation Land Pass and c) for every sale $1,000 is donated to the National Park Foundation. However, lacking the spare $100K+ to make the purchase, Bodie and I are considering the rather more economical alternative of hiring an RV via imoova.com – the idea being that you pay from just $1 a day to relocate the vehicle from one set destination to another!

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” – William Shakespeare

Of course if you really want to get back to nature, it’s all about camping… P.L.A.Y. (Pet Lifestyle And You) have designed this adorable Scout & About Outdoor Dog Tent so your pup can have his own private sleeping/resting quarters! ($119)

The P.L.A.Y. camping range also features this natty waterproof Outdoor Chill Pad so your dog can lie comfortably amid the twigs and uneven earth ($45-$75). Matching toys, treat pouches and travel bowls are available in Mocha and Vanilla.

Another great option is the Wander Bed from Kurgo which also rolls up and offers a handy handle but whereas one side is non-slip, waterproof Rufftex, the upside is cuddly fleece. ($60-$70) Here the rolled out version is modeled by Bodie’s San Diego pal Tawny of Fetchlight Photography. (I have since tested out the large Wander Bed with Bodie and there is room for us both to relax!)

Tawny sports the National Parks bandana with compass, teepee and bear motif!

While you and your canine adventurer are sat under a tree or toasting marshmallows fireside, you might want to read more about your surroundings. Florida newspaper columnist Mark Woods (even his name is apt!) spent a year touring America’s National Parks, taking an emotional journey from the top of Yosemite’s Half Dome to the bottom of the Grand Canyon for his book Lassooing The Sun. “The year begins in Maine with the first sunrise in America and ends with a New Year’s Eve sunset on the rim of a volcanic crater in Hawaii – a place where, according to local mythology, a son once lassoed the sun for his mother.” (click cover for more info)

Or if you want something entirely more girlie, my escapist, multi-location novel THE CALIFORNIA CLUB has scenes in Yosemite – with the heroine arriving in a red sequined dress from a Gentleman Prefer Blondes photo shoot in Hollywood!

Wherever and your dog roam, may your lungs be full of the freshest air and your heart brimming with wonder!

The Pendleton Pet Collection is available at Pendleton retail stores and outlets and through their catalog and website www.pendleton-usa.com. Also LLBEAN, ORVIS, Nordstroms, The Sundance Catalog and finer pet shops and boutiques.

HAPPY 100th ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE – How will you celebrate?