Wanderlust Adventures: Swapping High Heels for Hiking Boots

Ladies and gents, adventurers of all ages — meet Melanie. The newest member of the Virgin Experience Gifts crew, and our latest inspiration for never quitting our daydreams.

She's sacrificed sassy high heels for a sturdy pair of hiking boots. And has loved every moment of it. Here's why.

Melanie was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Despite being a proud Michigander, she moved to the Big Apple after high school to pursue her dream of working in the fashion industry. Upon graduating from Fordham University in New York City, Melanie embarked on an exciting career as a sales executive for a major fashion brand. By all accounts, she was living the dream.

Dreams change, however, and it wasn’t long before Melanie’s other passion —her passion for adventure— took over. So after nearly 10 years in New York City, Melanie gave the desire for a healthy dose of wanderlust a resounding “YES!” She and her husband recently packed up NYC life, and embarked on a new adventure to Boulder, Colorado. And you better believe they took a most magnificent, meandering route to get here.

Over the past year, Melanie has run her first 50-mile race in Washington DC, hiked the entirety of the John Muir Trail in California, spent weeks exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, and backpacked in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

It has been a busy year, but she is excited to be settled now and ready to help share her love of adventure through her work at Virgin Experience Gifts. Her thirst for a few sips of wanderlust has certainly been quenched. For now. Because in her new Colorado home, the Rocky Mountains make for breathtaking skyscrapers; hiking shoes trump high heels; craft beer is king over cocktails; scenic trails far outnumber city sidewalks; and plenty of new excursions are waiting in the wings, ready to make their presence known one day at a time.

Whether you're a city guy or gal, an international travel aficionado, a lover of the great outdoors, or any type of wanderlust wooer in-between…

Adventure is out there. Let's all make like a Melanie and go get it!

(All forms of footwear are welcome and encouraged.)