The National Parks
If you can’t tell from my video content, I am on a quest to see as many National Parks as I can while on this van journey. And, the reason I am focused on these parks just might surprise you.
Our National Parks are incredible. I think we can all agree on that, but there are a ton of other places in nature that are just as beautiful as the National Parks. So why am I so focused on them? Well, when I set out on this journey everything was new and overwhelming. I had to learn how to drive the van, how to manage my power and water, how to work on the road, and even how to get my laundry done when I am always somewhere new. Adding trip planning to that pile just about sent me over the edge. The United States is HUGE! And, having the time and ability to literally go anywhere I wanted left me feeling lost and overwhelmed (complete first world problem, I know). So, I decided to let the National Parks guide my travels.
The National Parks gave me a plan and a purpose. They made travel feel more manageable. And on the plus side, these parks are amazing! No matter how small or obscure, there is always something beautiful to see. An added bonus that I have learned along the way is that most National Parks have beautiful state parks right outside their gates, so it’s a double win.
Here are the list of parks that Lucy and I have visited in the last 13 months:
Acadia National Park
Shenandoah National Park
Great Smokey Mountain National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park
Badlands National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Wind Cave National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Cuyahoga National Park
Arches National Park
We have many more parks in our future. I am not sure if we will get to them all, but the journey is half the fun!
Happy Travels,
Heather
