I think what I would really love to do for this one is to hop in the old RV and just travel around the US for a year experiencing all of these parks and chronicling the trip. I would be able to cross a lot of other adventures off the list as well. Once the boys are in college, we could do it. I could keep m job and Jeremy could work on his apps full-time and all we'd have to pay for would be the RV, the Truck, gas, food and adventures. I need to look at one of those maps that plot a course for you.
Here's a site that gives a route for the contiguous states.
Here's a site that gives information on the parks in Alaska.
Alaska
- Denali National Park and Preserve
- Gates of the Arctic National Park
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Katmai National Park and Preserve
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Kobuk Valley National Park
- Lake Clark National Park
American Samoa
Arizona
- Grand Canyon National Park - Been here several times with family and friends.
- Petrified Forest National Park - Mission trip as a teen and with the family as a kid.
- Saguaro National Park
Arkansas
- Hot Springs National Park - Couldn't miss this one living in Arkansas. I would have been shamed out of the state.
California
- Channel Islands National Park
- Death Valley National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Redwood National Park
- Sequoia National Park
- Yosemite National Park - Went here after Michelle's wedding.
Colorado
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - Although I do not remember this park, there is NO POSSIBLE WAY we did not go when I was a kid. I'm shocked we didn't ever see the sand dunes considering how many summers we visited Colorado.
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
- Mesa Verde National Park - Went to this one with Jeremy on the motorcycle and in fact I cried when we got the gravel road in the park because Jeremy didn't want to go on. He was rightfully worried about riding the bike on the gravel and I don't know why I cried, but I did and he decided me being happy was more important than his bike.
- Rocky Mountain National Park - Can't even begin to site all the times I have been to RMNP or how many people I have experienced it with or how many parts of it I have been to.
Florida
Hawaii
Kentucky
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Saw this as a kid and really only remember the massive opening. I could even be remembering a different cavern, but I'm going with this as a memory of Carlsbad.
North Carolina
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Love the smokies. Went here with my family when I was a kid and drove all through the clouds.
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
South Carolina
South Dakota
- Badlands National Park - This one is beautiful in its own way. Very barren, but all the colors are amazing.
- Wind Cave National Park
Tennessee
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Oh, look, I get to cross two parks off my list since I have been to this one, which is in North Carolina and Tennessee. Totally forgot about that. Been to it in both states.
Texas
United States Virgin Islands
Utah
- Arches National Park - Went to this with Jeremy not long ago and did some off-roading.
- Bryce Canyon National Park - Went here as a kid and remember thinking it was way prettier than Grand Canyon. Can't remember why which means I need to go back.
- Canyonlands National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Zion National Park - Went here as a kid with the family and loved it.
Virginia
Washington
- Mount Rainier National Park - Visited with Jeremy on the motorcycle. Beautiful ride.
- North Cascades National Park
- Olympic National Park
Wyoming
- Grand Teton National Park - Went here with the family when I was a kid. Need to go back.
- Yellowstone National Park - Went here as a kid with the family the year before a massive fire destroyed much of the park. Need to see it again as well.