I love history and love to learn about history! I think we can learn so much about history to either see what worked or what changed and why and how to avoid the same events in the future. The National Park Service provides outstanding sites throughout the US where history is preserved and celebrated. In October of 2021, I was walking through the Alpine Visitor Center giftshop in Rocky Mountain National Park when I saw a book titled: Passport to Your National Parks. This is what opened me to the world of National Parks and turned me into a National Park “snob.” This blog post will be updated as I track and mark off places in my passport. As of the summer of 2023, I visited 25 sites within the National Park Service program.

North Atlantic Region

Unfortunately, I have not visited any of the states featured in the North Atlantic Region of the Passport to Your National Parks book. Acadia NP is at the top of my bucket list for this region as well as just visiting MA and trying to check a huge chunk of places off that way.

Mid-Atlantic Region

Within this region, the most well-known is Gettysburg NMP. On our way back from the 8^th grade Washington D.C. field trip, we stopped by Gettysburg. It was surreal to think of the history that took place there. I have not visited anywhere else in this region but I think going back to Pennsylvania is a good place to start planning.

National Capitol Region

In 8^th grade, my classes took a field trip to Washington D.C. for a week. I was able to see a lot of monuments and memorials like Jefferson, Lincoln, MLK Jr., and Vietnam Memorials. We also explored the National Mall and the various museums like the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and my favorite, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Southeast Region

Most famous in this region is the Great Smoky Mountains. Vastly different from the rocky mountains I’ve grown accustomed to here in CO. The Smoky Mountains have round and majestic vibes that make it feel like a nice relaxing day in the mountains. I used to have friends who lived in Charlestown. While visiting them, I saw Fort Sumter but did not get to see Fort Moultrie. My family recently moved to North Carolina and this past spring, we ventured along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I’m looking forward to visiting them again and checking out Cape Hatteras. I also recently took a trip to St. Augustine, FL and checked off Castillo De San Marco on my passport.

Midwest Region

I grew up in the Midwest so I have been able to visit a lot of great places! My favorite was Sleeping Bear Dunes in this region due to its unique features and location. After spending an hour climbing the giant dunes, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan and the beautiful turquoise color of the shores. I’ve also gone to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP, and Gateway (St. Louis) Arch NP.

Southwest Region

More states to add to my bucket list! I have not been to any states in this region either. I think based on location, I would prioritize New Mexico places. I have thought much beyond that, except that Big Bend NP is a must-visit too.

Rocky Mountain Region

Now that I live in Colorado, I frequently visit Rocky Mountain National Park. I was excited to also be able to finally cross off the Great Sand Dunes this summer. I’ve also stopped by the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons. I have an excellent opportunity to visit many of the places in this region since I live here!

Grand Tetons

Western Region

Back in the spring of 2021, my family and I took a trip to the Grand Canyon. My favorite part was waking up and getting to the canyon before sunrise to view the sunrise. Stunning! We also stopped by Sedona, and because this was before my passport craze, I did not know there was an opportunity to see Montezuma Castle NM. When I was in college, I co-oped as a test engineer at a major car company. It was through this opportunity that I got to visit Death Valley and do all sorts of vehicle testing while doing so. It was a lot of fun! California has a plethora of national parks to visit like Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua, Kings Canyon, and SO-MANY-MORE!

Pacific & Alaska Region

Lastly, we’ve come to the northwest region of the country. Big bucket list items here are Olympic NP, North Cascades NP, and Mount Rainer NP in Washington. In Alaska, there is Denali NP & Pres, and so many more! A lot of wildlife in Alaska!

Conclusion

Whether you want to research for your own journey or just follow along on my adventures, this page will update with posts as I travel all over the United States to get cancellations for my passport to our national parks! What are some of your favorite national parks? What made it your favorite? Comment below and have a great day!