With so much natural beauty in the U.S., I’ve always dreamed of traveling far and wide to explore the wild corners of the country. Now, I hope to turn my dreams into reality, and visit as many national parks as I can.

Here’s a list of the national gems I’ve explored so far. Updated June 2023.

National Parks

In my lifetime, I’ve only visited a handful of national parks. As it becomes safe to travel again, I’m eager to change that!

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
2. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
4. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
5. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
6. Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, Kentucky
7. Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri
8. Olympic National Park, Washington

National Lakeshores & Scenic Areas

The U.S. is home to 10 national lakeshores, and I would love to explore them all.

1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
3. Canaveral National Seashore, Florida
4. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon

National Forests

Forests will be difficult to track, as I have spent time in countless national forests over the years.

1. Superior National Forest, Minnesota
2. Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan
3. Ottawa National Forest, Michigan
4. Olympic National Forest, Washington

Mountain Ranges

My adventures in the mountains have varied, from group hikes to solo adventures to camping and sky watching. An avid outdoor adventurer, I’d like to gear up and do so much more!

1. Adirondack Mountains, New York
2. White Mountains, New Hampshire
3. Porcupine Mountains, Michigan
4. Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
5. Rocky Mountains, Colorado
6. Flat Iron Mountains, Colorado
7. Olympic Mountains, Washington
8. Cascade Mountains, Washington & Oregon

Favorite State Parks around the U.S.

1. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California
2. Cascade River State Park, Minnesota
3. Amnicon Falls State Park, Wisconsin
4. Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
5. Finger Lakes Region, New York
6. Allegany State Park & Red House, New York
7. Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire
8. Lake Greenwood State Park, South Carolina
9. Wilderness State Park, Michigan

Love for Michigan Parks

Up Next!

Setting new goals never fails to bring me closer to my dreams. So, I’m going to indulge this wanderlust and start dreaming now! Here are a few of the national gems I hope to visit next.

• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
• Acadia National Park, Maine
• Joshua Tree National Park, Utah
• Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Check out this article on National Parks for more.

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