The Spring break trip that started it all: Great Smoky Mountains National Park If I look back at my journey to visit all 433+ National Park sites, it was this to Great Smoky Mountains National Park that really set me off in earnest. At the time, I was just a dad taking his family on…
After my first time visit to New River Gorge National Park is based on a two-day visit I made in March 2025 — and I can already tell you it deserves every bit of its National Park designation. I visited New River Gorge across two days in March as part of a longer road trip…
I drove an hour out of my way to visit the James A. Garfield National Historic Site while in Ohio to see a solar eclipse. I did it alone, because for some odd reason when I mentioned the plan to my broth and my family, I got exactly zero takers. Zero (?!). Early morning, beautiful…
We were driving from Atlanta to Mobile and needed a good stop along the way. Visiting Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site had been on my list, and the timing worked out — it was right off our route and we had some time to spare. What we found was a quiet, well-produced museum on an…
The Gulf Islands National Seashore visitor center wasn’t what I expected when I pulled in on a gray December morning. I snuck away during a family trip for this morning excursion to check the place out quickly and pick up some passport stamps — but I didn’t that I would spend a solid chunk of…
Ohio National Parks don’t always come up in conversations — but it probably should. The state holds 8 NPS-administered sites, and the range is genuinely surprising: ancient earthworks that predate written history, the birthplace of aviation, four presidential homes, a sweeping river valley national park, and a War of 1812 memorial sitting on an island…
Wait, there’s a Waterfall in New Jersey? I had a few hours while in the New York area, and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park was on my list. I figured it would be a quick check-the-box kind of stop. Pull off the Garden State Parkway, grab a stamp, get back on the road. It…
Tennessee doesn’t get nearly enough credit as a national park destination. Most people think of Nashville & Memphis, Music city and BBQ when they hear the state’s name — which is fair — but Tennessee is also home to 13 National Park Sites. Tennessee National Parks are all free to visit, covering a range of…
If you are even in or around the great city of Atlanta, you site you should put on the list to visit is the MLK National Historical Park. I was at it alone, as my kids did not want to walk around in the cold and wanted to see dolphins at the Georgia aquarium. It…
As someone who’s been systematically visiting all 430+ National Park Service sites Civil War National Park sites represent some of the most powerful and educational experiences. I have exploring battlefields from Gettysburg to Stones River and walked the grounds where Lincoln once stood, and these sites provide more than history, they provide connection to our…
One amazing and out of the way places you can visit is the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge. If you have ever been or planned to visit the Eastern Shore, this is a great place to pull off for a break, especially right after driving over the impressive the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Going…
I’ll be honest – I almost didn’t make it to Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. After spending time at the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, I was running short on time and figured I’d have to skip this one. But with less than an hour to spare, I decided to make a quick…
Most people think there are only 63 “national parks” in the United States. The truth? There are over 430+ different sites in the National Park System. Only 63 of them are officially called “National Parks.” The rest represent different types of national parks like National Monument, National Historic Site, National Battlefield, and about 15 other…
I have lived in Virginia for a while and while I may be biased, I think it has it all, from Civil War battlefields to amazing mountain views. As a local who has explored all across the state, I can tell you that you will not be bored checking out the National Park Sites in…
The Harpers Ferry Battlefield Driving Tour offers an excellent way to explore one of the Civil War’s most strategic locations at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Unlike the more famous town of Harpers Ferry itself, this driving tour takes you through the surrounding hills and fields where Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched his first…
