Hello friends! I have some exciting news to share.
I’m publishing short guides for each of the 62 US National Parks. They include my pictures. So far, I’ve written seven guides on some of the lesser known parks (Badlands, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Rocky Mountain, Theodore Roosevelt, and Wind Cave).
Why am I undertaking this project now? Since the lockdowns were lifted in May, I’ve had numerous friends begin to plot out trips and ask me for specific National Park recommendations: “Where should I go? When should I go? Which trails should hike? What should I photograph? Where should I stay?” In these conversations, I’ve been surprised how much I’ve learned from my travels this past year.
During one conversation a friend implored me, “You need to write this all down!” That clicked. My intention for 2020 was to shift my focus from being on a “journey of me” toward serving to others as well. Undertaking this project felt like a meaningful way to start that.
How is what I’ve written different from other National Park guides? Last year I read nearly every guide and blog on exploring the National Parks. Many seemed to have no specific audience in mind. Some had lots of ideas and pretty pictures, but lacked the key information needed to actually plan the important details of a first visit. While others contained so much information it was hard to know how to sort it.
So, instead of trying to write for “everyone” or capturing every detail of what makes each park special, I am merely writing from the lens of: “What did I wish I knew before I visited the park for the first time? And, what do I want to remember before I visit again?”
In short, I’m writing the guides that I wish existed before I traveled.
In each, I’ve included specific information on my favorite hikes, when to go, where to explore off the beaten path, where to stay (depending on your budget/preferences), and photography ideas. Lastly, at the end of each, I’ve also included a short personal reflection on what the park meant to me as part of my journey.
So how can you access and share the guide?
First, I’ve created a new National Parks tab on my website for my guides. I will use this tab to publish new guides so bookmark it and check back frequently.
Second, I’ve started a Pinterest account with my guides. If you are a Pinterest user follow me, “pin” any picture from my blogs, and find/pin my guides themselves. (I’m new to Pinterest, so I also welcome any help for making my page better!)
I hope you find these guides helpful. If you use them please let me know what you think and consider sharing them with your friends.
The National Parks have meant so much to me. They’ve been places of such deep wonder, healing, learning, transformation, connection and joy in my life. There is no substitute for exploring them on your own. I hope in some small way these guides will inspire and empower you to create your own unique memories within them too.