Life Goal: To Visit All US National Parks AND States Once.
By maezee
@maezee (41985)
United States
August 7, 2019 11:21pm CST
When I am not traveling, I am thinking about traveling. And because I am not traveling ALL that much, usually just a quick trip every couple of months, I am basically thinking about it all the time! It is almost an obsession, but it feels like a healthy-(ish) one.
Do you have any LIFE GOALS or even more realistic goals or goals with a time-line for your lifetime? Since I have had a small taste of national parks in the US, and have been totally blown away by them, my "recent" life goal is to visit EACH national park once. It sounds like a crazy idea, considering 61 exist in the United States, and at this rate, I will need to visit Alaska, California, and Hawaii SEVERAL times just to make a dent. I clearly have my work cut out in front of me.
The National Parks (US) I have visited so far include:
Rocky Mountains National Park
Death Valley National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Arches National Park
The ones I will be coming up on visiting include Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Huzzah, then I will only have 55 to go! Realistically, just shooting for national parks is going to leave some empty spaces. Some states just don't have them, but have plenty of other things to see, state parks, national forests, monuments, etc. So I am trying to not limit my scope.
That's why - onto my next goal "for whenever", is to visit ALL of the US States at least once. So far I have visited 16. Some of mine are return trips to the same state (Florida, Colorado, California, Nevada). Does anyone else have this goal? And on that note, if you are looking to go to every state, how MUCH of a state do you have to experience to consider that you have traveled to it? (For example, I just barely went into Oklahoma for a couple hours but didn't do much or see much, so I don't count that one). What say you?
I am not limiting my scope to domestic travel (for me, United States) but it is easiest to take short trips from where I am (Minnesota, in the mid-west of the US) than plan lengthy and expensvie international travel. But I hope to get to that, too, of course.
Any travel goals for you?
8 people like this
8 responses
@FourWalls (86910)
• United States
8 Aug 19
I have twelve states left to visit. Lots of National Parks I haven’t seen yet, either. (I visited Joshua Tree before it was a national park, so does that count?
)
As for visiting, I think if you drive across the State Line then turn around that’s not a “visit.” Spend money and you’ve visited. I went to Kansas for dessert when I was in KC a few years ago.
Oh, and PS — let me know if you get to our National Park (Mammoth Cave).
)
As for visiting, I think if you drive across the State Line then turn around that’s not a “visit.” Spend money and you’ve visited. I went to Kansas for dessert when I was in KC a few years ago.
Oh, and PS — let me know if you get to our National Park (Mammoth Cave).5 people like this
@maezee (41985)
• United States
8 Aug 19
I will at some point! Mammoth Caves... Is that in Kentucky? I have not ventured out that way really. I am hoping to get to Joshua Tree this winter. And yes it counts!! I will be asking for your advice soon i am sure. Currently I am slightly obsessed with desert terrains and the western part of the US currently for whatever reason. But I am all ears!!!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86910)
• United States
8 Aug 19
@maezee — yes, Mammoth Cave is in Kentucky, about an hour and a half south of Louisville.
2 people like this
@maezee (41985)
• United States
8 Aug 19
@JohnRoberts I see that! I have sooo many more trips ahead to see it all. I am excited the Northern California ones. Actually all of them, who Am i kidding. Lol
1 person likes this

@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Aug 19
A formidable task. Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida is difficult.
3 people like this
@maezee (41985)
• United States
8 Aug 19
Isn’t that on an island somewhere off the coast? I think there’s another island one off the coast of California (Channel Islands? Or something like that). Maybe I’ll save those for last. Or do they not allow visitors?
Also, I KNOW you travel. Tell me your favorite park! Or what states. You have yet to get to!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Aug 19
@maezee Dry Torugas are islands off the Florida coast at Key Coast, You have to have a boat or pay for an expensive boat ride to get there.
@toniganzon (77320)
• Philippines
8 Aug 19
About two months ago I made a travel goal and that was to have a tour of the island of Panay. Because even though I've lived in one of the cities in this island, I have not been to a lot of places here especially the beautiful tourists spots. So last week, I was able to achieved that goal and now I just feel so fulfilled.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (77320)
• Philippines
8 Aug 19
@maezee Yes it was. My profile pic was taken during that tour. It's in one of the famous waterfalls here with 7 basins. I loved it there and even though it was raining a bit and the water was cold, I still enjoyed.
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
8 Aug 19
It is nice to have such goals in life; it makes you excited about each day, and I hope you can have them.
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
8 Aug 19
I do appreciate people who go places of interest from time to time. Since I retired in 2016, I had already visited towns and cities together with my wife to witness their annual festivals within our province.
2 people like this
@maezee (41985)
• United States
8 Aug 19
@Nakitakona sounds cool. I would love to check out the Philippines one day. It looks so beautifully!
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
8 Aug 19
@maezee In the Philippines. Our country has a lot of festivals that attract more tourists. We have a forthcoming festival comes October on our capital city in the province. We call it, "MassKara Festival."
2 people like this

@Fleura (35160)
• United Kingdom
8 Aug 19
There are so many places I want to go, but I haven't made a specific list. Anyway as I find out more I have more places to add!
Don't forget the sites closer to home, for when you have a free weekend!
Six diverse and unique national park sites can be found in Minnesota, preserving and highlighting some of our most distinctive natural, historical and cultural resources.
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