UPDATE: jump to a listing of what I’ve seen thus far.
BIG NEWS: hear about the epic encore I’m currently!
EVEN BIGGER NEWS: I’m now visiting 100 Parks in 100 Days
Sorry—much of this post got shredded during some of the recent upgrades and conversions it’s been through. It’s on my list of things to fix. 🙁
One hundred years ago this year, the National Park System was established.
Sure, there were already quite a few national parks and monuments, but it was this moment in which they were brought together under a single management philosophy, a single land managing agency, and became a system of protected lands.
National Parks have played an incredibly important role in my life. I’ve only taken a handful of vacations to places other than national parks. And they contain my most favorite places and are home to some of my most cherished memories. I got engaged and married (even, one might argue, divorced) in national parks; needless to say, I care deeply about them.
Last week, the National Park Service concluded its National Park Week. I’ve decided to take that celebration one step further—and embark on what I’m calling #MyNationalParksMonth.
So #MyNationalParksMonth is an attempt to celebrate this anniversary, while visiting as many of the remaining national park units as possible in my quest to visit all 411.
Basecamping out of the Washington, DC area—and with weekend trips to Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia—I’m planning to visit more than two dozen thirty forty (!!) units of the National Parks System over the next few weeks. It’s a month-long personal celebration of the national parks, spent doing what I enjoy most: visiting new national park units.
Follow along on:
- twitter at @rscottjones (and #mynationalparksmonth)
- snapchat at rscottjones.com for a stream of snaps
- instagram at rscottjones for occasional photos
What I’ve seen so far
Here are the national parks I’ve visited thus far on #MyNationalParksMonth (updated May 23). Green pins are parks I’ve marked off; gray dots are national parks I’m visiting as part of my encore, and blue diamonds are the ones I will have left in the Northeast. As you’ll see, I’ve already far exceeded my goal for the project.
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/741934069185839104
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/741933856412958720
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/741933705233473537
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/741932796210380801
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/741932597802979328
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/741932135443898368
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/739445738841739265
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/739445153564364800
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/738543080232615937
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/739437715662442496
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/738120391495811072
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/738344323658469376
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/737809408734830592
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/737585249094275072
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/737800840405209088
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/737797851456102400
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/737797852550795264
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/737795224378998784
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/736360529531424768
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/736245244300296192
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/735870704936194049
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/734472743253598208
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/734206458666061824
(re)Visited the newest National Park unit, Belmont-Paul Equal Rights NM #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark #fypyes pic.twitter.com/XhGCQVfuMb
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 20, 2016
Visited the Philly home of the great American poet Edgar Allen Poe today #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark #nps100 pic.twitter.com/Bp1Zjuh4EA
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 15, 2016
Toured Valley Forge—a revered reminder of the sacrifices $ resolve required for independence. #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/RdzHMCUdE1
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 15, 2016
Toured Thaddeus Kosciuszko Nat'l Memorial—at 0.02 acres, the smallest unit of @NatlParkService #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/vAhNwzXSHQ
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 15, 2016
Surprised by how powerful of symbols both Independence Hall & Liberty Bell are! #findyourpark #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/7Hiinvv8ol
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 14, 2016
Loved the MLK Jr Memorial in DC yesterday—my 333rd National Park unit. #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark #fypyes pic.twitter.com/SyGR5XCz7h
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 14, 2016
Had excellent lunch w/ @NPSDeniseRyan & @rcanoe. And NPS Director Jarvis stopped by to say hi! #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/FdXN9i508T
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 13, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed Assateague Island Nat'l Seashore today. Next visit=🚣 #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark #fypyes pic.twitter.com/6VxYQiWdb7
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 13, 2016
Camped in the Jersey pine barrens last night so I could hit the Great Egg Harbor NSRR today 👍 #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/6oqWhJ78kZ
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 12, 2016
Had a fascinating look at Thomas Edison's operation today—my 330th park! #MyNationalParksMonth #FindYourPark #fypyes pic.twitter.com/LcKnCQ2xeB
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 11, 2016
Visited @MorristownNPS where Gen Washington & troops wintered in 1779/80—the coldest on record #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/NBvP6NdSdU
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 11, 2016
Toured Yuengling today, the oldest #brewery in America. What a fun place—love the beer caves & great prohib stories! pic.twitter.com/zjBDkWdU4N
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 11, 2016
It's still rough around the edges, but new @Paterson_Falls NHP has tremendous history to tell! #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/F8oK2E7JXw
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 11, 2016
Thoroughly impressed with the visitor center here—I bet kids go nuts over it. #MyNationalParksMonth #FindYourPark pic.twitter.com/Hx9Y7ibzTL
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 10, 2016
Hello Middle Delaware National Scenic River. Sorry you don't have a sign…so I made my own. #MyNationalParksMonth pic.twitter.com/Ar5D8DGA5e
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 10, 2016
Hi @DelWaterGapNPS, I loved visiting your waterfalls today—perfect for my 325th! #MyNationalParksMonth #FindYourPark pic.twitter.com/QdSLiIUrNs
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 10, 2016
Enjoyed the gorgeous views along the Upper Delaware SRR, my 324th unit. #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark #nps100 pic.twitter.com/YZtVDu23nJ
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 10, 2016
After dropping Jen off at the airport, I swung by Gateway NRA for a quick hike. #MyNationalParksMonth ##findyourpark pic.twitter.com/9T9zPqSR8F
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 8, 2016
322! I can't believe how much I've already seen so far on #MyNationalParksMonth, and I'm just ten days into the trip pic.twitter.com/sxMPP7GA2u
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 8, 2016
Had an amazing tour of conservation hero Teddy Roosevelt's home @SagamoreHillNHS #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark pic.twitter.com/Kcfsilzcj5
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 8, 2016
Marveled at magnificent Grant's Tomb—largest mausoleum in USA & my 320th park. #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark pic.twitter.com/i564lA4RF0
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 8, 2016
Stopped by Hamilton Grange for my 319th national park visited. #MyNationalParksMonth #findyourpark #nps100 pic.twitter.com/oGl4KKMKYJ
— R Scott Jones (@rscottjones) May 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/rscottjones/status/728441404809089024