This is a twitter thread I posted back in April 2022 outlining the story of my national parks quest. I haven’t changed much of the formatting, so this will resemble a twitter thread and not a traditional blog post. Perhaps I’ll edit it in the future, but for now, this will have to do. Here’s … Read more
This annual photo challenge, organized by the good folks at Nature Tech Family, is an excellent excuse to look back over the year you’ve had in our national parks and public lands. It’s also a great way to see what others have done this year. The rules are simple. For the last 10 days of … Read more
Our December 2018 trip to the island of Tutuila in American Samoa—plus photos, tips for visiting, and notes from our visit to National Park of American Samoa.
Theodore Roosevelt is a giant figure in the history of conservation and the National Parks system. Arguably the first “Conservation President,” he used his authority and foresight to establish and protect many of our country’s most treasured places. His conservation legacy is astounding, especially for the era in which he governed, and encompasses far more than … Read more
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 … Read more
Today is the anniversary of Antiquities Act of 1906. Not many people know much about this law, even though it probably ranks as the most important conservation tool in our nation’s history. Not only did it, for the first time, protect historical and prehistoric structures and artifacts, but it gave the President the authority to … Read more
15 days. 2,486 miles. 31 new national parks. In March 2013, I had one of my most productive national park road trips. I called it my #BattlefieldsandBeginnings trip, and it primarily focused on as-yet-unvisited national parks in Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland. I also snuck in a quick jaunt over the Pennsylvania border to hit Gettysburg and … Read more
In August 2013, I made it to the last two major national park sites dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln. After watching the movie Lincoln in 2013, I thought back on all of the Lincoln-related historical sites I’ve visited. I think it’s a rather comprehensive list, especially as he’s been enshrined in the National Parks. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace … Read more
Since its purchase in 2006, my Subaru Forester—named Betsy—has been a constant companion in my quest to visit every national park unit. The vehicle has transported Kim and I on some of our best road trips, whether that’s our Great American Roadtrip in 2007, our wedding post-wedding roadtrip in 2008, or many others. There have … Read more
The Antiquities Act of 1906 was the first piece of legislation to protect ruins and artifacts of Native American cultures. However, the law also gave the President authority to designate national monuments on federal lands—a powerful and important tool for protecting some of our nation’s most important treasures. This authority has been used more than … Read more