WANDERLUST: NATIONAL PARK CHECKLIST

Shannon here…Ever since I was little, my parents instilled this sense of wonder about traveling and seeing new things. We always traveled during the summers and holidays to see new places and to see family. My dad would always want to take the “scenic” way, which meant lots of winding/nauseating roads. Looking back, I am so happy he did.

I remember one time we were driving in heavy fog, in the Smoky Mountains and I was so scared because I felt like we were going to fall off the side of the mountain. I remember sitting in the floor of the car because I couldn’t look out. I got over the height thing much later, when I went skydiving in Colorado.

We once took a month-long trip across the US to see so many beautiful places. We saw the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia, Astoria (hello Goonies!), Mt. Saint Helens, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and so many more amazing places (including stopping at where A Field of Dreams was made). It was a dream trip.

Looking back, I think that was the first time something changed how I looked at the world. I wanted to see everything. Still do.

Jake and I kept talking lately about all the National Parks we had been to with each other and before we met. Turns out, it wasn’t as many as we thought.

  • Shannon: 20/63 National Parks (Denali*, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Redwood, Sequoia, Yosemite, Great Sand Dunes*, Mesa Verde*, Rocky Mountain*, Everglades*, Glacier*, Great Smoky Mountains, Arches*, Bryce Canyon*, Zion*, Shenandoah, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, New River Gorge*, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Gateway Arch*)
  • Jake: 13/63 National Parks (Denali*, Grand Canyon, Black Canyon of Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes*, Mesa Verde*, Rocky Mountain*, Glacier*, Badlands, Arches*, Bryce Canyon*, Zion*, New River Gorge*, Gateway Arch*)
  • (*ones we have visited together)
A fun U.S. National Parks checklist for all of you adventurers.

We are hoping to make it to all of the US National Parks eventually. Hopefully sooner than later. We are always in awe of all the beauty there and know many of our couples love to visit and adventure in these places too.

We created a checklist to mark off the parks we have visited and thought you all might like to have a checklist too! Click HERE for a pdf version you can print out for yourself.