When I came up with the idea for this trip in 2010 there were only 58 National Parks. I was 25-years old, and didn’t quite have the savings lined up. I’m glad that I didn’t make the trip then. It would have been difficult financially, also it would have been difficult to share and document the trip. Since 2010 there have been so many advances in phone technology, iPhone apps and social media that it is has made it much easier to share this trip with others. The cameras on phones are much better, things like Instagram allow us to easily share photos and Periscope and Meerkat make live video streaming available for our Twitter followers. Another thing that has come from these upgrades is the ability to easily find other people who are doing something similar.
It has been awesome to find people that are doing all of the National Parks. We met Cole and Elizabeth in American Samoa after talking with them several times over Facebook. It’s wonderful to share an instant connection. You know that the beauty of our country inspires them as well and you can share in that common interest. Here is, as accurate, a list of people on adventures to visit National Parks.
59NationalParks.com – I found out about Don and Shelly shortly before embarking on our trip. They were finishing their trip to see all 59 National Parks on July 4th 2015.
58before18.com – A family of four visited all 59 of the National Parks before their kids turned 18, they started the trip when there were only 58 National Parks.
Switchback Kids – Cole and Elizabeth started in August of 2015. We met up and spent some time with them during our week on American Samoa
Cole Donelson, a fellow National Park Nerd.
EvaandJordango.com – Elizabeth mentioned this one to us when we were in American Samoa. Eva and Jordan are doing all of the National Parks in the contiguous United States.
59in52 – We heard about 59in52 after one of our followers pointed it out on Instagram. We have chatted with Jonathan and Stefanie on Instagram but have yet to meet them in person.
OurVie.com – Cees and Madison found me on Instagram and they are embarking on their journey in April of this year, we have yet to meet them in person.
I am sure that there are other adventurers going to all of the National Parks this year, but these are the ones that I have heard of at the moment. Please email me, or comment to let me know if you have heard of others and I would be happy to add them to the list.