Our family is on a quest to explore all 425 National Park units across the United States. Currently we've visited 300 parks and we are excited to share our journey with you. We hope you'll be inspired to find your park!  

National Park  Family Quest

Glen Echo Park has a carousel and a playground and also has very interesting history to explore. 

The George Washington Memorial Parkway, colloquially the G.W. Parkway, is a 25-mile-long parkway that runs along the south bank of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon, Virginia, northwest to McLean, Virginia, and is maintained by the National Park Service. It is located almost entirely within Virginia, except for a short portion of the parkway northwest of the Arlington Memorial Bridge that passes over Columbia Island within the District of Columbia. In 1989, the Maryland and DC portions of the parkway were renamed Clara Barton Parkway to overcome motorist confusion. The parkway also administers other National Park Service features and areas in the vicinity including Claude Moore Colonial Farm, Glen Echo Park, Great Falls Park, and Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial.

George Washington Memorial Parkway 

Great park for even the youngest park explorers

Explore this beautiful small park in northern Alabama with us, as we hike, check out the waterfalls and take in the views. 

Little River Canyon National Preserve is located atop Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama, and DeSoto State Park. The preserve protects the Little River, which winds its way from headwaters high on the mountain to its confluence with the Tennessee River far below. The Little River has carved out one of the Southeast's deepest canyons over eons of geologic time. The preserve offers visitors a chance to experience the canyon's wonders through hiking, camping, picnicking, fishing, and whitewater rafting. Scenic drives along both the Rim Drive and Gorge Loop Road offer stunning views of the canyon and its inhabitants. Whether you're looking for an adrenaline-pumping adventure or a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Little River Canyon National Preserve is sure to please.

Little River Canyon

Come explore Little River Canyon National Preserve 

Come along as we check out a concert at the Children's Theatre in the Woods at Wolf Trap in northern Virginia. 

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, in Vienna, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, is the only national park dedicated to the performing arts. Wolf Trap was originally a farm owned by philanthropist Catherine Filene Shouse, who donated nearly 100 acres to the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1966 for the purpose of establishing the national park. A cultural oasis that blends natural beauty with artistic excellence, today Wolf Trap spans over 130 acres of pristine woodland, and offers a unique experience where nature and the performing arts unite. It features three performance venues, including the Filene Center, a stunning open-air amphitheater renowned for hosting world-class concerts and performances. Visitors can enjoy a diverse range of artistic genres, from classical music to dance, theater, and children's theater, as well as picnic areas and walking trails.

Wolf Trap

A National Park dedicated to the performing arts

Come explore the places where our 39th President grew up and returned after his time in the White House. 

The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park preserves the rail depot, boyhood farm, and home of President Jimmy Carter. The park was established in 1987 to promote public understanding of the life and work of our 39th president. Visitors can tour the depot, which has been restored to its original appearance, and see where President Carter's train stopped during his 1976 presidential campaign. The boyhood farm includes the farmhouse where President Carter grew up, as well as the peanut warehouse his family used for their business. The home where President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter lived after their marriage is also open for tours. Visitors can see the bedroom where President Carter was born, as well as the living room where he watched television with his family. 

Jimmy Carter NHP

Come visit Jimmy Carter's boyhood home 

Come along with us as we explore the battlefield where the most famous battle of the Civil War took place. 

The Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) was established in 1895 as a way to protect and interpret the landscape of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The GNMP properties include most of the Gettysburg Battlefield, many of the battle's support areas during the battle (e.g., reserve, supply, and hospital locations), and several other non-battle areas associated with the battle's "aftermath and commemoration", including the Gettysburg National Cemetery and Soldier's National Monument. The park has more wooded land than in 1863, and the National Park Service has an ongoing program to restore portions of the battlefield to their historical non-wooded conditions, as well as to replant historic orchards and woodlots that are now missing.

Gettysburg 

Gettysburg's 160th Year Anniversary 

Want to see Joshua Trees without the crowds in the National Park dedicated to them? Come with us to Mojave National Preserve.

Mojave National Preserve is a special place, and not just if you like Joshua Trees. It's the third largest unit of the National Park System in the lower 48, and the largest National Preserve. The preserve was created within the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service to protect and manage a unique and diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. The Mojave Desert is a harsh and beautiful place, and the preserve encompasses some of its most iconic features, including the Kelso Dunes, the Marl Mountains and the Cima Dome, as well as volcanic formations such as Hole-in-the-Wall and the Cinder Cone Lava Beds. The preserve is also home to an abundance of plants and animals, including many that are rare or endangered. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities in the preserve, from hiking and camping to bird watching and stargazing.

Mojave National Preserve

Joshua Trees without the crowds

Channel Islands National Park located off southern California's coast has spectacular views, abundant wildlife and many hiking possibilities . 

Channel Islands National Park is home to five remarkable islands, each with its own unique ecosystem. The islands were isolated for thousands of years, allowing unique plants and animals to thrive. Today, the Channel Islands are a popular tourist destination, known for their stunning scenery and abundance of wildlife. Visitors can see seals and seabirds, kayak in crystal-clear waters, hike along rocky cliffs, and explore ancient caves. Channel Islands National Park is a truly special place and a must-visit for anyone interested in conservation or the history of southern California.

Channel Islands

Come explore the Galapagos of North America with us. 

Learn about the battle that saved Washington DC along with young Junior Rangers Emma and Myka. 

Monocacy National Battlefield is the site of a major battle fought on July 9, 1864. The battlefield straddles the Monocacy River southeast of the city of Frederick, Maryland. The battle, labeled "The Battle That Saved Washington," was one of the last the Confederates would carry out in Union territory. The two opposing leaders were General Jubal Early, fighting for the South, and General Lew Wallace, leading the North. Although Wallace was outnumbered nearly two-to-one, he was able to hold off Early's troops for six hours, buying time for Union reinforcements to arrive from Washington. When Early finally began his withdrawal late in the afternoon, he had suffered significant losses, while the Union forces had sustained only moderate casualties. The Battle of Monocacy proved to be a turning point in the Civil War, as it prevented Early's troops from carrying out a potentially devastating assault on Washington. As a result, the city was saved and the Union army was able to maintain its momentum in the war effort.

Monocacy National Battlefield

Mini tour of Monocacy National Battlefield

Come explore this park rich in history and brimming with natural beauty. 

Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation opportunities and preserves natural and historic resources along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi. The protected regions include mainland areas and parts of seven islands. The region is known for its sparkling white quartz beaches, historic fortifications, and nature trails. Military forts, wildlife sanctuaries, islands accessible only by boat, bayous, nature trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds are all part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore experience. 

Gulf Islands

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Come visit sites of significance to the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama. Many of them are protected as national pqrk units. 

The Freedom Riders National Monument commemorates the courageous efforts of civil rights activists who challenged racial segregation in interstate transportation during the 1960s. The monument marks the site of the former Greyhound Bus Station, where a violent attack against the Freedom Riders occurred in 1961. The monument stands as a tribute to those who risked their lives to advance the cause of desegregation, highlighting the importance of nonviolent protest in the struggle for equal rights.

Freedom Riders NM

Come explore the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama

Let young park explorer Emma introduce you to the C & O Canal National Historical Park and find out what parks she loves exploring most! 

The C&O Canal was once a vital link in America's transportation network, connecting the East Coast with the resources of the West. Today, it is a popular recreational destination, offering visitors a chance to step back in time and experience the history of this country. The canal stretches for nearly 187 miles, from Cumberland, Maryland to Georgetown in Washington D.C. Along the way, it passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, including the Great Allegheny Passage and the Shenandoah Valley. The canal parallels the Potomac River and goes by the cataracts at Great Falls. The canal is also home to a wealth of plant and animal life, making it a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts.

C&O Canal NHP

That's My Park 

Come hike the Chimney Rock trail with Myka and Emma on a late fall day in Catoctin Mountain Park.

Catoctin Mountain Park, located in north-central Maryland, is part of the forested Catoctin Mountain ridge−range that forms the northeastern rampart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the Appalachian Mountains System. In the 1930s, after years of making charcoal to fuel nearby iron furnaces, mountain farming, and harvesting of trees for timber, land was purchased to be transformed into a productive recreation area, helping to put people back to work during the Great Depression. Beginning in 1935, the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area was under construction by both the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Originally planned to provide recreational camps for federal employees, one of the camps eventually became the home of the Presidential retreat, Camp David. With four seasons for outdoor recreation opportunities, Catoctin Mountain Park offers over 25 miles of hiking trails through it's 5000+ acres and features sparkling streams and panoramic vistas of the Monocacy Valley. 

National Park Family Quest

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