We Visited All 63 U.S. National Parks

Personal experience of visiting each park

recent posts

By: Art Stephens

Category: Uncategorized

  • New River Gorge National Park – Number 51

    When visited:           April 17, 2021 Date Established:    December 27, 2020 Park ranking:            51 out of 63 Highlight:                  New River Bridge, Gorge, mining history, forests Why not to go:         An eastern park with some commercialization New River Gorge Overlook from Endless Wall Trail Our son, Thomas, lives in Pittsburgh and when he suggested we…

  • Shenandoah National Park – Number 53

    When visited:            1970s as a child,  April, 2005, July, 2009 Date Established:      December 26, 1935 Park ranking:            53 out of 63 Why to go:                 Spectacular fall foliage, Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge mountain views Why not to go:          It receives a lot of visitors from the northeast and DC Shenandoah National Park…

  • White Sands National Park – Number 54

    When visited:            November 6. 2021 Date Established:     December 20, 2019 Park ranking:            54 out of 63 Why to go:                 White desert sand Why not to go:           If you don’t like sand Our day in White Sands National Park in New Mexico was picture postcard weather – deep blue skies met the landscape…

  • Voyageurs National Park – Number 55

    When visited:            July, 2020 Date Established:      April 8, 1975 Park ranking:            55 out of 63 Why to go:                Wilderness access, Water, canoeing, Being alone Why not to go:         Not a lot to do if you don’t want to/can’t get on the water We visited Voyageurs National Park during July, 2020, in the heart…

  • Petrified Forest National Park – Number 56

    When visited:            July, 1987 and October, 1989 Date Established:      1962 – 1906 National Monument Park ranking:            56 out of 63 Why to go:                 Petrified Logs on Giant Logs Trail, Painted Desert, our 1st park together! Why not to go:          Hot in summer – small park – not more than a day without…

  • Congaree National Park – Number 57

    When visited:            June, 2013 Date Established:     November 10, 2003 Park ranking:            57 out of 63 Why to go:               Very unique boardwalk access through the flooded forests Why not to go:        Not a ton to do outside of the boardwalk – 7th smallest national park We stopped at Congaree National Park in June, 2013 on…

  • Seguaro National Park – Number 58

    When visited:           June, 1987 and October, 1989 When Established:  October 14, 1994 as National Park and March 1 1933 as National Monument Park ranking:            58 out of 63 Highlight:                  Cacti Why not to go:         Small park – desert, dangerous heat – rattlesnakes Arizona is a beautiful state – being raised in the northeast it…

  • Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Number 59

    When visited:             June, 2007 Date Established:      October, 2000 Park ranking:            59 out of 63 Why to go:                 Ledges Trail and Brandywine Falls Why not to go:          There are many national monuments and state parks with more to offer The first stop on a grand adventure We visited this park as…

  • Hot Springs National Park – Number 61

    When visited:           February, 2020 Date Established:    March 4, 1921 Park ranking:            61 out of 63 Why to go:               Hot Springs have been protected since 1821 – go for the history and Bathhouse Row Why not to go:        This is not a typical national park like Big Bend or Great Basin – it is urban with…

  • Indiana Dunes National Park – Number 62

    When visited:          May, 2013 When established:   February, 2019 Park ranking:            62 out of 63 Why to go:               Sand Dunes – closest National Park to Chicago Why not to go:         There are many national monuments and state parks with more to offer than this park – it is the 5th smallest national park We attended…