National Park Service ADVENTURE LIST
My ADVENTURE LIST of National Park Service sites visited.
“The National Park System encompasses 424 national park units in the United States. They span across more than 84 million acres, with parks in each state and extending into the territories, including parks in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.”
I had visited 50 NPS Units prior to my goal of visiting all of them. The numbers after the park, starting at 51, represent my Dana 2.0 NPS Adventure Kick-Off Campaign. Others are noted as Stamp, meaning that I went back to explore there again and got my official NPS stamp or that I sent them my NPS photographic confirmation and they sent me my official stamp via snail mail. I am so excited for this next chapter!
Orgins of my National Park LOVE
63 National Parks:
Yellowstone National Park in Montana (Revisited for Stamp in October 2021)
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming (Revisited for Stamp in October 2021)
Arches National Park in Utah (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Canyonlands National Park in Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Zion National Park in Utah (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Capitol Reef National Park in Utah (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Denali National Park in Alaska
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Joshua Tree National Park in California (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
North Cascades National Park in Washington (Revisited for Stamp in August 2022)
Mount Rainer National Park in Washington (Revisited for Stamp in July 2022)
Haleakala National Park in Hawaii (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii (Revisited for Stamp in December 2021)
Olympic National Park in Washington (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Redwood National Park in California (Revisited for Stamp in May 2022)
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon (53 in September 2021)
Glacier National Park in Montana (55 in October 2021)
The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona (58 in October 2021)
Death Valley National Park in California (60 in December 2021)
Saguaro National Park in Arizona (67 in January 2022)
Everglades National Park in Florida (71 in March 2022)
Biscayne National Park in Florida (73 in March 2022)
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky (74 in April 2022)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee (76 in April 2022)
Pinnacles National Park in California (86 in May 2022)
Sequoia National Park in California (89 in May 2022)
Kings Canyon National Park in California (90 in May 2022)
Yosemite National Park in California (91 in May June 2022)
Badlands National Park in South Dakota (96 in June 2022)
Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota (97 in June 2022)
Lassen Volcanic National Park in California (114 in August 2022) ✅ Attempted May 2022 … but we hit a snow-storm 12 miles out. And we were not dressed for hiking in the snow, so we retreated to our hotel in Redding for some afternoon R&R. I finally made it in August 2022 and we loved hiking the Bumpass Hell Trial at 8,000 feet to the sulfur pools and the famous “Frying Pan” pool.
Acadia National Park in Maine (133 in July 2023)
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona (174 in November 2023)
White Sand Dunes National Park in New Mexico (177 in November 2023)
Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico (178 in November 2023)
Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas (179 in November 2023)
360 National Park Sites:
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park in Hawaii (Revisited for Stamp in December 2021)
San Juan Island National Historic Park in Washington ✅ I actually officially visited it for the first time in September 2023 … I had always thought I had been here in the 1970s, but apparently I had not. I counted it as my #2 NPS Unit and now a few decades later, I realized that there was no way we could have docked here during my grade school visit.. San Juan Island National Historic Park (attempted on July 2022) … was on the list for today, Thursday, July 14th, 2022, but Bo has a mandatory event in Lake Oswego for his new job and Nona does not like me traveling alone, so I paid the cancellation fee to the hotel in Friday Harbor and we boogied back down to PDX late yesterday. It is always an adventure visiting the parks! I would like to challenge myself and travel alone, but my 80 year-old mother is not a fan. She sent me a text saying “S0… we are not happy about the idea of you traveling alone… must you do it?” and I responded “No. I can cancel easy. I’ll do that this morning.” And then she texted “Thank you…I can never stop being a mom… “ Then I wrote “I so appreciate you!!!” So my solo missions will have to wait for now!
Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site in DC and many Revisits
Korean War Veterans Memorial in DC and many Revisits
Lincoln Memorial in DC and many Revisits
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in DC and many Revisits
National Mall & Memorial Parks in DC and many Revisits
Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC and many Revisits
Washington Monument in DC and many Revisits
World War II Memorial in DC
Boston National Historic Site in Massachusetts in 1984 (Revisited for Stamp in September 2022 and July 2023)
Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York (Revisited for Stamp in April 2022)
Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania (On 8th Grade Trip in 1984 and revisited in July 2023)
Independence National Historical Park in Pennsylvania on 8th Grade Trip in 1984 (and Revisited in July 2023)
Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii (Visited twice, first with Grandma Bach and Uncle Jimmy and Aaron and Troy. Then a second time with the Johnson 5. Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Rock Creek Park in DC (While living in DC)
George Washington Memorial Parkway in DC (While living in DC and in Revisit in July 2023)
Constitutional Gardens in DC
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in DC (While living in DC and Revisit in July 2023)
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Virginia (While living in DC, I saw Natalie Cole perform in 1993 and revised in July 2023)
New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park in Louisiana
Montezuma Castle National Monument in Arizona (Revisited for Stamp in January 2022)
Governors Island National Monument in New York (Got Stamp at Castle Clinton in April 2022)
Castillo De San Marcos National Monument in Florida (Requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Pu`ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site in Hawaii (Inspiration for quest Pre-Cancer in December 2019)
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park in Hawaii (Inspiration for quest Pre-Cancer in December 2019)
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Washington (Pre-COVID adventure while battling Cancer in early March 2020, Pre-COVID)
Point Reyes National Seashore in California (My first Post-Cancer Unit!!! #51 in August 2021)
Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California (52 Revisited in August 2021)
Whitman Mission National Historic Site in Washington (54 in October 2021)
John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway in Wyoming (56 Revisited in October 2021)
Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho (57 in October 2021)
Muir Woods National Monument in California (Revisited for Stamp in November 2022)
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in California (59 in November 2021)
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in Nevada (61 in December 2021)
Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada (62 in December 2021)
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Arizona (63 in January 2022)
Wupatki National Monument in Arizona (64 in January 2022)
Walnut Canyon National Monument in Arizona (65 in January 2022
Tuzigoot National Monument in Arizona (66 in January 2022)
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon (68 in February 2022)
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California (69 in February 2022)
De Soto National Memorial in Florida (70 in March 2022)
Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida (72 in March 2022)
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky (75 in April 2022)
Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Tennessee (77 in April 2022)
Castle Clinton National Memorial in New York (78 in April 2022)
Federal Hall National Memorial in New York (79 Revisited in April 2022 -Closed for Renovation. Stamp acquired at Castle Clinton NM)
General Grant National Memorial in New York (80 in April 2022- Closed for Renovation/No Stamp)
Saint Paul’s Church National Historical Site In New York (81 in April 2022 - Visited when closed and requested Stamp via snail-mail)
Hamilton Grange National Memorial in New York (82 in April 2022- Closed for Renovation/No Stamp)
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historical Site in New York (83 in April 2022- Closed for Renovation/No Stamp)
Stonewall National Memorial in New York (84 in April 2022)
African Burial Ground National Memorial in New York (85 in April 2022)
Manzanar National Historical Site in California (87 in May 2022)
Cesar Chavez National Memorial in California (88 in May 2022)
Nez Perce National Historical Park in Oregon (92 in October 2021 and requested Stamp via Snail-Mail in 2022)
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Memorial in Montana (93 in June 2022)
Devils Tower National Memorial in Wyoming (94 in June 2022)
Minuteman Missle National Historical Site in South Dakota (95 in June 2022)
Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota (98 in June 2022)
Jewel Cave National Memorial in South Dakota (99 in June 2022)
Fort Laramie National Historical Site in Wyoming (100 in In June 2022)
Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area in Montana (101 in June 2022)
Minidoka National Historic Site-Bainbridge Island Unit in Washington (102 in July 2022)
Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve in Washington (103 in July 2022)
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - Seattle Unit in Washington (104 in July 2022)
Ross Lake National Recreation Area in Washington (105 in August 2022)
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in Washington (106 in August 2022)
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area in Washington (107 in August 2022)
Manhattan Project National Historical Park-Hanford Unit in Washington (108 in August 2022)
Denali National Preserve in Alaska (109 … I just discovered that the Preserve is considered another official NPS Unit on its own, so that’s fun news!)
Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve in Alaska (110 … I just discovered that the Preserve is considered another official NPS Unit on its own, so that’s more fun news!)
Tule Lake National Monument in California (111 in August 2022)
Lava Beds National Monument in California (112 in August 2022)
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in California (113 in August 2022)
Devils Postpile National Monument in California (115 in August 2022)
Cabrillo National Monument in California (116 in August 2022) ✅ Attempted in April 2022 … but the boys wanted to spend the day at the beach in Venice, CA long-boarding and bike-riding instead … so it will have to wait for another trip down south. I finally made it after another college drop-off with Lola when we drove down to San Diego for the day to explore the park and to go horseback riding.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon (117 in September 2022)
Boston African American National Historic Site in Massachusetts (118 in September 2022) ✅ Revisited in July 2023 with a ticket for the tour as Reservations are required.
Boston Harbor Island National Recreation Area in Massachusetts (119 in September 2022) ✅ Revisited in July 2023 with tickets to tour Spectral Island as Reservations are encouraged and must go in summer.
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts (120 in September 2022)
Salem Maritime National Historical Park in Massachusetts (121 in September 2022)
Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters National Historical Site in Massachusetts (122 in September 2022) Marking 50 Years as a NHS!
Adams National Historical Park in Massachusetts (123 in September 2022)
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historical Site in Massachusetts (124 in October 2022- Closed for Renovation/No Stamp. Revisited in July 2023 and got my official Stamp!)
Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts (125 in October 2022)
Fort Point National Historic Site in California (126 in November 2022)
San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (127 in January 2023)
Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park in California (128 in May 2023)
Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in California (129 in May 2023)
Lowell National Historic Park in Massachusetts (130 in July 2023)
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in New Hampsire (131 in July 2023)
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont (132 in July 2023)
Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts (134 in July 2023)
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in Massachusetts (135 in July 2023)
Roger Williams National Memorial in Rhode Island (136 in July 2023)
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park in Rhode Island (137 in July 2023)
Weir Farm National Historical Park in Conneticut (138 in July 2023)
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Site in New York (139 in July 2023)
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site in New York (140 in July 2023)
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historical Site in New York (141 in July 2023)
Upper Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River in Pennsylvania (142 in July 2023)
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania (143 in July 2023)
Steamtown National Historical Site in Pennsylvania (144 in July 2023)
Hopewell Furnace National Historical Site in Pennsylvania (145 in July 2023)
Valley Forge National Historic Park in Pennsylvania (146 in July 2023)
Edgar Allen Poe National Historical Site in Pennsylvania (147 in July 2023)
Thaddeus Kosciuscko National Memorial in Pennsylvania (148 in July 2023)
First State National Historical Park in Delaware (149 in July 2023)
Hampton National Historical Site in Maryland (150 in July 2023)
Fort McHenry National Monument in Maryland (151 in July 2023)
Greenbelt Park in Maryland (152 in July 2023)
Clara Barton National Historical Site in Maryland (153 in July 2023)
Great Falls Park in Virginia (154 in July 2023)
Monocacy National Battlefield in Maryland (155 in July 2023)
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Maryland (156 in July 2023)
Harper's Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia (157 in July 2023)
Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland (158 in July 2023)
Cotoctin Mountain Park in Maryland (159 in July 2023)
Eisenhower National Historial Site in Pennsylvania (160 in July 2023)
Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Pennsylvania (161 in July 2023)
Friendship Hill National Historic Site in Pennsylvania (162 in July 2023)
Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania (163 in July 2023)
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historical Site in Pennsylvania (164 in July 2023)
Johnstown Flood National Memorial in Pennsylvania (165 in July 2023)
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in New York (166 in July 2023)
Women's Rights National Historical Park in New York (167 in July 2023)
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in New York (168 in July 2023)
Fort Stanwix National Memorial in New York (169 in July 2023)
Saratoga National Historical Park in New York (170 in July 2023)
Martin Van Buren National Historical Site in New York (171 in July 2023)
Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Massachusetts (172 in July 2023)
Fredrick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Massachusetts (173 in July 2023)
El Morro National Monument in Arizona (175 in November 2023)
El Malpais National Monument in Arizona (176 in November 2023)
Chamizal National Memorial in Texas (180 in November 2023)
National Capital Parks East in DC (181 in July 2023). In November, while doing some NPS research, I realized we visited this Unit when we explored at Greenbelt Park.
John Muir National Historic Site in California (182 in December 2023)
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in California (183 in December 2023) ✅ As Port Chicago is on an active military base, it is not an easy one to experience. Actually, less than 1,000 visitors per year are lucky enough to visit. I am super excited to share that finally on my 6th attempt, I was able to explore and learn at this powerful memorial. My first attempt was in November 2022 for a weekend trip with Paola to do a roots tour for her in Berkeley, but she got sick and couldn’t travel. Then I moved it to December 2022 with Mak, but we had an ice storm in Portland … and we could have flown there, but PDX shut down and we would not have made it back for the Holidays, so we proactively cancelled. Then I booked again for June 23td 2023 with Mak when I was driving him back down to LA, but that time was moved to July 7th and it was too on the heals of our 4th of July Holiday and our big East Coast Adventure. Then I was scheduled for October 14th with James and I was hoping my 5th attempt will be the charm. I was so excited to finally meet Ranger Eric who has been so helpful in my planning … however, that was cancelled too. Next up was December 7th, which was cancelled once, then opened again. I booked my flights and hotel and cancelled my flights and hotel, only to book my flight and hotel again … plus a rental car to make sure I arrived everywhere on-time to not miss out on this unique experience! And I did not get to meet Ranger Eric as he was at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park for a joint event with Pearl Harbor on this historic day. Thank you to President Obama for dedicating this park and encouraging everyone to learn this significant, yet mostly unknown, history.
Canaveral National Seashore in Florida (184 in March 2024)
Fort Matanzas National Monument in Florida (185 in March 2024)
Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve In Florida (186 in March 2024)
Fort Caroline National Memorial in Florida (187 in March 2024)
Honorbable Mention/Attempted and almost there …
Hohokam Pima National Monument in Arizona (attempted October 2021 … but went to the wrong location … We went to the Hohokam Pima Reservation. Note to self, research the Visitor Center address before setting out … a total rookie mistake!).
Mojave National Preserve in California (attempted December 2021 … but not able due to a storm hit Las Vegas and all of the passes were closed).
Castle Mountains National Monument In California (attempted December 2021 … but not able due a storm hit Las Vegas and all of the passes were closed).
Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida (attempted March 2022 … but not able due to trip was cancelled due to high winds and choppy seas).
Indiana Dunes National Park and Pullman National National Historical Park (attempted June 2022 … but our weekend in Chicago turned out to be more of a college/city tour and we missed our window to get to the park today. As I type, we are nearing noon and Ryder is still asleep. After my big nap yesterday, a product of day drinking with James, I cannot with good conscience wake him too early. We’re going to have lunch with James, so I am awaiting his text, then I will wake up my slumbering boy. And the park will have to wait for another trip).
Mississippi National River Recreation Area (planned on attempting in June 2022 … but got COVID and had to cancel all of my travel plans to Minnesota).
Voyagers National Park (also planned on attempting in June 2022 … but got COVID and had to cancel all of my travel plans to Minnesota). Planned again for September 2023, with my Sister an d fellow NPS Park lover Rachel with her goal of exploring all 63 National Parks. Only to realize that we had not planned our Isle Royal National Park Ferry/Sea Plane accordingly and will have to push this unique combo experience to Fall 2024. We also missed during this swing was Mississippi National River & Recreation Area and Pipestone National Monument.
Saint Croix Island National Memorial and Katahdin Woods & Waters National Memorial … even before the trip started, and now from Bar Harbor, ME, Sam and I were invited to spend the day on our friend’s boat in the area. The original planning did not mesh, but today the fog helped that dream come true. So we are punting on those two Units and going to meet them in Camden. Since they are on a boat battling the weather coming to see us now, we cannot take chances going East and North and being late to meet up with them. So it is all about the omelette breakfast bar for Sam tomorrow with a leisurely day down to Camden. And a bonus is that I booked us a car pass on Cadillac Summit Road, to fully experience Acadia. Then we will spend the night in Rockland, which is 15 minutes away from Camden. I love adventure. and teaching Sam that sometimes it is best to pivot when opportunity calls.
Rock Creek Park Revisit … Sam was hungry for a burger so we passed on going to the park and enjoyed a nice meal together. I will add it to my DC trip itinerary.
I had planned to visit the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve with Ryder before he flew the coop onward to college … and to finish my Oregon Section, however, life and schedules got into the way. We had planned to go on Wednesday 8/23 but Mak came to town to visit that week … so we moved it to Sunday 8/27 but Bo and I had to attend a Celebration of Life for a dear friend … so I moved it to Monday 8/28, only to realize that Sam starts school tomorrow, 8/29 and he wants me to be there on the first day of his Sophomore Year. Then this weekend is Labor Day and we are over in Neskowin for Papa’s birthday and the park closes for the season on Labor Day. Alas, I will visit next summer!