Thank You 2024 + HNY 2025!

Happy New Year from the Turks & Caicos! I am very excited about my many fun adventures ahead in 2025. My New Years Resolution to make more memories with the ones I love.

2024 was tons of fun and my NPS achievements were just a wee bit lower than I usually aspire to year-over-year. My goal each year since I’ve started my quest has been 40 Units. This year, I only experienced xxx … but I also achieved a big accomplishment of getting over the 200 mark. As now I only officially have one kiddo at home and Sam has requested that I be home more often. When I mix my international travel goals with my NPS goals, time gets stretched quickly. And Sam has been a trouper visiting the parks with me!

And I am so thrilled that I met my inspiration … Andy MaGee!

I am excited to share that I was able to explore at the below NPS Units in 2024 …

  1. Canaveral National Seashore in Florida (184 Unit) in March 2024 with Bo, Ryder, and Sam

  2. Fort Matanzas National Monument in Florida (185 Unit) with Bo, Ryder, and Sam

  3. Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve in Florida (Unit 186) with Bo, Ryder, and Sam

  4. Fort Caroline National Memorial in Florida (Unit 187) with Bo, Ryder, and Sam

  5. Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Kansas (192 Unit) with Sam

  6. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas (193 Unit) with Sam

  7. Fort Scott National Historic Site in Kansas (194 Unit) with Sam

  8. George Washington Carver National Monument in Missouri (195 Unit) with Sam

  9. Wilson Creek National Battlefield in Missouri (196 Unit) with Sam

  10. Ulysses Grant National Historical Site in Missouri (197 Unit) with Sam

  11. Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri (198 Unit) Solo as Sam was chillin at the hotel

  12. Harry Truman National Historical Site in Missouri (199 Unit) with Sam

  13. Voyagers National Park in Minnesota (200 Unit) with Kelly and Rachel

  14. Grand Portage National Monument in Minnesota (201 Unit) with Kelly and Rachel

  15. Isle Royale National Park in Michigan (202 Unit) with Kelly and Rachel

  16. St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Wisconsin (203 Unit) with Kelly and Rachel

Plus I realized that I’d already visited these NPS Units:

  1. Craters of the Moon National Preserve in Idaho (188 Unit) with James in October 2021

  2. Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Washington (189 Unit) with Ryder in August 2022

  3. North County National Scenic Trail in New York (190 Unit) with Sam in July 2023

  4. New England National Scenic Trail in New York (191 Unit) with Sam in July 2023

So I end the year only with 20 additional NPS Units, which is lower then my yearly goal … but tons of amazing memories were made in 2024!

Also I attempted, but did not accomplish:

  1. Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Montana scheduled in May 2024 - cancelled to spend time with James at his ranch

  2. Big Hole National Battlefield in Montana scheduled in May 2024 - cancelled to spend time with James at his ranch

  3. Oregon Caves National Memorial & Preserve in Oregon scheduled in July 2024 - cancelled to chill in beautiful Portland

  4. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine scheduled in July 2024 - cancelled to chill in beautiful Portland

  5. Saint Croix Island International Historical Site in Maine scheduled in July 2024 - cancelled to chill in beautiful Portland

  6. Ozark National Scenic River in Missouri scheduled in August 2024 - cancelled so Sam could sleep in

  7. Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in Missouri scheduled in August 2024 - cancelled so Sam could sleep in

  8. Pipestone National Memorial in Minnesota scheduled in September 2024 - cancelled due to lack of time

  9. James A. Garfield National Historical Site in Ohio scheduled in November 2024 - cancelled due to Bo got Covid and I had to stay home

  10. Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio scheduled in November 2024 - cancelled due to Bo got Covid and I had to stay home

  11. First Ladies National Historical Site in Ohio scheduled in November 2024 - cancelled due to Bo got Covid and I had to stay home

  12. River Raisin National Battlefield in Michigan scheduled in November 2024 - cancelled due to Bo got Covid and I had to stay home

  13. Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana scheduled in November 2024 - cancelled due to Bo got Covid and I had to stay home

  14. Pullman National Memorial in Illinois scheduled in November 2024 - cancelled due to Bo got Covid and I had to stay home

For the US States, I was able to add three new this year. In August, I went to Missouri (40) and Kansas (41) For Sam’s Birthday to see KC Chiefs play. Then in September, I finally made it to Michigan (42) to visit Isle Royale National Park.

I was also super lucky to have return visits to California (La Quinta), Florida 2x (Ponce Inlet, Tampa and Ocala), Montana (Billings and Fishtail), Texas (Dallas), Minnesota, (Voyagers National Park), Wisconsin (St. Croix National Scenic Riverway), and Washington (Bellingham and Olympia)

For my global travels I explored in six new countries … Morocco, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey.

Plus I was super lucky to have return visits to three countries … Nosara Costa Rica for Bo’s 60th in Jan., London, England for Mak’s 21st in March, Mexico City, Mexico City with Robin in May

And I am typing this as I chillax in the Turks & Caicos, a British Overseas Territory.

Wishing you a most amazing 2025!

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine always warm your face. The rain fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again may <Mother Nature> hold you in the palm of <her> hand — Irish Blessing with a nature spin!

Dana Bach Johnson