I’m going on a journey!!! Actually, I’m going on a series of journeys! I’m going on so many journeys it’ll take me 25 years to do it all!

The inspiration hit as I was approaching my 50th birthday. That number didn’t bother me, and still doesn’t. I’m looking at a rapidly emptying nest as my kids (ages 22, 20, and 18) are all in varying stages of Young Adulthood. Young Adults are so much fun, and I mean that without sarcasm. They’re more competent versions of their hilarious, inventive teenaged selves, and their lives are so exciting and full of possibilities. My eldest just graduated from college and is making her home in another state, my middle is about to spend a semester abroad, and my youngest is about to embark on his college journey. I know big changes are afoot in my life.

“What do you want for your birthday?” they asked. They always ask and I rarely have an answer, because I’m a mom and a business owner and I rarely prioritize thinking about what I want. This year, though, I figured that should be different. I was about to be 50, which I hear is a biggish deal, and I thought “I’d like to do something FUN.”

A few years ago my mother and I briefly considered waking up in Italy on her 75th birthday. That plan fell by the wayside as the particulars of planning got away from us, but it got me thinking – what if I woke up on my birthday in a different place every year? I considered that briefly and while yes, that would be fun, I quickly decided that it would also be unrealistic, expensive, and stress-inducing. And there’s no fun in stress-inducing. 

But I do love to travel, and I have a love of nature, and I am a sucker for a project. (Full disclosure: I’m a sucker for STARTING a project. Finishing them is a different issue.) I found myself thinking, “What about visiting all the National Parks?” and I got a little bit excited about the idea. I didn’t even know how many there are. I didn’t know where they are located, with the exceptions of the Grand Canyon and the Great Sand Dunes, and a few more vague ones like “Alaska” and “Maine”. I didn’t know much of anything other than that it sounded kinda cool. So I did some light research, found that there are currently 63 parks in 30 states, and a doable plan began to form in my mind.

Here it is: Starting on my 50th birthday, I’m giving myself 25 years (the Third Quarter of my life) to visit all 63 of our US National Parks.

It’s a pretty massive goal. Some years I might only get to one. Some years I might knock out 5-6 in a trip. Some of the parks are easy to get to, and others will require a lot of advanced planning. The 25-year time span feels pretty reasonable and I’ll knock it out before I turn 75, so it’s not really even a bucket list. Just a project.

As far as traveling companions go, I’m hoping to mix it up. One great part of this project is that my family can join me for as much or as little of it as they like. My husband will probably join me for much of it, but I didn’t want to obligate him to the entire project so he can jump in or out as he pleases. My kids are busy young adults, but they like adventures and I’m always looking for excuses to spend time with them doing cool stuff. I have siblings who are adventurers too, and I have friends across the continent who probably not only have good information for me as I start this thing, but who also might want to join me for a park or two along the way.

So there’s the inspiration – and off we go!