I was lucky to grow up frequenting national parks on road trips with my family. Each summer, we’d jam-pack the car full of camping gear and hit the road to tent-camp at our favorite spots. With the right equipment and a plan in place, it was an affordable, memorable, and grounding experience to share with my family and friends, and traveling to these beautiful places became tradition.
The history of our national parks in the United States dates back to 1872, when President Grant approved legislation of a bill granting 2.2 million acres of land in Wyoming as public parks, thus protecting these sacred places for the enjoyment and travel for all. National park advocacy is near and dear to our hearts at Halfdays, where we we envision a more welcoming and accessible outdoors for all.
Whether you’ve been camping since you were little like myself, or if you’re more of a glamping and hotel stay kind of outdoor adventurist – roaming the National Parks is an experience that everyone should have. I’ve compiled a list of my all-time favorites as Part 1 in this series, and provided my tried-and-true knowledge for the best ways to view, hike, and appreciate these treasured regions.