Sweet Park Trip Wishes in 2019!

Happy 2019!  We hope that you’re off to a great new year!

When it comes to our parks, Jason (my husband and travel companion) and I want to experience “it all”.  Any opportunity to get out and explore the parks is one that we look forward to.  Choosing where to go is always a fun challenge.

All politics aside, we are concerned about the current situation with the Government shut down that is leaving our National Parks vulnerable to misuse.  We are remaining optimistic that the parks receive the funding and support needed to operate safely (and soon).  Assuming that everything is up and running in the near future, below is our wish list of sorts for 2019.

Home Sweet Home – Ohio

This year, we would love to finish visiting all of the National Park Units in our home state of Ohio.  There are currently eight units in the state, and we have had the opportunity to visit seven of these.  The only one that we have yet to explore is the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Site.  I am excited to visit the home of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar (a feature of this park), and can almost hear the voice of my great-grandmother reciting his poetry in her theatrical and impassioned way.

Another personal goal that I want to achieve is to bike the Towpath Trail within the boundaries of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  Last year, I set my sights on biking the 19.8 miles from Lock 39 to the Botzum trail head, and this year I’m hoping that I can make that a reality.

Sweet Home Alabama

I have a lot of family in Alabama.  My mom, grandma, and about a dozen aunts, uncles and cousins are are scattered across the state.  Because of this, I go to Alabama at least once a year.  The time that I spend there, however, is typically set aside for catching up with family and friends (and some good ol’ BBQ, of course)!

Alabama is full of history as well.  I would love to spend National Park Week in April visiting the Civil Rights parks around the state.  Some of the parks that I look forward to spending time in specifically are the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site and the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

Finally, a sweet Road Trip (A stretch on sweet?)

Last but not least, we would love to get out west!  The farthest west that we have traveled on a National Park road trip was when we drove from Ohio to the Black Hills of South Dakota (and ultimately to Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming).  We have fantasized about checking out Yellowstone, visiting the parks in Utah, seeing the Sequoias and Redwood trees, taking in views from the Grand Canyon and sledding the gypsum dunes at White Sands National Monument.  While we don’t have a specific plan at this time, I’m thinking that 2019 will be our year to start to explore the west a little more!

Your turn – where will your 2019 take you?

Let us know!  A little brainstorming is just what the doctor ordered.  I’m feeling excited!

Happy travels! Support our parks!

This post was prepared for the #NatureWritingChallenge This week’s topic: Experiences you hope to have on public lands in 2019.  Check out the challenge here.

(Note: Rules for this challenge include writing, unfiltered, on the topic for no more than one hour.  Please forgive typos and incomplete thoughts)