(corgi@2504dw) - [~/../otherstuff/nationalparks]

I 💖 the National Park System

September 5th, 2024

My husband and I love camping and National Parks. We have a little camper we haul around the country with our Jeep Gladiator whenever we have a chance.

We realized in early 2020 (during the pandemic) that our jobs allowed us to be pretty nomadic. So we rented a trailer for a few weeks and made our first trip (to Moab!) with a baby and a mini-Aussie strapped in the back. Now we have our own nineteen foot NOBO with a little kitchen, shower, bathroom, and dining area as well as a queen size pop-up tent for the truck bed (we have a lot of kids!).

A few of my favorite National Parks:

• US Virgin Islands - I had mixed feelings here, I was completely in awe of the remarkable history of the islands and perseverance of the people enslaved by the Dutch. (I've started picking up a book at every NP and really liked St John on Foot and By Car by Randall and Rebecca Koladis). But overall, was pretty saddened by the state of the islands post-2017 hurricanes, and felt like the US has really let them down in moral and financial support. The history of the islands and people is incredible, and I'll likely write another blogpost on some of the local history I learned. Did you know one of the first slave insurrections happened on St. John?


• Mammoth Cave National Park – Another park I find fascinating, the Native people surrounding Mammoth Cave (who are so far removed from modern Natives that the park maintains their remains) traveled miles inside the system for unknown reasons. It's widely guessed that it was done for mining and burial ceremonies. The cave also has an incredibly unique biota, the Northern Cave Fish has no vision, and fat deposits for eyes. It uses hair-like structures across its body for spacial awareness. I'll likely write another blogpost on Mammoth Cave, but I recommend reading Prehistoric Cavers of Mammoth Cave


• Mesa Verde National Park – It might sound cheesy, but I felt a deep connection to the Native Pueblo people that lived here. Walking along the cliffs, I could almost hear the sounds of their everyday life, kids playing, families bustling around pithouse communities. There was this warmth and liveliness in the air that made me feel connected to their world, and I was so proud and grateful for the chance to see the preservation of their lives and culture.

National Park hopping has been such an incredible experience for our family. We’ve loved experiencing and learning about the parks. Keep an eye out for more posts!