You don’t need to be a thru-trail hiker to explore and appreciate America’s national parks. These places are for everyone, and they offer opportunities for all ages and abilities, as you’ll discover on this page.
We never imagined 2020 would play out the way it has, but aren’t we lucky to still be alive? Our dream is still very much alive, too. In the meantime, please call your parents or grandparents and plant seeds of hope. Imagine the day in the not-too-distant future when you can open the passenger seat, invite your family to join you, and head out to see the redwoods and prairies.
As we crisscrossed the United States on our journey to check all the national parks off our list, time and time again we were pleasantly surprised by how accessible our public lands have become for families of all ages. One of the least stressful hikes you can take is along a wooden boardwalk, void of stumbling blocks like roots and rocks, and replete with benches to stop and rest while taking in an inspiring view.
Our journey began when my Grandma Joy and I were chatting about my 2009 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. I enthralled her with my tales of sketchy hitchhikes and close encounters with bears, and then she expressed her profound regret that she never got to see a mountain in her 80-plus years of life. Her words broke my heart… and changed the course our lives forever.
