In 2009, my wife Terry and I were approaching retirement and sought the advice of a financial planner. She told us that before she could help us with our finances, she needed to know what we wanted to do with the rest of our lives. She asked us to create a Life Plan. Part of our Life Plan included hiking about all of our country’s major national parks. Yellowstone was the first of 63 when we visited in October of 2009. In 2022, we completed our “trek to the parks” with a visit to New River Gorge. Along the way, our family created a tabletop board game called Trekking the National Parks to help educate, inspire and entertain those who play it.
Sincerely,
Yellowstone National Park
America's first national park is named after the river that runs through it. Within the park's massive boundaries, visitors can find mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and some of the most concentrated geothermal activity in the world. The park has 60% of the world’s geysers, as well as hot springs and mud pots. It is also home to diverse wildlife with the largest concentration of mammals in the Lower 48 states, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk.
State(s): Idaho Montana, Wyoming,
Established: 1872
“The parks offer all of us an opportunity to explore and experience the remarkable landscapes and cultural resourses within these environmental and spiritual cathedrals. ”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
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Greetings from Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone was the first national park I ever visited, and launched me on my journey to visit as many parks as I possibly could throughout my life. The beauty of Yellowstone is unbelievable. I remember feeling so emotional gazing at all of the scenery and majestic animals. My trip here…
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