Our Family Adventures Through America’s National Parks
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One of my favorite things about national parks is how they quietly weave themselves into your family story. You visit one here, one there, and suddenly you realize… each of us has our own list, our own memories, and our own “missing parks.”
As of today, I’ve visited 20 of America’s 63 National Parks — a milestone I’m proud of and one that’s shaped so much of how I travel and how I teach others to travel smarter.
But here’s the fun part: Everyone in our family has their own total. And honestly? I love that.
And here’s the part I love most: almost every one of our national park trips has been touched by points and miles in some way. Free flights, hotel nights on points, cruise deals from casino offers — all of it has helped us visit parks we might not have reached otherwise. National parks have become part of our family story, and so has the strategy that gets us there.
If you’re new to points and miles, my Beginner’s Guide to Travel Hacking is the best place to start.
🌿 My 20 Parks (So Far)
My list includes everything from the red cliffs of Zion to the turquoise water of the Virgin Islands National Park. I’ve stood under giant sequoias, watched Old Faithful erupt, and hiked through the mist of Olympic National Park. Every park has taught me something — about planning, about slowing down, and about savoring the journey.
Love National Parks too? Check out my National Parks Packing List.
🌋 A Few of My Favorite Park Memories
Yellowstone National Park
We stayed right inside the park at Yellowstone Lodge, and every time Old Faithful was about to erupt, we’d all run outside — sometimes still in pajamas — just to watch it again. One of my favorite photos from that trip is the boys roaming the geyser basin with their little Dollar Tree binoculars, absolutely convinced they were on the biggest expedition of their lives. Those are the moments that stick with you.
Grand Teton National Park
We once stumbled upon a baby moose with its mom, just hours after it was born. Watching that tiny, wobbly baby take its first steps in the shadow of the Tetons felt like witnessing something sacred. It’s one of those moments you don’t plan — you just happen to be there, and it stays with you forever.
Acadia National Park
Acadia gave us one of the simplest, sweetest memories: the boys bouncing rocks across the water for what felt like hours. No itinerary, no rush — just two kids, a rocky shoreline, and the kind of joy that only comes from being outside together.
Volcano House, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
We stayed one night at Volcano House, and from our room we could see the glow from the caldera — like watching the earth breathe. It didn’t feel real, and it’s one of those memories I’ll carry forever.
These are the moments that make national parks more than checkboxes. They become part of your family story.
🏔️ Brandon’s Park Story: Denali as a Boy
Brandon’s list looks different from mine, and that’s what makes this fun.
He visited Denali National Park when he was a boy — long before we ever met, long before points and miles were part of our lives.
But here’s the twist: He’s never been to Glacier Bay, even though Tanner and I have. (And yes, I remind him of this often.)
If you’re planning your own national park adventures, the National Park Pass guide is the best place to start. It breaks down pricing, how quickly it pays for itself, and why it’s been one of our favorite tools for exploring more parks as a family.
🌴 Tanner: The Only One Missing Virgin Islands National Park
This is my favorite detail.
Tanner, my youngest son, has been to so many parks with us — he’s the reason we spent my 50th birthday in Yosemite — but he’s the only one in our family who hasn’t been to Virgin Islands National Park.
Why? Because we visited before he was born.
Points + cruise + national park = peak No Point Left Behind energy.
🚢 Next Up: A Cruise to Virgin Islands National Park
Because Tanner needs that park. And honestly? I’m not mad about planning a Caribbean cruise to make it happen.
We actually booked our Southern Caribbean cruise specifically to visit Virgin Islands National Park for Tanner — and you can read exactly how I booked it using points and miles.
✨ Why This Matters
Tracking our totals isn’t about comparison. It’s about connection.
It’s about seeing how travel threads through your life — through childhood trips, family vacations, cruises, and spontaneous adventures powered by points.
It’s about realizing that every park tells a story, and every family member has their own chapter.
📍 Follow Our Progress
We’ll keep updating our totals as we go — and you can follow along inside the National Park Hub. Whether you’ve visited 1 park or 40, your journey counts.
About Julie
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, a travel blog dedicated to helping families travel better using points, miles, cruises, and smart strategy. A former homeschool mom turned travel hacker, she’s visited 20 national parks (and counting), sailed on more cruise lines than she’ll admit, and has taught thousands of beginners how to travel more for less.
When she’s not planning her next trip, you’ll find her with an iced coffee in hand, updating her Lazy Girl Travel series, or convincing her family that “just one more park” is absolutely reasonable.
