59 before 18 is a quest to see all 59 American national parks together as a family before our children turn 18-years-old. In 2009 we flew to California to visit with some friends and traveled to Yosemite National Park. This was our first national park hiking experience. Obviously, the landscape was majestic, but the idea that this land that was ours as Americans created a feeling of euphoria for us.

When we returned home we discovered that we enjoyed the feeling of traveling together as a family. Road trips actually brought us closer together. Instead of taking the highway to get to Washington D.C. we drove the entire Blue Ridge Parkway into the Skyline Drive of Shenandoah National Park. Our friends thought we were nuts, but we loved it. What they did not understand was that the destination was not always the objective. We could have fun just as long as we were together.

Shenandoah picture 6

Soon Bill started researching how we could adventure and drive out west across the United States to visit more parks. He planned our first national park family vacation for the summer of 2010. The boys bought park passports as we canceled 12 parks (Badlands, Wind Cave, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Zion, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde and Great Smoky Mountains. It took us two weeks and our trip itinerary was focused on the National Park System Map and Guide. We did visit other parks in the system and the boys had fun stamping their passports, but we did not enjoy them as much as the official NPs. Bill turned 40-years-old driving home on I-40.

Arches picture 10

When Bill went back to work on Monday, he was a new person. He diagnosed himself as addicted to exploring our national parks. Bill was obsessed. His customers at least said it was a good addiction. To our surprise there was a park about 90 minutes from our home. So the next weekend we canceled Congaree and hiked 15 miles in the swamp. It was the most difficult hike to this day we have ever done. We were cocky since we just came back from our vacation. Giant spiders were hanging from trees along the trail and there was no place to sit or relax. However, a new discovery about ourselves was revealed. We can overcome and be happy, as long as we are together, even when the most difficult things happen to us.

Mammoth Cave picture 11

We took advantage of the extended Labor Day weekend and drove to cancel Mammoth Cave. During the boys winter break we drove south to cancel Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne. During the next few weeks we came up with the idea to see all of the 58 parks (the 59th park Pinnacles was upgraded from a national monument to a NP on 1/10/13). When I wanted to film our adventures, create a website and so much more, my boys thought I was crazy. They did not understand that thought of creating a goal and trying to accomplish it yet. Luke was 14 and Winston was 12 at the time.

Dry Tortugas picture 8

For our 2011 two week summer vacation, we had to fly to Portland, Oregon and rent a car. We drove over 4,500 miles and canceled seven more national parks (Mount Rainier, Glacier, North Cascades, Olympic, Redwood, Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lake). A friend of ours from North Carolina actually moved to Portland, Oregon that week and we drove more than he did. Once again, he thought we were insane, but we have the time of our lives. Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio was canceled a month later during the Labor Day weekend.

Crater Lake picture 13

The next winter break we planned a wild drive to New Mexico and back in less than 11 days. We canceled Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns and Hot Springs. We were blessed with no bad weather and so far no major issues pertaining to any of our trips. We spend a lot of time planning these excellent adventures and experiencing each new place for the first time and sharing every moment together is the best part.

Carlsbad picture 6

During the summer of 2012 our vacation was ambitious. We flew to Las Vegas, rented a car and within two weeks canceled 11 parks (Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Channel Islands, Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Petrified Forest, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, Rocky Mountain and Great Basin). We arrived in Death Valley at 3:00 am and never stopped our desire for the making the most out of each day.

Great Sand Dunes picture 8

Now with 42 parks successfully canceled, the quest started becoming strategic. Therefore, for Christmas we went to Virgin Islands National Park. To save money on the plane flight to St. John we drove to Miami. Our lodging was at a campground and we slept in a modified screened porch. This became Luke’s favorite park. It was certainly a treat with the warm weather, our first underwater snorkeling trail and hiking across the entire island in one magnificent day.

Virgin Islands Family 1

In 2013 we planned a massive road trip across 27 states to cancel the last four parks in the lower 48, not including Pinnacles. During our planning for this, we realized that this quest had provided us with an added bonus of visiting every state in America. This 17 day journey began with a drive to North Dakota (Theodore Roosevelt), up to Minnesota (Voyageurs), northeast on a boat into Michigan (Isle Royale) and all the way east to Maine (Acadia). Finally, we drove south back home for a total of 6,600 miles in the same 2008 Honda Accord we took on our first national park family vacation.

Theodore Roosevelt - Family 3

So with 47 out of the 59 canceled, only two trips are left. The first is the most luxurious. We are flying to Hawaii. Our 48th park will be Haleakala. Next, we are flying to National Park of American Samoa. The 50th park will be Hawaii Volcanoes. Lastly, we will fly to Los Angeles, rent a car, drive to cancel Pinnacles, drive back to LA and fly home. This trip has ten flights and will probably be the best 15 days of our lives.

In conclusion, all that is left is the eight national parks in Alaska. It has taken us over three months to plan and organize. However, we have everything figured out and scheduled for July and August 2014. It will take us three weeks, but can be accomplished. These last two trips have taken a serious toll on our finances. Moreover, we am thankful for the ability to do this without any sponsorship. Luke is 16 and Winston will be 15 when they 59 before 18. They both fully understand that aspirations for college has been paid for already. They know what they need to do to help fulfill their dreams. But for right now we are living a dream. Our dream is coming true right before our eyes. We are spending quality time together, visiting the most beautiful places in the United States (our national parks), as well as seeing our great nation of America.

North Dakota - Street