Travel with Purpose: Our Journey to All 63 U.S. National Parks

This is a guest post by our friends, Matt and Karen Smith.

The spark that started our journey was seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time.  Standing at the South Rim looking across the 18-mile-wide chasm in front of us, we were struck by the beauty of the landscape, and it occurred to us that maybe there were other national parks we should see in our lifetime. Combined with the nagging thought that we don’t get these days back, we made it our goal to visit all 63 of them.

It was a life-changing experience. And each year, we revisit as many parks as possible, finding new activities or seeing familiar sights with a fresh perspective. And oftentimes, there’s a Best Western along the way, serving as a gateway to our next adventure.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone became the world’s first national park back in 1872 to preserve its extraordinary natural wonders and protect its wildlife. Home to the highest concentration of geothermal features on earth, including geysers, steam vents, and fumaroles, the park is a wonderland unlike any other.

The park’s wildlife also makes it one of the most popular sites in the National Park Service. Home to the largest bison herd on public land, visitors will likely see these massive and majestic animals at close range. Bears, elk, wolves, and eagles are just a few other animals often spotted throughout the park.

Conveniently located in West Yellowstone, MT, two Best Western hotels make for easy access to the park: Best Western Desert Inn and Best Western Weston Inn.

Glacier National Park

In the Rocky Mountains of Northern Montana, Glacier National Park protects a swath of breathtaking mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and glaciers. Whether experiencing the park by foot, horseback, private vehicle, or tour bus, visitors have the chance to spot the park’s abundant wildlife: grizzly bears, black bears, moose, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.

Winding its way through the heart of Glacier is the 50-mile spectacular Going to the Sun Road, an engineering marvel completed in 1933, with some of the most jaw-dropping views in any national park.

Being one of the more popular park destinations in the country, visitors have many lodging options. West of the park, there are several Best Western hotels: Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, Best Western Plus Kalispell/Glacier Park West Hotel & Suites in Kalispell, and Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites, also in Kalispell.

Acadia National Park

On the rocky coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is known for its rugged ocean views, dense forests, historic carriage roads, and, of course, lighthouses. Designated a national park to protect its natural wonders and historic heritage, Acadia is a testament to America’s conservation commitment.

Visitors can take advantage of the park’s range of recreational activities, including hiking, biking, kayaking and birdwatching. The park’s system of carriage roads, built with the support of John D. Rockefeller Jr., is a visitor favorite for non-motorized travel and scenic views. And no visit is complete without a stop at Jordan Pond House restaurant for their famous popovers.

In nearby Bar Harbor, Best Western Acadia Park Inn is a perfect home base while visiting the park.

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park protects the stark and beautiful geological formations and rich fossil beds of southern South Dakota. And its wildlife will remind you that you’re traveling through the heart of the Great Plains. Bison, black-footed ferrets, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and prairie dogs all call this park home.

This national park road trip is not complete without visiting nearby attractions, like Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, just north of the park. And a bit further west on Interstate 90, you’ll want to stop at Wall Drug in the town of Wall, SD, for a true Americana shopping and eating experience.

The Best Western Plains Motel in Wall, SD, is a convenient place to stay when visiting Badlands National Park and the surrounding area.

Bryce Canyon National Park

In southern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its unique, colorful rock formations, known as hoodoos. These tall, thin spires of rock define the park’s landscape and provide an otherworldly landscape for hikers to explore, either along the canyon’s rim or down in its natural amphitheater.

With an elevation exceeding 9,000 feet, the park is home to the rare Bristlecone pine trees, the oldest living trees on the planet. Visitors can drive to the Rainbow Point Overlook at the park’s south end and walk the short Bristlecone Loop trail to see these wonders up close.

Two Best Western Plus hotels just outside the park’s entrance provide a great home base: Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn and Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel.