What America's Longest Highway Taught Me About National Parks

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I've just returned from a whirlwind road trip along America's longest highway - Historic Route 20. I was invited to do this trip by my friend Bryan, over at the Historic Route 20 Association (‪@HistoricUSRoute20‬ ) because of the shear number of National Park sites on or near the highway. I was struck, not only by the number of parks, but also the stories they all told. The lands these parks protect encompass all eras of American history, the good and the bad, and visiting them all within a few days like that really opened my eyes to the power of preserving not just parks, but corridors and entire areas. I've compiled my thoughts and reflections on the road trip, and these parks, in this video for you. Enjoy!
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Опубликовано:

17 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 58

@Big_Tex 12 дней назад

What a monster road trip that would be. Would take me 2.5 to 3 days just to get to the starting point.

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Yeah, it was a whirlwind for sure. Bryan picked me up in Boston and I flew back out of Cleveland. We were up pretty much sunrise to sunset to fit it all in, but it was an incredibly enriching experience.

@TheSiemek 12 дней назад

I wish you’ve recorded this video two or three months ago. I was visiting the US for the first time and I was traveling from NYC to Cleveland and from there to Buffalo. I was lucky enough to take a short hike in Cuyahoga NP, but now I see how many things I could’ve seen. Anyway, great video (as usual) :)

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Ah, sorry to have missed you! Cuyahoga was one of my absolute favorites as well - I'll certainly be returning in the not-too-distant future. Glad you had a great trip and thanks for watching!

@dagarnertn 11 дней назад

It would be fun to visit a National Park with you. Thanks for bringing our Parks alive.

@NationalParkDiaries 10 дней назад

If you ever see me out there, say hi! I'm also in the super duper early stages of seeing what a group trip might look like for this community. It's still a long ways off and I have absolutely no timeline yet, but it's something I want to do.

@arduous1914 12 дней назад

You have great story telling skills! I’ve been the minute man NHP, very nice!

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Thank you so much! Totally agreed on Minute Man 👍

@ETBrenner 10 дней назад

I lived in Boston in the 1980s, and ever since I wound up in Oregon in 2012 it has tickled me mightily that I've now lived at either end of the mighty US Route 20. I grew very fond of all the parks and historical sites in and around Boston in my time living there - so much history enshrined in that area. And thanks for capturing a glimpse of the iconic CITGO sign in your footage of Route 20's east end in Kenmore Square - a more recent and more quirky bit of Boston history. PS: Driving the entirety of Route 20 is majorly on my bucket list.

@NationalParkDiaries 10 дней назад

That's really cool! Sounds like you need to get in touch with Bryan lol! He can help you with all of your Route 20 related needs 😂

@rikspector 11 дней назад

Many years ago I travelled parts of route 20. I was on my way to and from other interesting places, but, as you so eloquently put it, there are connections we only realize with the big picture. Thank you, Rik Spector

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Right? I'd never done a trip with this many parks visited in such a short time before, but it really put into context for me the "big picture" story of so much American history. Thanks for watching, Rik!

@goofyiest 11 дней назад

content you enjoy making is much more enjoyable to watch!

@NationalParkDiaries 10 дней назад

Couldn't agree more!

@ericpierce3660 11 дней назад

That was so interesting and you're such a great storyteller, it's always a pleasure listening to you.

@NationalParkDiaries 10 дней назад

Thanks so much!

@user-ue8wq8ey2q 7 дней назад

Awesome perspective on these less appreciated parks. It’s easy to inspire people to want to see the pristine nature of the parks, but you certainly know how to create a sense of wanderlust for these historical gems. Loving the new vids this year

@NationalParkDiaries 6 дней назад

Glad to hear it! The small parks are some of my favorites and I always love being able to share some of the hidden gems of the National Park Service. Thanks for your support!

@jordanhamann9123 11 дней назад

Another great video! I look forward to seeing the other sites and parks you were able to visit. A dream of mine is to explore the country on a heartland road trip: Hwy 20 from Newport to Boston; Hwy 1 from Boston to Ocean City, Maryland; then Hwy 50 all the way to Sacramento, until taking the coastal highways back up north to Newport. Maybe someday.

@ETBrenner 10 дней назад

Now that sounds like a heck of a great road trip. I already posted that doing all of US 20 is on my bucket list but hadn't given much thought to the return route. 😆

@NationalParkDiaries 10 дней назад

Very nice! All great trips, I'm sure! I know Bryan would have some excellent advice for the Route 20 trip through his organization. Thanks for watching!

@Mark-cg2bg 7 дней назад

I completely get what you mean about being at a site and seeing where things actually happened -- to feel a connection not only with place but of history. Recently, I visited Omaha Beach in Normandy and walked out on the beach to the waterline so I could turn around and see it from the visual perspective of the soldiers coming ashore on D-Day.

@NationalParkDiaries 6 дней назад

I've been to those same beaches, and it is indeed a very powerful experience. I'm grateful to have these places protected so we can go and have these types of experiences.

@Infinity-ty1pl 12 дней назад

so cool I'm gonna visit the minute man site

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Highly recommend! We went in the evening and had an absolutely beautiful sunset over the North Bridge.

@DougGrinbergs 9 дней назад

Appreciation from a kindred spirit👍 "Educate, unite, inspire"👍🖖

@NationalParkDiaries 6 дней назад

Thank you so much!!

@hobbs4288 12 дней назад

Great video! I also find great value in experiencing history in person. I have visited many of those parks in the last year with my kids. Giving them the opportunity to see places like Minuteman or President Kennedy's birth place is an amazing feeling as a father. Safe travels!

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

It's one of my favorite things, honestly. The historic sites that the NPS protects have honestly been some of my favorites - they're usually not very crowded, you can interact much more closely with the rangers, and the opportunities for solitude and reflection are unparalleled. Glad to hear your kids are able to experience these places as well. Thanks for watching!

@SequoiaElisabeth 11 дней назад

Great video and I totally relate to the Power of Place (almost wrote a book on the topic). I also enjoy "seeing the big picture". The connections between space and time are fascinating and fun!

@NationalParkDiaries 10 дней назад

Yes, I totally agree! Even when I'm not in National Parks (which isn't often 😂), I find myself thinking about The Power of Place and how it influences our lives on a daily basis

@MaximRedin 11 дней назад

Thank you for the video! I like it a lot! I've seen here so picturesque views, streets, so magnificent places which i dream to visit. So different cities, from what i got used to see in my country. Btw I am watching you from Russia.

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

There's some really great parks along the route - I was kind of shocked with how different they all were. So much to see! Thanks for watching!

@tompfeiffer2755 9 дней назад

Awesome video! We have been to several of the places visited in the video and felt the same awe as you in feeling a part of history. One of your most informative videos! Thanks for posting.

@NationalParkDiaries 6 дней назад

So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

@haplon33 12 дней назад

Great video - thanks! I'd been to Minuteman on one side and Newport on the other but never realized the connections. Hope you can keep road tripping!

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

I hope so too! Thanks for watching!

@tommyswoodpileadventuresan9552 11 дней назад

Well done, young man. You're gonna go far.

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Much appreciated!

@lisacable1392 6 дней назад

Excellent video! I love your content and learning something new with each video you make.

@NationalParkDiaries 4 дня назад

Thanks so much Ma!

@gtbkts 12 дней назад

Thanks for the awesome video and all of the amazing content!!

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Thanks so much for watching!

@jammcc176 11 дней назад

Of the parks you highlighted, I have only been to Women's Rights and agree that it is an amazing place to learn this part of our history. Your video made me wonder about what other highway corridors exist that encompass a number of national park sites. I'm most familiar with US 40 in Maryland and Pennsylvania which has sites from three wars as well as other historical and natural parks.

@NationalParkDiaries 10 дней назад

I'm not entirely sure either. Admittedly, highway history is not my area of expertise, and it was really Bryan that opened my eyes to the stories and history these corridors hold.

@Pigpen1202 11 дней назад

Very cool and sounds like a great time 🎉

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

It was, very glad I did the trip!

@meganstahlberger608 12 дней назад

Thank you!!

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Thanks for watching!

@redbeard1976 12 дней назад

My neck of the woods! I've been to all of these except the newer harriet tubman

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

I believe, as I type this, that Harriet Tubman NHP officially opens to the public in just 3 days!

@Steveofthejungle8 12 дней назад

Great video! I grew up along Route 20 in Indiana and I never really learned the significance until this video!

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

Oh man! I honestly didn't know that much about it either until Bryan reached out to me and told me all about its history. The fact that it runs cross country and touches so many different landscapes and places is fascinating to me - it was the main inspiration for a lot of the reflections I touched on in this video, knowing that a single road could link so much of American history.

@Steveofthejungle8 11 дней назад

@@NationalParkDiaries too bad you couldn’t keep going west to Indiana Dunes

@NationalParkDiaries 11 дней назад

@@Steveofthejungle8 I know! The flights to Chicago aren't usually too bad though, so I don't think it will be long before I get there 🤞

@Steveofthejungle8 11 дней назад

@@NationalParkDiariesit’s a park that really rewards digging deeper and reflecting