World Traveler Hates Some National Parks Because Logistics and Vibes Are Hard
KEY POINTS
- •Emily Hart traveled solo to all 63 major US national parks over ten years and revisited several multiple times.
- •She loved Glacier Bay’s beauty but disliked its high cruise costs and strict two-ship daily visitor limits.
- •Emily found Hot Springs too urbanized and Carlsbad’s cave adventures mismatched her interests, preferring other natural spots.
Emily Hart spent a decade solo road-tripping to all 63 major US national parks—some more than once—only to cross off Glacier Bay, Haleakalā, and a few others as 'no reruns, thanks.' Glacier Bay dazzled from the Norwegian Bliss cruise deck but scored a big fat 'too expensive, two ships a day allowed' hassle, which apparently kills date two. Hot Springs, Arkansas, is basically a city spa pretending to be a national park, stirring national park purists into a mild grumble. Carlsbad Caverns, with its 119 caves and summer bat exodus, failed to lure Emily back because she’s more a mountaintop sunset than underground bat person. Indiana Dunes felt like a beach day at the power plants’ backyard. Her conclusion: beautiful once but possibly never again unless the travel gods demand it.
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(1 of 3)Spent 10 years hitting every national park only to flunk a few because they're too pricey, too urban, or just not ‘vibe-y’ enough. Yeah, even nature gets ghosted nowadays.
National parks are like bad dates: stunning at first, but logistics, crowds, and industrial views kill the romance fast.
Who knew a place with 119 caves and thousands of bats wasn’t the ultimate party spot? Emily’s bat-phobia says it all.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 7/31/2026 | Author: Emily Hart
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