A grandma and her grandson are on a special mission: they want to finish a wonderful, seven-year challenge to visit all of the US National Parks.
The grandson, Brad Ryan, from Washington DC, and his 92-year-old grandma Joy from Duncan Falls in Ohio will finish the road trip with a visit to the American Samoa NP this year.
Their endeavor started in 2015 after Joy told her grandson that she’s never seen a mountain range or been camping.
Grandson & His Grandma Begin the Adventure of a Lifetime
Brad was studying veterinary at the time; he had told her of his visit to the Appalachian Trail. She told him how she wished she had done something so impressive like that herself.
Shocked by his grandma’s love for nature, Brad asked her to join him on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.
Since this trip, they’ve kept going and continued their epic adventures. They’ve traveled almost 50,000 miles and visited 62 of the 63 US National Parks.
The amazing duo climbs mountains together and does white-water rafting. They also sleep under the stars in wonderful locations like Joshua Tree National Park in Colorado.
The two have become best friends during their adventure and reconnected by strengthening their lost connection.
They didn’t speak for a decade when Brad’s parents were divorcing. Joy helped Bred learn resilience and supported him during mental health problems that he had before their trip which started in 2015.
Brad is beyond grateful for the experiences he shares with his grandma. He described their quest as magical while seeing stunning places and meeting wonderful people.
Joy said that their trips have been beyond anything she could imagine.
The Duo Is Beyond Grateful for What They’ve Experienced
She is equally in awe of what they’ve seen. She says they’re lucky to have experienced and seen something that others may not be able to do in a lifetime.
Brad paid for their first trip and then opened up a GoFundMe page where donators gathered more than $12,000 so that the two can visit more national parks.
Brad also gave some part of his savings for the adventure. Brad shares their happiness and adventures on social media and documents every step of their journey. The news of their quest has spread globally and people are praising them.
Many proposals came in from travel agencies and companies that offered to pay for their adventures. Joy says her grandson always ensures she’s safe and secure. She describes him as a sweet boy who makes her heart sing.
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