During childhood travel was limited to seeing family in Chicago and family trips to Disneyworld. After many years of wanting to travel but always making excuses of waiting to save up more money or when there was more time, a friend was diagnosed with cancer and only had 6 months to live. At that moment the thoughts of "Carpe Diem"- "Seize the Day" and bucket list became a reality and it was time to take action. Since then and after a gift of National Geographic's Guide to the National Parks we have traveled to 35 states, 37 National Parks 18 State High Points and numerous National Monuments, National Recreation Areas, State Parks, and many other notable landscapes and historic places. And we're just starting.