Sacred Landscapes: One Van Lifer's Six-Year, 175,000-Mile National Park Journey

My View Through the Windshield provides an enlightened look at over 380 sacred places protected by the National Park Service. Having lived the #VanLife for over six years, I've had the privilege of exploring these parks in-depth. The parks are meant to reflect ourselves and our nation. What can we learn? While working at Yellowstone National Park, I wondered why people want to pet the bison. This question sparked extensive observation and meticulous research, leading to a profound conclusion: The National Park Service and theme parks like Disneyland and Universal Studios employ similar tactics to engage the public's imagination. They all excel in storytelling and preserving beautiful environments while offering contemplation and physical recreation opportunities. As the author of books about Disneyland and the Universal Studios theme parks and a consultant to both organizations' creative teams, I am uniquely positioned to make this connection. Once you uncover these secrets, your perception and experience at our national parks will forever be transformed. Get ready to see the parks in a whole new light. My View Through the Windshield takes a unique and innovative approach by grouping the parks by their primary themes (volcanos, geology, fossils, Indigenous People, Manifest Destiny, Wars, American Ingenuity and Innovation, etc.). This structure provides a fresh perspective and reinforces the NPS "system" and why it matters.
Sacred Landscapes chronicles Sam Gennawey's remarkable six-year, 175,000-mile, van-life journey exploring over 380 sacred locations preserved by the United States National Park Service. These remarkable parks showcase the best of America--the stunning beauty of nature, historic sites of great significance, and the stories of inspirational people who have left lasting impressions.
The National Park Service sites also serve as reminders of the country's darker moments, including slavery, the Civil War, the attempted Indigenous genocide, Japanese concentration camps, and other tragedies. Sam Gennawey, a former urban planner and noted theme park historian, delves into crucial questions about "we the people" of the United States, reflecting on his experiences as he undertakes this journey through America's national memory. He even volunteers in many parks along the way to gain a deeper understanding of their significance and fuller appreciation for how park rangers have carefully and creatively managed the environment to highlight their