Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Will Shafroth
As president and CEO of The National Park Foundation -- the official charity of America's national parks -- Will Shafroth oversees NPF operations. The NPF recently launched its Find Your Park (findyourpark.com) movement to encourage people to visit America's national parks.
"A lot of people only think about five or six national parks, but there are more than 400 national parks across the country," says Shafroth, 58, who resides in Washington, D.C. "A few examples: are the Pullman National Monument in Illinois, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia and the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in California."
You may follow the National Park Foundation on Instagram (https://instagram.com/GoParks) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/GoParks).
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. Of course, I'm a little biased, but I think national parks make the best destinations. Whatever interests you, you can find it in a national park, whether it be an iconic natural park like Grand Canyon, Everglades, Great Smokies, Yellowstone or Yosemite or one of the great cultural sites like the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall or Gettysburg. We love to visit the national seashores like Point Reyes and Cape Hatteras as our family finds its groove together at and around the ocean.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. I remember visiting Mesa Verde National Park when I was five years old. I remember exploring cliff dwellings and, even though I was so young, I remember being really interested in learning about all the different cultures that were connected to the park. I also remember jumping on the beds with my siblings and cousins and watching TV in bed.
Q. Have you traveled to a place that stood out so much that you felt compelled to incorporate it into your work?
A. Yes, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site in Little Rock, Arkansas. Four or five years ago, I visited the park with Secretary Ken Salazar (former secretary of the Interior). The woman sitting at the front desk says, "I'm from here and my mom was one of the Little Rock Nine. And, she's actually coming here in a little bit." Her mother, named Mini(jean) Brown, shows up and the secretary, Mini and I retrace her footsteps. She took us on the walk that she took that day. It was a really powerful experience to relive what happened in 1957 -- the year I was born -- when the National Guard was ordered to escort nine high school students into Little Rock Central High School. Spending time with her made me think about our country's struggles, the progress we've made and also how brave and courageous people like Mini were to actually do what she did -- it would've been much easier to stay home that day. I had constant chills and goosebumps while Mini showed us the way and told us her story. All of this is to say that I incorporate this experience in my work every day. With the Find Your Park (Encuentra Tu Parque) movement, we're helping people discover that parks can be more than beautiful natural landscapes and that parks are relevant to all of our lives.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
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