Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibilityA journey of a lifetime for Grandma Joy
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Daytime- A journey of a lifetime for Grandma Joy
Daytime- A journey of a lifetime for Grandma Joy
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A journey of a lifetime for Grandma Joy


Grandma Joy and her grandson, Brad Ryan, have been on the third leg of their road trip to national parks since Sept. 23. Their travels took them to El Paso for a few days while they visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Big Bend National Park, White Sands National Monument and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. According to Ryan, the story of their travels went viral the day after the El Paso and Dayton mass shootings. Ryan says this was proof that with all the bad news that weekend, people scrolled social media and “choose Joy.” Ryan decided to take his grandma on a road trip after she mentioned that she regretted never standing on a mountain in person. Ryan and Grandma Joy were estranged for 10 years, and he thought a road trip was a perfect way to reconnect with her as he helped make her dreams come true. This week, they arrived at the 48th US National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The pair will finish the third leg of their tour at the Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis. There are a total of 61 US National Parks, and Ryan says they still have to visit two parks in Hawaii, eight parks in Alaska, one park in American Samoa and a park in the US Virgin Islands.

Follow their journey
Instagram: @GrandmaJoysRoadTrip
Facebook: @GrandmaJoysRoadTrip

Special thanks to the Hyatt. They have been caring for Brad and Grandma Joy during their journey across the country.

For more information
Hyatt.com