419 National Parks, 3 Years, 1 Trip: 'I've Seen Every Corner Of America'

In April 2016, Mikah Meyer set out on a journey to visit every single national park, monument, seashore and more — 419 sites in all — in one continuous trip.

That world-record journey is coming to a successful close on Monday, after taking Meyer to every single U.S. state and territory, from the Arctic Circle of Alaska to American Samoa.

Meyer began the trip, funded largely through donations and sponsorships, on the 11th anniversary of his father’s death from cancer. One of his primary goals was to be a role model for LGBT people.

Meyer previously spoke with Here & Now about how his trip was going back in June 2017. Now, he tells Here & Now‘s Jeremy Hobson that finishing is, in a word, “surreal.”

“I, for) says. “It’s amazing to know that I’ve made it this far, and such an incredible feeling for a kid who grew up in the prairie to know that I’ve seen every corner of America, our most wonderful places, and am about to complete a life goal.”