Gay Outdoor Adventurer Mikah Meyer Reveals His Top 5 US National Park Sites

July 24, 2023 Vacationer Staff

Our July 2023 cover star, Mikah Meyer, chatted with us about how his father’s death sparked his 3-year journey to check out 419 U.S. National Park Service Sites. During our conversation, the queer outdoorsman also revealed his favorite National Park Sites that LGBTQ+ outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs should visit as well as what he never forgets to put in his backpack before heading out on a hike.

Arches National Park (Photo Credit: Mikah Meyer)

Chaco Culture National Historical Park (Photo Credit: Mikah Meyer) — Arches National Park (Photo Credit: Mikah Meyer)

Vacationer Magazine: What are your Top 5 favorite National Parks Sites to visit and why?

Mikah Meyer: I’m going to give you one site in every region of the country so that there’s something for everyone.

Buck Island Reef National Monument (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Buck Island Reef National Monument in St. Croix, USVI (Photo Credit: Chris Allan / Shutterstock)

So, the first one would be Buck Island Reef National Monument and it’s on a tiny island next to the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. So, the great thing about this is that you don’t need a passport to go, your cell phone will work, and they take U.S. dollars. It’s a super amazing tropical beach, natural turtle nesting ground, and there’s an underwater trail that the National Park Service created so you can snorkel. President Kennedy visited with his family, snorkeled, and loved it so much that he designated it a National Monument.

Big Bend National Park (Texas)

Big Bend National Park in Texas (Photo Credit: Mick Haupt on Unsplash)

For the gays, I’d choose Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. It’s super isolated, which is what makes it so cool because it’s on the border of Mexico. You can actually walk, swim, or trip into Mexico because it’s so rural that there’s not a border wall there and the river is super shallow. Who doesn’t want to live out their Priscilla Queen of The Desert fantasy? With wide open roads, massive desert landscapes, and a remoteness that can make it feel like crossing Australia, Big Bend will allow you to take all the Insta photos your inner diva desires.

Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

Badlands National Park in South Dakota (Photo Credit: EQRoy / Shutterstock)

Because I’m a Midwest queen and I have to support our Midwest sites. Badlands National Park in South Dakota is really close to Mount Rushmore. So, if you’re going to go and see the Black Hills of South Dakota; do Mount Rushmore and drive another hour east to see Badlands National Park. It’s consistently the most beautiful sunset that I’ve seen anywhere in any National Park Site. I lost my trip’s rainbow flag in that park; so, my rainbow flag is floating somewhere around that park. If you find it, call me because I have a prize for you.

Haleakala National Park (Maui, Hawaii)

Haleakala National Park (Photo Credit: Lyle Wilkinson on Unsplash) — Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii (Photo Credit: Lyle Wilkinson on Unsplash)

The next one I’m going to say is in the Rainbow State – Hawaii. I suggest visiting Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui for two reasons. The first is that there’s this beautiful sunrise viewing opportunity where you can be above the clouds and watch the sunrise. Afterward, you can hike down into this ancient volcanic crater on an incredible day-long hike that will take you through the mountainous part of the park. And then when you go to the coastal part of the park down by the water, there are rainbow trees and they’re called such because when their bark falls off, they reveal colors of green, orange, red, and yellow. The shape of these rainbow trees in Haleakala National Park is the inspiration for the trunk in the Outside Safe Space symbol. So if you look at the design of the trunk; it comes from the trees in the park.

Stonewall National Monument (New York City)

Stonewall National Monument (Photo Credit: Warren Eisenberg / iStock) — Stonewall National Monument in New York City (Photo Credit: Warren Eisenberg / iStock)

The last one I’m going to suggest that some people may not know about is that Stonewall Inn in New York City is a National Monument. In 2016, President Barak Obama designated Stonewall National Monument as the first National Park Service Site to tell the LGBT Civil Rights story in America. And why is that so significant? While the Smithsonian protects America’s most important things, while the Library of Congress protects our most important documents, the National Park Service protects America’s most important places, and in particular, places that tell our American story. So, we have sites that celebrate Women’s Rights; we have sites that chronicle Civil Rights, that chronicle Labor Rights, and also sites that honor some of the most beautiful natural places in the U.S.

In designating Stonewall as a monument, it was essentially the first time that our U.S. government said that LGBTQ+ Americans are part of the American story. So, to support that we are now acknowledged as part of the American story, we should all go to Stonewall National Monument and spend our money at the gift shop that they’re creating and write our names in the visitors’ books because they track how many people visit every National Park Service Site. So, if we show that a ton of people are visiting Stonewall, then it will increase both funding and support for the park, but it will also help the odds that they will add more sites that will tell the LGBTQ+ American story.

(Photo Credit: Scott Kranz) — (Photo Credit: Mikah Meyer)

Vacationer Magazine: So, in addition to visiting National Parks Sites, you also enjoy hiking. So, when you’re heading out on what you consider a normal hike, what are you packing in your backpack?

Mikah Meyer: The number one thing that I take with me is a reusable water bottle. I am a big fan of Lärabars. They don’t pay me to say this, but it’s a General Mills, Minneapolis-based product. Unlike granola bars that are usually full of sugar; these are made from dates – maybe not super healthy – but they are a healthier option of easy travel food.

Sometimes I take a solar-panel charging device in case my battery runs out on my phone because the service is so weak. If you have an emergency, then you can use a little solar-panel charger to charge your phone and make that call if you need to.

Every time I go hiking, I take my Outside Safe Space pin to put on my backpack or my hat. I put an Outside Safe Space sticker on my water bottle or put an Outside Safe Space patch on my backpack or my clothing to indicate that I’m an ally. So that if I meet somebody (or vice versa) and they’re queer that they can be honest with me, and they don’t have to lie about their pronouns or tell me that their girlfriend is their sister or whatever.

For LGBTQ+ adventurers looking for Outdoor Safe Sapce merchandise, you can go to your local Eddie Bauer store and get pins or stickers to put on your outdoor gear for when you travel. Queer outdoor enthusiasts can also purchase stickers, pins, patches, and apparel here: https://www.mikahmeyer.com/adventurepride.