A National Park Love Story
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A Travel Memoir—
A National Park Love Story * A Travel Memoir—
It's here! We are excited to announce that our book, 'A National Park Love Story,' has been published and is available for sale on Amazon. As a valued subscriber to our mailing list, you are the first to know!
This journey—from our first spontaneous trip to the Grand Canyon to our quest to visit all 63 National Parks—has been the adventure of a lifetime.
We are so grateful to share our love story and the beauty of America's National Parks with you.
We would be honored if you would consider adding our book to your collection. You can purchase a copy using the link below.
A National Park Love Story Book Purchase Link (click here)
Thank you so much for following our journey. We can't wait to hear what you think!
Warmly,
Chris Truxell & Jeff Crum
A chance meeting. A spontaneous getaway. A love story written across the landscapes of America.
When two middle-aged divorcees connect online, their first impulsive trip together lands them—unexpectedly—at a national park. What begins as a whimsical escape soon sparks a shared passion for adventure and a heartfelt mission: to visit all 63 national parks in the United States.
Over 15 years, their journey unfolds through breathtaking vistas and life’s most profound moments—blending families, battling cancer, finding love again, getting engaged, and a near tragedy before embarking on one final, unforgettable trip.
Part travelogue, part love story, this memoir captures the beauty of second chances and the healing power of nature, one park at a time.
Early Praise for "A National Park Love Story"
“5 out of 5 stars. Beautiful stories of love and landscapes. I loved how it mixed real-life stuff with all the fun and chaos of traveling to national parks. It’s not just about seeing pretty places, it’s about the memories you make along the way. Perfect mix of travel, love story, and parenting moments. Made me want to pack up and hit the road with my family.”
“5 out of 5 stars. WOW ~ An Incredible Adventure. A National Park Love Story is an amazing love and life story set against the backdrop of America’s spectacular National Parks. This book chronicles a couple’s journey from meeting to their quest to experience all 63 National Parks. An inspirational story of love, travel, and overcoming obstacles along with vivid insider details of each of the parks. This book shares in living color how nature and shared experiences can bring people closer than ever. Chris Truxell’s memoir is beautifully written. It is a MUST READ.”
“5 out of 5 stars. They’ve captured how travel isn’t about collecting postcards but collecting moments. As I’ve grown older, regret has settled in my bones about not seeing more of the world. Dad was our family compass, pitching tents under strange stars and driving us down roads that disappeared into horizons I’ve since forgotten. I managed to show my own children a handful of treasured spots before they outgrew wonder. Reading these pages, I’m transported—riding shotgun through their cross-country pilgrimages, breathing in their quiet dawns in unfamiliar woods. The memoir feels like borrowed memories: campfire confessions, children’s laughter echoing across lakes, the shared glance between partners when something beautiful appears unexpectedly. They’ve captured how travel isn’t about collecting postcards but collecting moments that reshape you.”
“5 out of 5 stars. A treasure of a book! This book really was a treasure. I learned so much about each one of the parks and thoroughly enjoyed the love story intertwined throughout the book. Well done!”
63 Parks, 15 Years, One Dream
Chris Truxell
Chris is a debut author whose lifelong passion for books extends to co-leading two spirited book clubs alongside friends, family, and her local library. After a successful 25-year career owning a marketing research firm, she now enjoys semi-retirement, dedicating her love of learning and life coaching skills to the next generation as a substitute teacher. Beyond the classroom and her latest read, Chris embraces an active lifestyle, enjoying workouts, hiking, and biking. She also treasures time with her family and the simple joy of a sunset.
Jeff Crum
Jeff’s lifelong passion for the outdoors blossomed despite an urban upbringing in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood. As a boy, he fished the Monongahela River and explored the city’s wooded hills. Cherished family vacations—week-long cabin stays in Pennsylvania’s state parks—further deepened his love for nature as he and his three brothers fished and hiked in Penn’s Woods. In his teenage years, Jeff and his brother Fred developed a shared, self-taught interest in hunting. This ignited Jeff’s obsession with bird dogs, especially English Setters. He went on to excel in field trials, not only as a competitor but also as a respected judge and reporter, with his work featured in The American Field Sportsman’s Journal and Crossbow Magazine. Today, Jeff applies his writing talents as a safety professional for a Fortune 50 company, crafting safety communications and serving as a technical writer for company standards.