Travel the Skies and Explore National Parks Along the Way 

There’s this moment on every flight, usually when we’re cruising at 35,000 feet way above the clouds, when I glance out the window and wonder what’s down there.  

Not the cities or the highways or the glowing runway beacons that the pilot will eventually be aiming for, but the quiet stretches. The forests, deserts, mountains, and parks that don’t get half as much credit as they deserve. 

And it was this curiosity that led me down an unexpected path, merging two things I love that are now unfortunately increasingly at odds with each other: flying and nature. 

I’ve always had a thing for wide-open spaces. As a kid, we’d take road trips to places like Yellowstone or Shenandoah, where my parents would let us roam just far enough that we felt like explorers.  

As an adult, time got tighter, responsibilities grew, and those spontaneous park visits faded into memory. But oddly enough, when I started flying for a living, the door to those wild places opened again. 

Seeing More Than Airports

It took me an embarrassingly long several months to figure out that layovers don’t have to be spent sleeping off jet lag or grabbing bad airport food. Some cities offer just enough time, and more importantly, just enough proximity to nature, that you can squeeze in a quick detour to a national park.  

I’m not talking about full-on backcountry treks here, but still: watching the sunrise over the Everglades or sneaking in a trail run in Red Rock Canyon before heading back to the airport beats any hotel lobby breakfast. 

One of the unexpected perks of flying professionally is that you can build a lifestyle that lets you connect with nature, even while traveling constantly. If you’re someone who loves both the sky and the land, if you’re a spontaneous traveler, this hybrid existence makes more sense than you’d think. 

A National Park Bucket List, One Layover at a Time

Over the past few years, I’ve gotten better at hacking my schedule. When I realized I could string together routes near some of America’s best national parks, the game changed. Some highlights include: 

• Arches and Canyonlands (4-hour drive from Salt Lake City International, but completely worth it). 
• Chugach State Park (just 20 minutes away from the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, AK) 
• Saguaro National Park (an hour and a half from Phoenix Sky Harbor) 

Not every trip needs to turn into an epic hike, though. Sometimes it’s just about sitting on a bench under a tree and not hearing any engines. When you’re in airports and jets as often as I am, those moments are gold. 

Surprising Community of Nature-Loving Flyers

What surprised me the most, though, is how many other flight attendants and pilots are doing the same thing. Swapping tips on quiet trails, trading park maps like baseball cards, and sharing hidden gems you’ll never find in a brochure.  

It’s a whole subculture mixing the high-flying world of aviation with the slow, grounding rhythm of nature. 

This dual lifestyle isn’t for everyone. But if you’re even remotely curious, it might be worth exploring. You can apply to flight attendant jobs in Miami and start your own version of this journey. Miami is a great base, as it connects you to both urban and wild landscapes, with Biscayne and Everglades right there, plus regular flights to Denver, Phoenix, and other nature-adjacent hubs. 

Finding Balance in the Clouds and Pines 

For me, unwinding in national parks is a way to stay sane, whether you spend your working hours in the office or in the sky. Flying can be exhilarating, but it’s just as mentally and physically draining as your regular desk job, and nature balances that out.  

When you’re deep in the woods or standing at the edge of a canyon, you remember why you chose a life of movement in the first place. You remember how small you are, and somehow, that makes everything feel more manageable. 

The freedom of flying pairs surprisingly well with the stillness of the wilderness. If you time your routes just right, pack light, and stay flexible, you might just find that your job can double as a one-way ticket to America’s most beautiful places. 

I still look out that plane window and wonder what’s below. But now, rather than just wonder, I plan. And when I land, I go to see for myself.