A grandmother who made headlines after visiting all 63 US national parks with her grandson is now looking to visit every continent.
Joy Ryan, 94, of Zanesville, Ohio, affectionately known as “Grandma Joy,” began traveling for the first time in her life in 2015 after confessing to her grandson, Brad, that she had never seen mountain range or camping. .
Since then, the duo have logged thousands of miles on their travels, and Joy told DailyMail.com that these adventures helped her “step out of my comfort zone and face my fears… like that of ‘to be on the water’.
The nonagenarian – who got her first passport at the age of 91 – says traveling has also taught her the power of connection. She explains: “My grandson and I have grown our relationship and we have also made connections with people everywhere we go.
“National parks have given me the opportunity to connect with diverse people, and the common ground we share constantly reminds me that most people are inherently good.
Joy Ryan, 94, from Ohio, began traveling for the first time in her life in 2015 after confessing to her grandson, Brad, that she had never seen a mountain range or done of camping. Above, photographed together in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve.
The nonagenarian – pictured on a zipline adventure in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia – got her first passport at the age of 91.
Joy and Brad pose with a giant tortoise during a recent visit to the Galapagos Islands
The traveling duo takes a photo from a high elevation in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The duo completed their quest to visit every U.S. national park in May 2023, with their end point being American Samoa National Park.
They said the accomplishment was “bittersweet” at the time, as it came just a week after the deaths of Brad’s father and Joy’s eldest son.
Veterinarian Brad noted that by reaching the final leg of their national park journey, they showed the world that “you’re never too old to show up and live the adventures of your dreams.”
The two men have now set themselves the challenge of visiting all seven continents, with North and South America already completed.
More recently, they ended their South American adventure with a visit to Chile.
In one of her most recent Instagram posts – where she uses the handle @grandmajoysroadtrip and has over 100,000 subscribers – Joy discusses some of the highlights of the trip.
Photos of her tastings and meals feature the accompanying caption: “We love trying new foods while traveling and it’s easy to see why Chile is a popular destination for foodies.”
“Chilean cuisine is a melting pot of many cultures: Spanish, French, Italian and German, to name a few. Chile is also renowned for its plethora of vineyards.
“We visited some amazing wineries and restaurants during our time in Chile, including Olá Bar and Food at Olá Santiago Providencia.”
Joy’s other overseas travels to date have taken her to Samoa, Canada, Kenya and Ecuador.
She says one of the most surprising places she’s visited so far is American Samoa because “it’s part of the United States, but you’ll never know.”
Joy adds: “Our citizens there could use a lot of support, and I hope our story highlights the economic difficulties that exist there.
“My grandson is a veterinarian and he wants to go back there and help solve the wild dog problem.
Joy, seen with her grandson on a boat trip in California’s Channel Islands National Park, says she is ‘very grateful’ to have him in her life
Although Joy jumped into the social media groove and embraced technology in an effort to inspire others, she says one of her favorite travel items is a map.
Looking ahead, Brad and Joy are currently looking at where to go in Europe, Antarctica and Australia to complete their quest to touch every continent.
Joy, pictured above with a guide in the Galapagos Islands, hopes her travels will teach people that “it’s never too late to try something new.”
When it comes to her most epic experience yet, Joy says whitewater rafting in Alaska was a particularly memorable outing.
“We met with the governor of American Samoa while we were there and I am confident we can make a difference there. Lots of people are working hard to improve things there.
When it comes to her most epic experience during her travels, Joy says whitewater rafting in Alaska was a particularly memorable outing.
She explains, “During our trip to Alaska, I had the opportunity to raft Class III rapids on the McCarthy River in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
“This activity helped me overcome my fear of water. When I was a child, I almost drowned and have been afraid of water ever since.
“But Brad gave me a lot of reassurance to deal with that fear and, in turn, I helped him deal with his fear of heights.”
Although Joy jumped into the social media groove and embraced technology in an effort to inspire others, she says one of her favorite travel items is a map.
She reflects: “Believe it or not, a good old atlas is still useful.
“You never know when your GPS signal will disappear. Thanks to our reliable atlas, we never got lost.
Looking ahead, Brad and Joy are currently determining where to go in Europe, Antarctica and Australia to complete their quest to touch every continent.
While they started their journey on a shoestring budget – which included “eating lots of ramen noodles and tangerines” – the two gradually grew their following on social media and now have sponsors who help support their projects. travel.
Joy says she hopes her travels teach people that “it’s never too late to try something new.”
When asked what she would tell her younger self, she reveals, “I would tell myself to stay positive despite losses and setbacks, and one day I will live a life I never imagined for myself. I believe in the power of positive thinking.
“It’s hard not to look on the bright side of life when a stranger smiles at you as you watch the Old Faithful Geyser erupt into the sky.
“I feel optimistic as a result of my travels because I realize my own potential without being limited by my age.
“National parks have given me the opportunity to connect with diverse people, and the common ground we share constantly reminds me that most people are inherently good.
Before leaving her card to consult her card, Joy sends a thank you note to her grandson. She reflects: “I am so grateful to have Brad in my life.
“We had been separated for 10 years, so I was very happy to reestablish that relationship between us. We are closer than ever now.
“I want his future to be happy and healthy. Right now I’m helping him write his memoir about our adventures in the national park. It was fun working on that.
“I hope that when her book is finally published, our journey will inspire other families to pursue adventures across the generation gap.”