16-Month-Old Indian-American Toddler on Track to Become Youngest Person to Visit All 63 US National Parks

WASHINGTON — A 16-month-old girl from Schaumburg, Illinois is making history one national park at a time. Arya Sharma, of Indian origin, is on a mission to become the youngest person ever to visit all 63 US National Parks — and she has already checked off 34.
Accompanied by her parents, software professionals Akshay Sharma and Aparajita Rai, little Arya has been exploring America’s most breathtaking natural landscapes since infancy. The family plans to complete the remaining 29 parks within the next two years.
What began as a simple desire to connect their daughter with nature took an unexpected turn when a park ranger suggested the family attempt a Guinness World Record. “We never imagined this would turn into a record attempt,” said Akshay. “We just wanted Arya to grow up close to nature — but when the ranger suggested it, we thought, why not?”
One of the most memorable moments came at Yosemite National Park, where Arya sat silently before a waterfall, completely absorbed in the scenery. “She was totally present in that moment,” recalled mother Aparajita. “That’s exactly why we do this.”
The family, who document their journeys on social media as eternalvoyager1001, is already in contact with Guinness World Records, though the verification process remains rigorous. Alaska is their next destination this weekend.
Beyond the record, the couple hopes to inspire other parents. “When Arya grows up,” said Akshay, “we want her to know that no goal is impossible.”