Julia Winka and her dog, Bria completed the Passport Program in just under four months.
"Many of the parks have very unique features or environments that make them my favorite for different things."
Julia decided to embark on the Passport journey because it "seemed like a fun thing to do," she said.
"I wanted to go camping a lot this summer and it was a neat way to figure out destinations.
The biggest surprise I had was that there are 42 State Parks. When I first thought of going to them, I really had no idea how many state parks we have. It was great to see them all.
If I have to pick one, I guess it would be State Forest State Park. The location is awesome and the lake is great. It is perfect and has good access for kayaking and fishing. I even caught a couple of fish there."
She offers insight to aspiring Passport Champions:
"Plan your trip according to the season. Some of the parks on the eastern plains would be a little hot during the summer. If you're going on the weekends, you will be wise to have reservations since these are popular sites," Julia said.
"There are a lot of State Parks but they are also strategically located to assist travelers passing though the state. It's wise to check reservoir conditions before you go if you expect to get on the water."
Bria, a 4-year-old female Keeshond, especially enjoyed State Forest State Park.
"She loves to go kayaking with me," Julia said.
Back to Passport Champions page.