A grandmother who made headlines after visiting all 63 US national parks with her grandson is now on a quest to visit every continent.
Joy Ryan, 94, from Zanesville, Ohio, who is known affectionately as ‘Grandma Joy,’ started 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 been camping.
Since then, the duo have racked up thousands of miles on their travels and Joy told DailyMail.com that the adventures had helped her to ‘get out of my comfort zone and face my fears… such as being on the water.’
The nonagenarian – who got her first passport at the age of 91 – says that traveling has also taught her the power of connection. She explains: ‘My grandson and I have grown our relationship, and we have also connected with people everywhere we go.
‘The national parks have given me a chance to connect with diverse people, and the common ground that we share constantly reminds me that most people are inherently good.’
Joy Ryan, 94, from Ohio, started 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 been camping. Above, pictured together at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska
The nonagenarian – pictured on a ziplining adventure at New River Gorge National Park & 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 snap a photo from a lofty height in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
The duo finished their quest to visit every US national park May 2023, with their finishing point being the National Park of American Samoa.
They said the accomplishment was ‘bittersweet’ at the time as it came just one week after Brad’s dad, and Joy’s eldest son, passed away.
Veterinarian Brad noted that by reaching the final step in their national park journey, they showed the world that ‘you are never too old to show up and live the adventures life of your dreams.’
Now the pair have set themselves the challenge of visiting all seven continents, with North and South America already completed.
Most recently they wrapped up their South American adventure with a stint in Chile.
In one of her most recent Instagram posts – where she uses the handle @grandmajoysroadtrip and has more than 100,000 followers – Joy touches on some of the trip highlights.
Photos of her wining and dining feature the accompanying caption: ‘We love sampling new food 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 incredible vineyards and restaurants while we were in Chile, including the Olá Bar and Food at Olá Santiago Providencia.’
To date, Joy’s other overseas travels have taken her to Samoa, Canada, Kenya, and Ecuador.
She says one of the most surprising places she has visited so far is American Samoa because ‘it’s part of the United States, but you would never know it.’
Joy adds: ‘Our citizens there could use a lot of support, and I hope our story puts a spotlight on the economic difficulties that exist there.
‘My grandson is a veterinarian, and he wants to go back and help with the feral dog problem there.
Joy, seen with her grandson during a boat excursion to the Channel Islands National Park in California, says she is ‘so grateful’ to have him in her life
While Joy has got into the social media groove of things and embraced technology in a bid to inspire others, she says one of her favorite travel items is a map
Looking ahead, Brad and Joy are currently figuring out where to go in Europe, Antarctica, and Australia to complete their quest of hitting 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’
In terms of her most epic experience to date, Joy says that whitewater rafting in Alaska made for a particularly memorable outing
‘We met with the governor of American Samoa while we were there, and I’m optimistic we can make a difference there. Many people are working hard to make things better there.’
In terms of her most epic experience during her travels, Joy says that whitewater rafting in Alaska made for a particularly memorable outing.
She explains: ‘During our trip to Alaska, I had the opportunity to go rafting in Class III rapids on the McCarthy River in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
‘This activity helped me to overcome my fear of water. When I was a child, I nearly drowned, and I’ve been afraid of water ever since.
‘But Brad has given me lots of reassurance to face this fear and, in return, I have helped him face his fear of heights.’
While Joy has got into the social media groove of things and embraced technology in a bid to inspire others, she says one of her favorite travel items is a map.
She muses: ‘Believe it or not, a good old-fashioned atlas still comes in handy.
‘You never know when your GPS signal will go away. Thanks to our trusted atlas, we never got lost.’
Looking ahead, Brad and Joy are currently figuring out where to go in Europe, Antarctica, and Australia to complete their quest of hitting every continent.
While they started out their travels on a shoestring budget – which included ‘eating a lot of ramen noodles and mandarin oranges’ – the pair have gradually increased their social media following and they now have sponsors who help to support trips.
Joy says she hopes her travels will teach people that ‘it’s never too late to try something new.’
Asked what she would tell her younger self, she reveals: ‘I would tell myself to stay positive despite the losses and setbacks, and one day, I will be living a life I never imagined for myself. I believe in the power of positive thinking.
‘It’s hard not to look on the sunny 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.
‘The national parks have given me a chance to connect with diverse people, and the common ground that we share constantly reminds me that most people are inherently good.’
Before signing off to consult her map, Joy puts in a word of thanks for her grandson. She muses: ‘I am so grateful to have Brad in my life.
‘We were estranged for 10 years, so I was very happy to mend that relationship between us. We’re closer than ever now.
‘I want his future to be happy and healthy. Right now, I’m helping him write his memoir about our national park adventures. It’s been fun to work on that.
‘I hope when his book is finally published that our journey will inspire other families to pursue adventures across the generational divide.’
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