Who Is Aarya Sharma? The 16-Month-Old Who Has Already Seen More Of America Than Most Adults Ever Will

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She was just six weeks old when her parents strapped her in and drove to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. That was March 2025. Sixteen months later, Aarya Sharma of Schaumburg, Illinois - daughter of two Indian-origin parents - has already visited 34 of America's 63 national parks and is closing in on what could be a Guinness World Record: the youngest person to have seen them all.

It is, by any measure, a remarkable story. And it started almost by accident.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @eternalvoyager1001

A Ranger's Remark That Changed Everything

It was a conversation with a park ranger that first planted the seed. "We were talking to the ranger and that ranger suggested that this has never been done before," recalled Aarya's father, Akshay Sharma. "'I have never seen any child that has visited 15 national parks in seven or eight months.'"

That offhand remark lit a fire. Akshay and his wife, Aparajita Rai, are originally from India and believe the US is doing a fantastic job of maintaining its national parks. They found such a specific goal worthy of their time. The family has since visited 33 parks across 10 states, with a trip to Alaska planned to knock out seven more in one go.

The record they are chasing is not without precedent. In 2023, a three-year-old named Journey Castillo from San Antonio became the youngest person at the time to visit all 63 US national parks. Her journey began with a hike at Pikes National Forest in Colorado when she was just a few weeks old - a story strikingly similar to Aarya's. The Sharmas, however, are aiming to complete the quest while Aarya is still well under two.

"She Was Amazed"

The parks have not just been tick-boxes on a list. Aarya's parents have watched their daughter grow more comfortable with nature - looking at and chasing birds, touching trees and interacting enthusiastically with other hikers on the trails.

"Seeing her face light up at Grand Teton. She was amazed," Aparajita told the Daily Herald. "She looked so tiny in front of those majestic mountains."

While Aarya is still too young to fully understand the importance of nature, her mother says she has already developed a love for it. The family collects junior badges from every park they visit, and plenty of photographs to capture the memories.

Aparajita says she hears from other mothers how drawn to routine and uncomfortable with change children can become. But that has not been Aarya's story. "Her adaptability to be so comfortable out there with people shows me she's enjoying it a lot," she said.

Nature Before Screens

The driving philosophy behind the quest is quietly counter-cultural. Akshay and Aparajita met at work 12 years ago and bonded over a shared love of travel. Now, they find themselves raising their daughter in an era when screen time often takes priority in childhood. "We are totally into nature and want her to understand nature first," Akshay said.

"Our goal has never been to break records, but rather to celebrate family travel, outdoor learning and the importance of connecting children with nature," he added.

Though Akshay knows Aarya will not vividly remember every trail or every vista, he believes the impact will last. "She'll think nothing in this world is impossible," he said.