Hi! I'm Victoria. I'm a Texas transplant from Tennessee, but have called many places home over the years. By day - and sometimes by night - I work as a resident physician in Family Medicine. I'm lucky in that my chosen profession brings me a great sense of purpose and joy. One of my favorite places to be, however, is outside. Ever since I was a child, I've had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the power and beauty of nature. Growing up, I wanted to be a volcanologist and storm chaser; I loved the idea of going on adventures while learning about the natural world. I poured through books where I was transported to the tops of mountains, to the depths of underground caverns, to rushing river rapids. Flashforward to today, I've gotten to experience these things in real life. Visiting the national parks and being outdoors is my passion; I love walking among the giants of Sequoia, climbing the rolling mountains of the Smokies, feeling the desert sun of the Southwest, exploring the subterranean world of caves, and so many more adventures offered in our parks. I even spent a summer as a park ranger intern at Shenandoah National Park! While I love most things "National Park," my absolute favorite pastime is hiking. I also enjoy visiting the lesser known areas of our NPS system such as monuments and historic sites, along with other public lands that are preserved via other agencies. I believe that the best way to learn our natural and cultural history is not by reading textbooks, but by actually stepping foot in these incredible spaces that the NPS preserves and interprets. There are currently 423 units preserved by the NPS; I hope you'll join me as I adventure, explore, and learn my way through "America's Best Idea."