In this episode, we’re uncovering one of the most underrated gems in the entire national park system—Great Basin! Hardly anyone talks about this park, but we absolutely love this hidden oasis in the desert. As the state’s only national park, Great Basin is an amazing example of the unique Nevada landscape. So today, we’re diving into why you should…

In the spirit of Halloween, we’re sharing some spooky stories written by John, inspired by the national parks! Whether you believe in spirits or not, these tales might just send a shiver down your spine. So gather around the campfire with us and enjoy a few ghostly encounters in your favorite national parks. Join us for stories about: A skinny-dipp…

Let’s head out to Death Valley for some fascinating fun facts! This national park protects an extreme landscape that will surprise you at every turn. From the sand dunes to the extremely hot and dry climate, visiting Death Valley will transport you into the bizarre and beautiful. What you see may seem like it’s straight out of a movie, but Scout's …

How do you go to the bathroom while you’re out hiking? Surprisingly, this is one of the most common questions we get! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re diving into the nitty-gritty of how to handle bathroom breaks on the trail. Tune in for some handy tips on relieving yourself in the great outdoors—with a sprinkle of potty humo…

We have a confession: Death Valley wasn’t even close to the top of our travel bucket list. But once we arrived, we were blown away—it exceeded every expectation! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re sharing everything you need to know about this underrated gem. If Death Valley isn't on your radar yet, we encourage you to bump it u…

We give a lot of love to the big national parks, but we also love visiting smaller and off-the-beaten-path sites run by the NPS. In today’s Small Park Spotlight, we are taking you on a tour of Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawai’i! Most of us know the history of what happened at Pearl Harbor, but immersing yourself in the events of December 7, …

If you’re excited about volcanoes, this Exploring the National Parks episode is for you! Today, we're diving into six fun facts about Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. This ever-changing park is a must-see, where you can witness both destruction and creation in action. Join us as we explore the unique features that make Hawai’i Volcanoes National Pa…

Are you ready to hit the trail in Acadia National Park? Come hiking with us as we share our favorite tips for hiking the famous Beehive Trail in Acadia! The Beehive Trail is one of the most iconic trails in any national park. It is short but adventurous, and we are excited to dive into what makes this trail so amazing. In this episode, we discuss: …

Aloha friends! Today’s episode takes us on a journey across the ocean to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park! This park protects some of the most active volcanoes in the world – Kilauea and Mauna Loa. It's crazy that you can get this close to these epic volcanoes when you visit this national park! Join us as we explore our favorite spots in Hawai’i Vol…

Let’s go on an adventure! This summer, we took a road trip through some of our favorite parks, plus we added in a few places we had never been to before. And now we want to take you along with us on this epic driving route! Join us on a 10-day journey through the Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky National Parks as we share all of the fun thin…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re going to dazzle you with some fun facts about Mount Rainier National Park! This mountain has thrumming energy, but it is hard to properly explain the feeling you get when you experience Mount Rainier National Park. Whether you are hiking on the mountain or seeing it from afar, this volcano draw…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are back with another Mail from the Trail episode! We are diving into your burning questions about the national parks. Join us as we discuss hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim, hiking trip necessities, how we decide which parks to visit, and more! In this episode, we discuss: How to hike Rim to Ri…

As one of the most intriguing and *potentially* deadly volcanoes in America, Mount Rainier has been on people’s radars for a long time. So today, we're thrilled to be delving into the wonders of the one and only Mount Rainier National Park! This incredible mountain and its surrounding area was created as the fourth national park in the United State…

Today, we are going on an adventure in Ash’s favorite national park—Grand Teton! We’re hiking through Cascade Canyon, the most popular longer trail in the Tetons. Join us as we visit Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and even Lake Solitude along the Cascade Canyon Trail! Whether you’re going for a multi-day backpacking trip or a quick hi…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are headed back to one of our favorite National Parks — Mesa Verde! We are diving into the fun facts about this park and focusing on the people who lived here. The incredible human history in this area is what this park is all about, and we are so excited to share it with you! Join us as we take a…

It’s time to drive one of the most epic roads in any national park – Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing our insider tips for this gem of a scenic drive. The Going-to-the-Sun Road cuts right through Glacier as it travels deeper into the park’s majestic mountains! We’re talking all about o…

We are exploring Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park in this episode of Exploring the National Parks. This unique national park is for anyone who loves history, especially the fascinating story of the people native to the Southwest! Mesa Verde is a sacred homeland to 26 different Native American tribes, and it protects the heritage of these incredi…

You may not have even heard of this park, so you’re in for a real treat! Today on the Exploring the National Parks Podcast, we’re sharing our favorite fun facts about Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. This park is more of a blend between a national historical site and a national park because it has both natural beauty and significant historica…

Let’s talk about a national park that we know many of you are visiting this summer -- Yosemite! Today on the Exploring the National Parks Podcast, we’re sharing our top 5 favorite classic Yosemite Valley views. Few places in the world are as picturesque as this national park, and we are excited to talk about the must-see spots you won’t want to mis…

We are doing something new on the podcast! We want to start interviewing some of the coolest people on the planet – park rangers! For our very first interview, we are talking to Ranger Ryan Cooper, who works for Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. His job is to map the Lewis and Clark Trail, so he’s basically a modern-day explorer! Today, he i…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio! This national park is so incredible because it was an important area for the development of the wild frontier. It also sparked a crucial environmental movement and opened up discussions on the importance of the natural environment. You don’t usu…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are doing a mailbag episode! We are diving into some of the questions we have gotten from you guys about the national parks and sharing our best tips and suggestions. Join us as we share our favorite camping tips, the best trails for solo hiking, park ranger Ash, and more! In this episode, we disc…

Join us as we journey back to Alaska for some fascinating Glacier Bay fun facts! Ash, who worked as a park ranger in Glacier Bay National Park, and John, who loves Glacier Bay and enjoys learning and sharing his discoveries, are here to share our unique experiences and surprise you with facts that make this park so extraordinary! From advancing gla…

It’s that time of year again — time to start thinking about Yellowstone National Park! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we discuss the amazing wildlife that can be seen in Yellowstone. The wildlife in this park is incredible. It’s the North American Safari! Join us as we explore the top spots in Yellowstone to see wildlife, with a s…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring a park that is near and dear to our hearts – Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska! Ash worked as a park ranger in Glacier Bay and has so many amazing experiences to share about living in this part of Alaska! This national park has tidewater glaciers, massive mountains, and wildlife ga…

Let’s hit the road and travel to some of the most beautiful national parks in the country! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re taking you on a journey through our home state. This epic 10-day Utah National Parks road trip is a family favorite, and we can’t wait to show you our favorite spots. Join us as we share a really cool sam…

Let’s head back to Olympic National Park for some fun facts! There is so much to share about this unique national park that it was kind of hard to narrow it down to just five. Olympic has so many distinct ecosystems and areas that are so different from the others in this park, and we are excited to dive into what makes this park so special! Join us…

Curious about potential future national parks? In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we're diving into emerging candidates that you won't want to miss. Join us as we explore seven key locations where people are advocating for national park status! Join us as we discuss: What has to happen for a new national park to be established Seven l…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring Olympic National Park! This huge national park has so much diversity and unique qualities that we can’t wait to explore with you all. Plus, it’s Ash’s turn to nerd out because Forks, Washington, home to a certain sparkly vampire and werewolf from Twilight, is one of the gateway towns…

Want to explore the national parks but on a tight budget? You’re going to love this episode of Exploring the National Parks! Visiting the national parks is actually a great option for you if you love to travel but don’t have a ton of money to spend on it. We are sharing all of our top tips for traveling to the national parks while spending as littl…

It’s time to learn some fun facts about Arches National Park! This is one of the coolest parks to visit, so we are so excited to jump into these truly fascinating fun facts about this national park. From the geology to the wildlife to the stars in the sky, we are covering everything that makes this park so incredible. Join us for this exciting epis…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are getting a little nerdy! We have been making lists of the national parks by size, visitation, and date established on Dirt In My Shoes. Today, we’re sharing some interesting information on the first five National Parks that were established. As National Park enthusiasts, we think everyone shoul…

Let’s explore Arches! We visit this national park at least once a year, and we never run out of things to do because there is just so much to see in the area. Whether it’s the well-known sights or the hidden gems, in this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re discussing it all. This park is truly iconic, and we hope this episode helps you …

Which national park campground is the best? In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are doing a full-on WWE-style smackdown! We each picked our top five favorite campgrounds, and we are going to battle it out to see who came up with the best options. We were full-time RVers for three years, so we are very familiar with the national park…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing 5 fun facts about Big Bend National Park! We recently shared our favorite activities and places to stay in this park, and today we are sharing some incredible fun facts. Known as a geologist’s paradise and nightmare, we are so excited to share all of the things that make this place so …

It’s a brand new year, and in this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are discussing what you can expect in the national parks in 2024! Granted, things will change throughout the year, but this is an overview of how things are looking for the 2024 season. I know many of you are planning your trips right now, so our goal is to give you as m…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring Big Bend! It’s a pilgrimage to get to this remote national park, but it’s worth the trek to the bottom of West Texas. Big Bend is totally different from any other national park, and there are so many fun things you can do during your trip. You’re going to fall in love with the Rio Gr…

This is our last podcast episode of 2023, and we are Florida dreaming! Today we are sharing our favorite fun facts about Dry Tortugas National Park. This park is incredible for many reasons and might be one of the most exciting fun facts episodes we’ve ever done! This national park has a colorful history, and even though it can be challenging to ge…

Raise the mast! Swab the deck! Arrr mateys, do you love pirates? If so, you’re going to love this episode of Exploring the National Parks! We are exploring a park that surprised us in every way - Dry Tortugas National Park! We have been to many historical parks, but this one was so much cooler than we expected. Everything about this area will amaze…

Wondering how to get your kids to happily hike in the national parks with you? In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing our top tips for hiking with kids. We have been hiking with kids for many years, and we love how it forces us to slow down and really appreciate the parks even more. Join us as we share our favorite strategi…

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are California dreamin’ with some Joshua Tree National Park fun facts. If you are looking for a warmer park to travel to this winter, Joshua Tree is the perfect location to check out. This is definitely one of those parks that you will appreciate more if you learn something about it first! Join us…

Happy Thanksgiving! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing some of our favorite places to eat in the national parks, but with a Thanksgiving twist. Get ready for our favorite poultry, berries, and pie recommendations as we eat our way around the national parks. Join us as we discuss: Where to find the best poultry and berry…

Let’s head to California to explore a park that is amazing to visit this time of year- Joshua Tree National Park! This incredible park has some truly unique trees that will make you feel like you stepped straight into a Dr. Seuss book. Joshua Tree National Park is a must-see if you are in this area of California! Join us as we discuss: Where to act…

Thinking about going somewhere fun this winter to break up the long, cold days? You’re going to love this episode of Exploring the National Parks! Today, we are sharing our favorite national parks to visit in the winter if you are looking to escape the snow. These are some of our favorite warm-weather escapes, and we are excited to share them with …

Ready to learn some interesting facts about Zion National Park? In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, John is taking the reins and sharing some Zion fun facts! This is a very popular national park that sees millions of visitors every year, so we are excited to dive into the history of the park and everything that makes it such a magical …

Halloween is right around the corner, and today we are talking about some supernatural and paranormal fun in this episode of Exploring the National Parks! We are sharing our favorite creepy stories from around the national parks that we all know and love. These parks are incredible, and they have some pretty insane stories associated with them as w…

Looking for an adventure? We have just the park for you! In this episode of the podcast, we are exploring the incredible Zion National Park. We have been fortunate enough to spend a ton of time in this park, and it’s probably our favorite place for anyone looking for a stunning and high-adventure national park to visit. If done right, this is one o…

Are you hoping to show your kids the beauty and wonder of the national parks? We are sharing our favorite parks to explore if you have toddlers or young kids in your adventure group! We firmly believe that it doesn't matter how young your kids are, you can have a fantastic time with them in the national parks! Sit back and relax as we share our fav…

It’s finally October, which means it is prime leaf-peeping season! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are excited to talk about one of our favorite leaf-peeping parks - Great Smoky Mountains National Park! If you are looking forward to learning five fun facts that will enhance your visit to the Smokies, this is the episode for you.…

Is there anything more fascinating to us than falling water? We absolutely love waterfalls! So in this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing some of the best national parks to visit if you want to see waterfalls and some of the best waterfalls that you can’t miss. If you are ready to go on a waterfall-chasing adventure, this episo…