Exploring the National Parks

47: Chasing Waterfalls in the National Parks

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 episode is for you! 
Join us as we cover: 
The six best national parks for seeing waterfalls 
Our favorite tall waterfalls
The most scenic waterfalls
Where to find the most powerful waterfalls
Waterfalls with the best colors
The splashiest waterfalls
Waterfalls with the most adventurous routes
We hope you enjoyed this episode and that you get to check out some of these amazing waterfalls on your next trip to the national parks. We would love to hear from you! What are your favorite waterfall parks? 
Leave us a comment and let us know at dirtinmyshoes.com/podcast. And if you love the show, we would love it if you left us a 5-star review!
Check out the full show notes here.

46: Exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Is there a more life-giving place than Great Smoky Mountain National Park? We don’t think there is! This is the time of year this park really shines, so in this episode, we are exploring everything the Smokies have to offer. 
We know that some of you are heading out there in the next few weeks to see the fall colors, so we are excited to talk about and celebrate this beautiful national park with you!
Join us as we cover: 
Why this park is the most visited national park in America
The most popular part of this park that you don’t want to miss
Our favorite waterfall hike in this park
What you need to know about Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
What we love about Gatlinburg
If you only have time for one trail, this is the one you want to do
What you need to know about the trails - and how to pronounce them
The diverse ecosystems in the park
What to check out on the North Carolina side of the park
The best way to get Smoky Mountain views
We hope you enjoyed exploring this stunning park with us! It is truly amazing, and it deserves all of the hype that it gets. There is so much magic in this park, and we know you’ll love it. 
If you want some help planning your trip to the Smokies and avoiding the massive crowds, grab your Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary before you go!
 
Check out the full show notes here.

45: National Park Foods (Part 2)

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are revisiting one of John’s favorite topics- food! This is Volume 2 of our favorite food that you can find in and near the national parks. 
Food is a huge part of traveling, so we want to make sure you don’t miss any of the delicious eats in the national parks you visit. Join us as we share two great places to eat and one that didn’t quite meet our expectations. 
Join us as we cover: 
The restaurant you can’t miss in Astoria 
The best place to get Sonoran hot dogs in Tucson
The donut shop in Shenandoah that didn’t live up to the hype for us
We hope you enjoyed hearing about our top three picks in this episode! If you head to any of these parks, make sure to stop in and try it for yourself because, hey, what’s a trip without good food?? 
For help planning your next trip to the national parks, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com!  And if you want to listen to National Park Foods Volume 1, you can find it here.
Check out the full show notes here.

44: Rocky Mountain Fun Facts

Who’s ready to learn some Rocky Mountain fun facts?! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing some fun facts about this park that you won’t find on the NPS website. 
John did some digging and found some fascinating facts, particularly about the rocks and mountains in this park. Let’s discuss what makes this national park so special! 
Join us as we cover: 
How old these rocks really are
Punny jokes you can make in Rocky Mountain to impress your friends your and family
The magma that brought the amazing colors in the rocks
The Boulder Creek Batholith
“The force” that’s raising the Rocky Mountains
How this area of Colorado really wanted to be like Kansas
Why John considers Rocky Mountain the “Reluctant National Park”
The parts of this park that are considered tundra
The fascinating human history of this national park
We hope you enjoy these Rocky Mountain fun facts! The magic of this park is in the small details, and it truly is an incredible place to visit. 
If you are looking for help planning your next trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to get your Rocky Mountain Itinerary!
Check out the full show notes here.

43: Favorite Fall National Parks

Fall is here!  The national parks are absolutely incredible this time of year because the crowds die down, the air is crisp, and the colors are vibrant. 
In this episode, we are sharing our top 10 favorite national parks to visit in the fall! *Disclaimer – this episode is heavy on the Lord of the Rings references.  If you are like Ash and can only handle so much, you can read through the full show notes instead for the list of our favorite fall parks :)
Join us as we cover: 
Our top pick for national parks in the West this time of year
The national park with the best personality
The park where you can see the most fantastic fall colors
The most overlooked national park that is perfect for a fall trip
Why fall is the best time to be in Zion National Park
Why Shenandoah is a must-see in the fall months
The park that you might not think of visiting in the fall, but you definitely should
A small but mighty national park to visit in the fall months
A park that is simply otherworldly this time of year
Where you can see the Northern Lights in September
We hope you enjoy this episode and are able to get out and see some of these parks this fall because the colors are truly so beautiful! 
If you need help planning your trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to check out our national park itineraries and other trip-planning resources.
Check out the full show notes here.

42: Exploring Rocky Mountain -- Best Views, Trails, and Activities

Ready to get Rocky Mountain high? We are heading over to Colorado for this episode of Exploring the National Parks! 
We recently got back from visiting Rocky Mountain National Park again, and we had such an amazing time. Join us as we share some of our favorite spots, hikes, things to do, and more! 
Join us as we cover: 
Everything you need to know about the Bear Lake area
The hike that you can’t miss at this park
Why you should be taking the afternoon thunderstorms very seriously
How to prepare for possible altitude sickness
All of the incredible hiking trails you can check out at this park
The food in Bear Lake…or lack thereof!
The famous creepy hotel you can visit during your trip
Places to camp in Rocky Mountain and the best places to see elk
The star of Rocky Mountain National Park - The Trail Ridge Road
What to keep in mind when it comes to elevation in Rocky Mountain
The insanely cool krummholz trees you can find in this park
The best side of the park for seeing moose
What we love about Grand Lake 
The trail where you get the most bang for your buck
Hitting the trail in Rocky Mountain is where you really see the magic, so we hope you get a chance to get out there and see it for yourself! Any extra time you can spend seeing mother nature in action is humbling, especially while you’re in these mountains. 
If you are ready to start planning your trip to Rocky Mountain, we have you covered. Head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to get your itinerary! 
Check out the full show notes here.

41: National Park Foods (Part 1)

Let’s talk about food in the national parks!
One of the top requests we have received on this podcast is to talk about food. So in this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are talking about three of the most memorable places to eat in the national parks. 
Join us as we cover: 
Where you can find the most heavenly blackberry butter
Where to get a hearty mountain man breakfast
The “famous” ice cream you should pass on
There are so many amazing places to eat in the national parks, and some not-so-great options as well.  We hope these recommendations help you discover some delicious food on your next trip!
If you need help planning your next national park vacation, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com.
Check out the full show notes here.

40: Acadia Fun Facts

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into the fun facts of Acadia National Park! 
This park is probably cooler than you think, so we are excited to share what makes it such an incredible park (aside from the gorgeous views!) with you. 
Let’s take a deep dive into the fascinating history that shaped this national park into the awe-inspiring location that it is today. 
Join us as we cover: 
The massive amount of geological history missing from this park
The three major unconformities in Acadia 
The fascinating science behind one of the most striking features of this park
How glaciers shaped this park into what it is today
John’s theory of how this park ties into Greek mythology
The human history of Acadia 
The moment when things started to change historically in this park
The story of how Acadia became a national park and how we can give back 
Thanks for joining us for these Acadia fun facts! We hope this inspired you to finally plan that trip out to Acadia because it is just magical! If you want help planning your next trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com.
Check out the full show notes here.

39: Swimming Holes in the Parks - Grand Teton, Redwood, and Crater Lake

Are you ready to learn about a few more of our favorite places to cool off in the national parks? 
This is part two of the best swimming holes that the National Parks have to offer. This isn’t an all-inclusive list – we truly love so many swimming places in the parks!  
But today, we are sharing three more of our top favorite places to cool off after a long hike. Let’s discuss the best places for a swim during your next trip!
Join us as we cover: 
The swimming spots with the best views in Grand Teton
The can’t-miss swimming spot in Redwood National Park
Where to swim in the Crown Jewel of the Pacific Northwest 
We hope you enjoyed hearing about the best refreshing places to take a swim and cool off in the national parks. 
If you want more ideas, make sure you listen to part one of the best swimming holes in the parks. If you want help planning your next trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com.
Check out the full show notes here.

38: Exploring Acadia -- Best Views, Trails, and Activities

Let’s take a trip to Ash’s favorite national park on the East Coast - Acadia National Park! If we’re being honest, Acadia is unlike anything you can see in the West. 
In this episode of Exploring the National Park, we are exploring this magical national park and all of the things that make it such an incredible place to visit. 
Join us as we cover: 
Our favorite spots to visit in Acadia
Why we love the Beehive Trail
The family-friendly mountain hike with incredible views
A fun way to experience the power of the ocean
The Carriage Roads you can utilize in Acadia 
Why you haven’t fully experienced Acadia if you haven’t tried the popovers
The most famous mountain in Acadia and when you should try to see it
Everything we love about Bar Harbor 
The other things you need to eat at this national park
How to find Acadia’s best-kept secret
Where to find the nicest campground in the park and see an area most people don’t see
We hope you enjoyed this episode all about Acadia National Park! This seaside national park is truly unique and beautiful.  
In addition to all the big adventures you can have here, be sure to try the lobster, the blueberries, and the popovers!
To hear our funniest story from our time in Acadia, listen to the funniest stories episode here. If you want help planning your next trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com.
Check out the full show notes here.