Exploring the National Parks

25: Canada Parks Road Trip -- Banff, Jasper, Waterton, Yoho, and Kootenay!

Let’s road trip to the national parks in the Canadian Rockies! 
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are heading up north to talk about the best Canadian national parks in the Rockies. You’ll want to set aside a couple of weeks for this trip because you definitely won’t run out of fun things to do! 
This road trip covers five different Canadian National Parks, and we are so excited to dive into them with you today. 
Join us as we cover: 
Why this trip is the perfect addition to your trip to Glacier
Where to begin this road trip in Canada
The boat tour with the best views in Waterton National Park
Where to go for a full Canadian experience
Our favorite hike at Waterton Lakes
The killer ants you need to watch out for
The best stops in Waterton
What we love about Banff National Park
Our favorite things to do in Banff
One of the most incredible drives we’ve ever done
What we love about the Icefields Parkway
Why Jasper National Park is a must-visit park
The wildlife you’ll find in Jasper
Our favorite areas in Yoho National Park
Tips for getting reservations for Lake O’Hara 
Other sites to see on your trip
We hope you enjoyed our tips for this epic road trip through the Canadian National Parks! These national parks are incredible; we know you will have so much fun if you decide to take this trip. 
If you want to learn more about Banff and Jasper, you’ll find can’t-miss articles for these parks on Dirt In My Shoes!
Check out the full show notes here.

24: Glacier Fun Facts

Are you ready to learn some fun facts about Glacier National Park? 
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into the amazing history and interesting geology of Glacier. This park is one of the best places to get outside and have an adventure, and you’ll love it even more if you know these five fun facts! 
Join us as we discuss the geology, history, and other amazing facts that make this park the incredible national park it is. 
Join us as we cover: 
How this park was formed
Why the Lewis Overthrust is so cool 
What ancient algae tells us about this area 
The impact glaciers have on the area 
Why they named it Glacier National Park
How climate change is impacting the glaciers
Where the precipitation from this park goes
The different ecosystems you can find in Glacier 
The fascinating human history in this area 
The most important people involved in the preservation of the park
We hope you enjoy these fun facts about Glacier National Park and that it enriches your next trip to this incredible place. 
If you’re ready to plan your trip to Glacier National Park, head over to YouTube to see our trip-planning videos. You can also check out our itinerary to make planning your trip a breeze! 
Check out the full show notes here.

23: Scariest National Park Roads Ranked!

Are you looking for a white-knuckle drive in a national park? This episode of Exploring the National Parks is for you! We are talking about the scariest roads we have ever driven in the national parks. 
We’ve driven on many roads in the national parks, and a few of them really stand out because of the fear they induced. Join us as we reminisce about our experiences and rank these scary roads! 
Join us as we cover: 
The highest paved road in the national park system
The road that we don’t have the guts to drive
Our favorite road that looks scary but actually isn’t too bad
The scariest paved road in the parks
The coolest road to drive if you’re looking for adventure
The most deceptively scary road we have been on
The worst road in any national park!
So there you have it – our list of the scariest roads in the national parks ranked! 
Have you driven any of these roads, or do you have others to add to the list? You can send us a message at DirtInMyShoes.com/podcast and let us know. Safe travels, my friend!
Check out the full show notes here.

22: Exploring Glacier -- Best Views, Trails, and Activities

Have you visited Glacier National Park yet? 
This is one of the parks that we get the most questions about! So in this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring this fantastic national park and sharing our best tips for your next trip. 
We love Glacier National Park, and if you’re looking for mountains, waterfalls, hiking trails, and tons of wildlife, we think you’ll love it too! 
Join us as we cover: 
Why Going-to-the-Sun Road is the most epic national park drive
What you’ll find on the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road
Why Bird Woman Falls is a must-see
Where to find the best hikes in the park
What you’ll find on the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road
The best way to see glaciers
Our favorite hikes on the east side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road
The most dangerous part of visiting this park
Why we don’t like to use the Glacier shuttle
Where to find the best huckleberry foods near the park
Why you’ll love Many Glacier
Where to spot wildlife in the park
Our favorite plants to see in the area 
What to check out at the North Fork Area
Bowman Lake and huckleberry bearclaws
There are so many incredible things to do in Glacier National Park. While it is busy, there are also plenty of trails that you can go to to get away from the crowds and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. 
If you’re ready to plan your trip to Glacier National Park, head over to YouTube to see our trip-planning videos. You can also check out our itinerary to make planning your trip a breeze! 
Check out the full show notes here.

21: Pacific Northwest Road Trip -- California, Oregon, and Washington National Parks!

Have you ever been road-tripping through the Pacific Northwest? 
This is definitely one of our favorite sections of the country! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing everything we love about taking this road trip and the incredible national parks you can see along the way. 
This route spans three states and six national parks so it is definitely one you need to set aside some time for. Join us as we share our best tips for making this road trip unforgettable!
Join us as we cover: 
Where to start with this road trip 
What we love about Lassen Volcanic National Park
Our preferred route to take 
Why Avenue of the Giants is a must-see
Our favorite ways to see the Redwoods 
Why you should stop at the Trees of Mystery
Our favorite stop in Crescent City 
What you need to see at Crater Lake 
The Oregon Coast
Best places to stop for food 
The most likely place for you to see a Sasquatch 
The Twilight tour you can take in Forks 
Why we love Olympic National Park 
The best trails in Mount Rainier National Park 
The best time of year to make this trip 
Why North Cascades is such an interesting park 
Where to go at the end of your trip
This episode provides a great starting place for structuring your own trip through the Pacific Northwest.  We can’t wait for you to get out and explore!
Check out the full show notes here.

20: Yosemite Fun Facts

Are you ready to learn some cool fun facts about Yosemite National Park?
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into the nitty-gritty details of Yosemite. This incredible park has such an amazing story – it not only has great geologic history, but it has a fascinating human history as well!
Join us as we cover:
The granite you can find in this park
The cool history of the valleys in this park
The mystery of Half Dome
Fascinating water facts about this park
What makes the Tuolumne Meadows so special
The changing landscape
The incredible trees you can find here
Why fire is required
The value of the land
Yosemite National Park has played a massive role in the conservation and preservation of beautiful places all over America. This episode will enrich your appreciation for this amazing national park before your next visit!
Check out the full show notes here.

19: Parkitecture and Historic Hotels

Have you ever heard the term “parkitecture”?
You’re in for a treat because, in this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are chatting about all things parkitecture and park lodges.
You’ll love learning about the history of parkitecture and why you should be paying attention to it on your next trip to the national parks. We’ll also talk about our favorite national park lodges and some amazing fun facts about them!
Join us as we cover:
What parkitecture is
The history of this style
What the CCC did for the parks
The best inn in Yellowstone
The architects that brought these lodges to life
The amazing lodge at Yosemite
The unexpected first jester at the Ahwahnee Hotel
The must-see hotel in Glacier National Park
Preservation efforts
The fate of the sawmill at the Many Glacier Hotel
Our favorite hotel in Mount Rainier
The best place to stay at the Grand Canyon
The crazy history of the Crater Lake Lodge
All of these lodges built in the “parkitecture” style are so cool and definitely worth checking out. If you want to stay in any of these lodges, we highly recommend it! They really do add to the experience of visiting the parks.
Even if you don’t stay in these lodges, you’ll see examples of parkitecture all over the country. These buildings are an amazing part of the history of the National Park Service!
Check out the full show notes here.

18: Exploring Yosemite -- Best Views, Trails, and Activities

When you think of a national park that has been on your list forever as a place you want to visit, what do you think of? For us, the answer was definitely Yosemite!
Now, having been to Yosemite many times, we never get tired of the soaring granite peaks and massive waterfalls here! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are talking all about exploring Yosemite National Park.
Join us as we cover:
Our favorite areas in Yosemite
What you need to know about driving to this park
The must-see views on the Mist Trail
Waterfall season in Yosemite
Floating the river
Biking through the Valley
The gift shops and lodges in the area
The underrated but beautiful bridges in the area
What we love about El Cap
The most iconic view of this park
Where you can find Giant Sequoias
What you have to see at Tuolumne Meadows
Ash’s crazy story from the last time she hiked Lembert Dome
The beauty of Yosemite really can’t be overstated. It truly is a must-see and we hope these tips for exploring this park will make your trip memorable!
Check out the full show notes here.

17: Fossils in the Parks -- Dinos, Creatures, and Other Really Cool Stuff!

Today we want to talk about something incredible that you can see in the parks -- fossils!
When we were full-time RVers through the national parks, we noticed some fun themes. In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into the theme of dinosaurs and all of the cool fossils you can see in the parks.
As the parents of two little boys, we all geek out over stuff like this. We are excited to share our favorite national parks with fossils today!
Join us as we cover:
Why you need to see Dinosaur National Monument
A cool trail nearby to find dinosaur bones
The dinosaur bones you can see at Big Bend National Park
Some fascinating dinosaur facts
Where to find some amazing dinosaur footprints
The human history in some of the parks
The footprints that were found in White Sands National Park
The huge collection of fossils you can see at Badlands National Park
Cool instances of people finding amazing fossils
Why the Mammoth Site is a must-see
Fossils of other “really cool stuff” you have to see
What’s cool about the Guadalupe Mountains
The fossils you can see in Petrified Forest
We hope you enjoy our journey on the “dinosaur train” around these amazing national parks!
Check out the full show notes here.

16: Grand Canyon Fun Facts

It’s time for some Grand Canyon fun facts!
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are taking you along with us as we discuss some of the fascinating facts about the Grand Canyon!
Whether or not you have been to the park yet, our goal with this episode is to enrich your knowledge of the Grand Canyon.
Join us as we cover:
How the Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
The universal wonder and awe of the Grand Canyon
The elevation changes in this park
The staircase of the Grand Canyon
The shocking age of the rocks in this park
The mystery at the Grand Canyon
Why this area is the Reader’s Digest of North America
The amazing animals you can see in this park
The tribes that have a history in this area
Early explorers
The human history of the Grand Canyon is ongoing. We are all part of this tradition of visiting it and standing in awe of this incredible place.
We hope this episode inspired you to get out to the Grand Canyon if you haven’t already and explore it for yourself. If you want a complete itinerary for your trip, head over to dirtinmyshoes.com.
Check out the full show notes here.