Exploring the National Parks

81: Insider Tips for Driving Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road

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 our favorite viewpoints and activities along this drive, as well as insider tips and fascinating facts you’ll want to know before you go.
In this episode, we discuss: 
Fascinating fun facts about this road
Helpful things you need to know if you are planning to drive this road
The stops and sights you don’t want to miss
Campgrounds and trails you’ll want to check out 
Where you can see Bird Woman Falls in all its glory (John’s obsessed!)
The Red Bus Tour
Why everyone loves Logan Pass 
The easiest way to see a glacier in Glacier
Hiking to St. Mary Falls
The phenomenal view that’s hard to find 
The best places to get parking 
We hope you enjoy driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road with us in spectacular Glacier National Park! Before you go, be sure to check if reservations are needed to enter this area of the park. 
If you need a day-by-day plan for your trip and hope to avoid the crowds, or if you need help getting your reservations, pick up your Glacier Itinerary here.
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which stop along the Going-to-the-Sun Road is your favorite or which one you are most looking forward to!
Check out the full show notes here.

80: Exploring Mesa Verde National Park: Best Tips + Activities

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 incredible people. It represents such an important part of our history as Americans, and we are so excited to dive into this truly special and sacred national park with you today! 
In this episode, we discuss: 
The amazing architecture you’ll see in this park
Some helpful reminders for the drive when visiting this park
What to skip while you’re in this park and what you can’t miss 
The must-see sights on the Mesa Top Loop 
What makes the Cliff Palace Loop the best part of the park
Our top favorite tour to take in Mesa Verde 
Where to get the best tacos in Mesa Verde 
Construction to watch out for 
Why we love Long House 
The gateway towns to check out near Mesa Verde 
We hope you get the chance to visit Mesa Verde! It’s such an incredible park to visit with so much history. Plan to visit for a couple of days, and be sure to get your advanced reservations if you want to tour the cliff dwellings!
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and check out our photo of the Balcony House ladder. Would you climb it?! Leave a comment and let us know.
Check out the full show notes here.

79: Five Fun Facts About Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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 historical landmarks. Cuyahoga Valley is a unique smaller park that many people don’t know much about. Join us as we discuss what makes this park so cool! 
In this episode, we discuss: 
What makes the bedrock layers at this national park so interesting
The fascinating history of the canal
How this park helped Ohio become one of the most populated states in the country
How the river in this park became a catalyst for a major environmental movement
The surprising number of active farms within the Cuyahoga Valley boundaries
We hope you love hearing about this incredible national park! It’s truly like going back to simpler times when you visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and we hope you get the chance to visit it soon! 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Which of these fun facts surprised you the most? Head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know! 
Check out the full show notes here.

78: 5 Best Iconic Yosemite Valley Views for First-Time Visitors

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 miss on your next visit!
In this episode, we discuss: 
The most iconic place to take a photo of Yosemite Valley
The most popular viewpoint in Yosemite
Ash’s favorite Yosemite Valley view
The best 360-degree experience in Yosemite Valley
The most fun and unique way to see the beautiful valley 
We hope you enjoy hearing about our favorite Yosemite Valley views. If you can get to all five on your next visit to Yosemite, you’ll have some amazing photos to remember your trip by!
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! If you have been to Yosemite, what is your favorite Yosemite Valley view? Bonus points if you share photos! Head over to our Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Need help planning your perfect trip to Yosemite? Grab one of our Yosemite National Park itineraries!
Check out the full show notes here.

77: Interview with Ranger Ryan from Lewis and Clark NHT

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 is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work as a park ranger, sharing fascinating stories about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and diving into his other passion: delicious BBQ.
In this episode, we discuss: 
How Ryan became a park ranger
What he does on a day-to-day basis in his job 
Cool information about the Lewis and Clark Trail
The unique artifacts that have been found by archeologists on this trail
The fascinating history of the expedition
The coolest part about Ryan’s job
The best BBQ along the Lewis and Clark Trail 
We hope you enjoy this conversation with Ryan! If you want amazing BBQ restaurant recommendations, be sure to follow Ryan on Instagram @bbqtourist. You can also check out The Smoke Sheet at bbqnewsletter.substack.com.
Let us know if you know of anyone who works for the national parks that we should interview!  We are always looking for fun and interesting people to connect with.
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Please let Ryan know that you appreciate him coming on the podcast over on his Instagram page! 
Check out the full show notes here.

76: Exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Best Tips + Activities

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 usually hear much about this national park, even though it sees millions of visitors each year! We wanted to explore Cuyahoga Valley with you today so that you can discover this spectacular national park. 
In this episode, we discuss: 
The Canal Exploration Center 
Our favorite thing to do at this national park 
The gateway towns in this area 
The accessibility of this park 
Our favorite restaurants in the area 
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath
Cool trails you’ll want to check out 
The haunted bridge you can’t miss 
We hope you enjoyed learning all about this lesser-known national park! Cuyahoga Valley is such a unique park, and we highly recommend making a trip to see it for yourself. 
Remember to complete your task for this week! Would you rather ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad or bike the Towpath? Let us know on our Facebook or Instagram page! 
Check out the full show notes here.

75: Mailbag - Camping Tips and Best Trails for Solo Hiking

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 discuss: 
What Beginner Campers Need 101
How to find the best affordable camping equipment
How to plan your meals while camping 
Where to find the best campsites
Where to find the best hiking trails for solo hiking
How and why Ash became a park ranger
The trips we have coming up on the East side of the Mississippi
We hope you enjoyed hearing the answers to some of these listener questions today. 
If you have any questions about national parks, family travel, outdoor activities, us, or anything in between, please visit dirtinmyshoes.com/podcast to leave us a message. We’ll answer them in an upcoming Mailbag episode!
Check out the full show notes here.

74: Five Fun Facts About Glacier Bay National Park

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 glaciers, tidal waves, scientific research, rebounding land, and fascinating wildlife, Glacier Bay National Park is sure to be on your bucket list after this podcast episode.
In this episode, we discuss: 
What makes these the fastest-moving glaciers in the world  
The location of the largest tidal wave recorded in history 
Why this park was claimed by the government… for science
How Glacier Bay went from a rocky landscape to a rainforest in record time
The coolest thing about the wildlife in this park
We hope you enjoyed learning more about why Glacier Bay is such an unbelievable park. We also hope you can visit Glacier Bay and see it all for yourself sometime soon! 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Which one of these fun facts surprised you the most? Head over to our Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.

73: Best Places to See Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

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 sprinkle of wildlife-themed dad jokes along the way! 
In this episode, we discuss: 
The unmatched spot in this park to see the best wildlife 
Where to find the most buffalo
The best spots to see wolves 
Our favorite places to see grizzly bears 
The one place to go if you want to see some elk 
The different types of birds you can see in the park
Where to see the fastest animals in North America 
The best times of year to see these animals
We hope you enjoyed hearing about the wildlife in Yellowstone. This park is packed full of amazing wildlife, and we hope you get the chance to see it this year! 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Have you had a wildlife encounter in Yellowstone? Tell us about it! Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.

72: Exploring Glacier Bay: Trip Planning Tips and Activities

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 galore, so we’re excited to explore Glacier Bay with you! 
In this episode, we discuss: 
Our special connection to this national park
The unique route you need to know about if you want to visit this park
The thing that makes Glacier Bay so cool 
The best place to see humpback whales in this park 
The incredible wildlife in this area
The best way to see this park 
Our favorite spots in Glacier Bay 
What you can expect with the weather in this area
The cool thing about the glaciers in this national park 
What to do at Bartlett Cove 
Our favorite trails in this national park 
What you need to know if you plan to go fishing in Glacier Bay 
We hope you love this episode and learning about all of the incredible sights that Glacier Bay has to offer! This park is truly phenomenal so we hope that everyone gets a chance to visit. 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! What wildlife are you most looking forward to seeing in Glacier Bay? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.