Exploring the National Parks

69: New National Park Contenders

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 locations that may become national parks in the future
What makes these locations so cool
Things to do at each of these parks 
The fascinating history, nature, and archeology you can find in these parks 
The benefits of having a national park designation 
We hope you enjoy learning about these potential national parks with us! If you need any help planning your next national park trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to get your itinerary! 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Which of these locations would you vote for to be the next national park? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.

68: Exploring Olympic National Park - How to Plan the Best Trip

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 to this park. 
Join us as we discuss: 
Everything you need to know about Port Angeles 
The best way to see Hurricane Ridge and Mount Olympus
Our favorite trails in the area 
The things that can make or break your trip to this park
Why we love visiting Lake Crescent 
Where you can find good waterfalls
Our experience in the hot springs at Olympic National Park
Must-see stops in Forks, Washington, for Twilight lovers 
What you need to know about lodging while visiting this area 
The best beaches in this park
What makes the rainforest so amazing 
The huge Roosevelt elk you can see in the area 
We hope you enjoy exploring Olympic National Park with us! If you need any help planning your next trip, head over to Dirt In My Shoes to get your Olympic National Park itinerary! 
Read the full show notes here.

67: National Parks on a Budget - Tips for Saving Money

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 little money as possible! 
Join us as we discuss: 
The benefits of an annual pass
When to travel for the most savings
Why we love camping in the parks 
How to save on meals in the national parks
Ways to save on gas when traveling to national parks
Taking advantage of all of the free activities in the parks
Days you can visit the parks for free
The benefits of visiting the smaller national parks or national monuments
We hope you enjoyed these money-saving tips that will help you travel to the parks on a budget!  If you need any help planning your trips to the parks, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to get your itinerary. 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! What is your favorite tip for visiting the national parks on a budget? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.

66: Arches Fun Facts

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 episode!
Join us as we discuss: 
The crazy number of natural arches this park has 
The cryptobiotic crust you’ll find in this park
The fascinating wildlife you’ll find here
What makes this park an International Dark Sky Park
The human history of this park
We hope you enjoyed this episode and that you get the chance to get out there and explore this exciting and inviting park soon. There is an Arches adventure waiting for you out there! 
If you need any help, we have a ton of trip-planning information over at DirtInMyShoes.com.
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Head over to our Facebook or Instagram page and share which national park you would like to explore and what adventure you would want to have there. Let us know! 
Check out the full show notes here.

65: The First Five National Parks

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 should know what the first five national parks were! So, let’s explore the first five national parks and learn some interesting history along the way.
Join us as we discuss: 
The interesting history leading up to the establishment of the national parks
The first five national parks that were established in the U.S. 
The key people involved in establishing these national parks 
Fascinating historical events surrounding these parks
The establishment of The National Park Service 
We were so surprised by some of the parks on this list and the history behind it all. We hope you loved this episode and enjoyed nerding out over national park history with us! If you want to see the full list, you can find it here.
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! We want to know which national park surprises you the most according to when it was established. Head to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know! 
Check out the full show notes here.

64: Exploring Arches

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 plan your next trip!
Join us as we discuss: 
Our favorite arches in the Devils Garden 
Where to go for a quiet place to experience the arches 
The popular arch that Ash is not a fan of
Our tips for visiting Fiery Furnace 
Important things you’ll want to remember before visiting this park
Where to get the best view of Delicate Arch
The best places to experience the sunset in the park
Other great areas in the park to see non-arch formations
Parts of the park to explore if you have a Jeep
What to do, where to stay, and where to eat in Moab
Arches entrance reservations
We hope you get the chance to explore this incredible park yourself this year!  To see the best of the park without getting stuck in the crowds, you’ll find a full Arches National Park Itinerary on the Dirt In My Shoes website.
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Head over to our Facebook or Instagram @dirtinmyshoes and show us what you like to wear when you’re out exploring the national parks. (This has a funny tie-in with the town of Moab, which we discuss near the end of the episode.)
Check out the full show notes here.

63: Favorite Campgrounds in the National Parks

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 campgrounds, and we are excited to dive into it today! 
Join us as we discuss: 
- The national monuments we both put on our lists
- The things we love about each campground we chose
- The most unique campgrounds we have stayed at
- Some fun and elusive campgrounds you want to check out
- Campgrounds you need to put on your bucket list
We hope you enjoy this National Park Campground Smackdown episode! Camping is one of the best ways to stay in the parks without spending a ton of money, so we highly recommend it! 
If you want help planning your trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to get started planning.
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Head over to our Facebook or Instagram @dirtinmyshoes, leave us a comment, and tell us about your favorite campground in the National Parks!
Check out the full show notes here.

62: Big Bend Fun Facts

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 cool. Join us as we explore this chaotic and fascinating park!
Join us as we discuss:
- The massive events this park has been a part of in the last 340 million years
- The one thing Big Bend has that other national parks don’t 
- What makes the fossils at Big Bend so unique 
- The vast amount of species living in this national park
- What makes the human history in this park so fascinating 
From the plants, animals, and geology to the human history, there is so much to appreciate about this one-of-a-kind national park. If you want help planning your trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to get started planning!
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Head over to our Facebook or Instagram @dirtinmyshoes and participate in our poll. We want to know what part of Big Bend you are most excited to see!
Check out the full show notes here.

61: 2024 in the National Parks - What to Expect

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 much insight as possible into what you can expect this year in the parks. 
Join us as we discuss: 
- What you need to know about park reservations this year
- What to know if you are planning to camp in the parks
- Parks with upcoming construction closures you’ll want to know about
- How to prepare for wildfire season in the parks 
Remember, the parks are always changing, so it’s best to check the official NPS website often. If you want help planning your trip, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to get started planning!
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week. If you know that you're visiting a national park in 2024, go and look at the official NPS site for that national park so you know what you need to do before you go.
You can also head over to Instagram and join Ash for a Q&A session where you can ask all of your national park questions!
Check out the full show notes here.

60: Exploring Big Bend

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 Grande River, the Chisos Mountains, and the unique desert landscape as we explore this park together.
Join us as we discuss: 
- What makes this lonesome park so special 
- Our favorite sections of Big Bend
- The closest gateway towns to Big Bend
- Tips for visiting Mexico while you’re at this park
- The incredible mountains you can see in the area
- Where to stay while visiting Big Bend
- Our favorite trails to hike
- The unexpected wildlife and fossils you’ll find in the area
- The most stunning canyon you’ll find in Big Bend
- Our favorite restaurants in the area 
We hope you love hearing all about Big Bend. If you are thinking about visiting this park, head over to DirtInMyShoes.com to start planning your trip. 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week. Go to the Dirt In My Shoes Instagram or Facebook page to join in on the fun!
Check out the full show notes here.