Exploring the National Parks

87: Road Trip! Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky National Parks!

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 things you can do with your family in this area.
In this episode, we discuss: 
Our favorite things to do in Nashville
The best activity to do in Townsend (plus what to beware of!)
Navigating the craziness of Gatlinburg
Highlights of Great Smoky Mountains National Park 
Everything we loved about Blue Ridge Parkway
Eating our way through Asheville
Why the Biltmore is a must-see
Exciting tours of Mammoth Cave
There you have it—our 10-day summer road trip to some incredible national parks! 
We hope you enjoy this journey and that this episode gives you ideas for your own road trip through Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky!
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! This road trip covered Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Mammoth Cave. Which one is your favorite? Bonus points if you share pictures! Head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know! 
Check out the full show notes here.

86: 5 Fascinating Fun Facts About Mount Rainier National Park

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 draws attention! 
We are thrilled to dive in today and share some of the fun facts that make this national park so impressive. 
In this episode, we discuss: 
Where this mountain ranks amongst the other mountains in the U.S.
How old this mountain really is (the answer will surprise you!)
Why Mount Rainier is considered such a hazardous volcano
Why this mountain is one of the most glaciated peaks in the Lower 48
The surprising number of climbers that actually make it to the top of Mount Rainier
These fun facts will absolutely enhance your next visit to Mount Rainier, or if you haven’t been yet, they will inspire you to put a trip to this phenomenal national park on your calendar! 
We absolutely love Mount Rainier National Park, and every time we see this mountain, we feel elevated and awe-struck! We hope you get the chance to visit soon, too! 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! When you think of Mount Rainier, do you think of looming danger or an exciting adventure? Head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know! 
Check out the full show notes here.

85: Mail from the Trail: Rim-to-Rim Trail + Hiking Essentials

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 Rim in the Grand Canyon and the best time to do it
The must-have necessities for safe and fun hiking trips 
The national parks we haven’t been to yet and why 
Thank you so much for all of your questions today! We really appreciate hearing from you. If you have any questions, send us some mail from the trail by going to our podcast page. We would love to hear from you and answer your questions! 
In this episode, we mentioned a couple of things that you might want to look at: The 10 Essentials for Hiking and the Master Reservation List.
Check out the full show notes here.

84: Exploring Mount Rainier National Park: Best Tips + Activities

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 States! And after our first visit, it quickly earned a spot in our top five favorite national parks. Towering majestically over the surrounding cities, Mount Rainier is impossible not to love! So join us as we explore everything that makes this park such a phenomenal place to visit.
Sights to see and things to do on the Paradise side of Mount Rainier
The best places to see waterfalls in Mount Rainier
The healing power of nature 
The biggest mistake people make when visiting this park 
Tips for hiking our favorite trail in the park 
Other trails and sights in the area
What you can’t miss on the Sunrise side of the park 
How to get to the most epic viewpoints 
Where to stay when you visit 
We hope you enjoyed exploring Mount Rainier with us! This national park will blow you away, and we hope you get a chance to get out there soon. 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Sunrise or Paradise?! Paradise or Sunrise?! We are posting photos so you can see what each area looks like, and you can tell us which one you prefer - even if you haven’t been there yet! Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.

83: Hiking the Cascade Canyon Trail in Grand Teton National Park

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 hike, you will love the Teton views from up here!
In this episode, we discuss: 
The best season for hiking this trail
How to see the “Disneyland” of Grand Teton
Helpful tips to keep in mind while hiking this trail 
All of the must-see spots in Cascade Canyon
The animals you can see while hiking this trail 
The two forks in this trail and what you need to know about each
We hope you enjoy exploring the gorgeous Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park. It truly is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of hike, and there are so many beautiful and iconic views on this trail. 
Click over to Dirt In My Shoes to start planning your next epic vacation to Grand Teton National Park!
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Are you Team North Fork or Team South Fork?? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.

82: Mesa Verde National Park Fun Facts: 5 Things You Didn't Know

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 deep dive into the Ancestral Puebloans who called Mesa Verde home. 
In this episode, we discuss: 
The surprising number of cliff dwellings in this national park
The number of tribes that have special ties to Mesa Verde 
The largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde 
The insanely cool things that archeologists have found in this park
The magic and the mystery of this park
This park protects the heritage of our country in a sacred and beautiful way, and it’s up to us to learn about it and how we can preserve it.
We hope these fun facts will help you cherish this amazing place as you explore it with your family and friends! 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Do you think Long House is the *actual* largest cliff dwelling in North America? Or do you stand by the NPS and vote for Cliff Palace? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and cast your vote!
Check out the full show notes here.

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.