Exploring the National Parks

57: Tips for Hiking with Kids

Wondering how to get your kids to happily hike in the national parks with you? In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing our top tips for hiking with kids. 
We have been hiking with kids for many years, and we love how it forces us to slow down and really appreciate the parks even more. Join us as we share our favorite strategies for hiking the national parks with little ones! 
Join us as we discuss: 
How to choose the right trail length for kids
How to get your kids to sleep better while on vacation
Why the gear you get for hiking with kids matters 
Our go-to trick to keep our kids going on trails 
How to make hiking extra fun with storytelling
Our favorite games to play on the trails 
What you should never hike without 
We love taking our kids on the trails with us because it is a great way to teach them the value of hard work and the reward that they can get at the end of a hike! 
If you want some help planning your next trip to the national parks, head over to Dirt In My Shoes to get hour-by-hour itineraries for the parks (they are kid-friendly). 
Check out the full show notes here.

56: Joshua Tree Fun Facts

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are California dreamin’ with some Joshua Tree National Park fun facts.
If you are looking for a warmer park to travel to this winter, Joshua Tree is the perfect location to check out. This is definitely one of those parks that you will appreciate more if you learn something about it first!
Join us as we discuss: 
The geological forces that created this park a hundred million years ago
The fascinating fact about the tectonic plates you are standing on in Joshua Tree 
The two entirely different desert ecosystems that meet in Joshua Tree 
Why we really don’t know how old Joshua trees are
Where the name of this park comes from 
The plant species used by the native people of the area 
We hope this episode helps you appreciate this amazing park even more! It may not seem like much at first glance, but the beauty of this park really is in the details. 
For help planning your trip to Joshua Tree, check out this list of 8 things you can’t miss on your first visit.
Check out the full show notes here.

55: National Park Foods (Thanksgiving Edition)

Happy Thanksgiving! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are sharing some of our favorite places to eat in the national parks, but with a Thanksgiving twist. 
Get ready for our favorite poultry, berries, and pie recommendations as we eat our way around the national parks.
Join us as we discuss: 
Where to find the best poultry and berry sandwich you’ll ever have
The most amazing pies you’ll find in the parks
The topping you definitely don’t want to put on your Thanksgiving rolls this year
We hope this episode makes you hungry, and we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! 
The biggest sale of the year is here!  Starting on Black Friday, all of the Dirt In My Shoes Itineraries are on sale for 20% off.  This is the perfect time to solidify your national park trip plans for next summer!
Get your itinerary here (and don’t forget to use the coupon code parks23 for 20% off through November 28, 2023).
Check out the full show notes here.

54: Exploring Joshua Tree

Let’s head to California to explore a park that is amazing to visit this time of year- Joshua Tree National Park! 
This incredible park has some truly unique trees that will make you feel like you stepped straight into a Dr. Seuss book. Joshua Tree National Park is a must-see if you are in this area of California!
Join us as we discuss: 
Where to actually find the Joshua Trees
Tips for exploring the Mojave Desert 
The date shake you can’t miss when visiting this park
Rock climbing adventures in Joshua Tree 
The culture shock you might get in this park 
How to find a little solitude during busier times of the year
Our favorite trails in the park
Tips if you are visiting with your kids 
The best restaurants in Joshua Tree 
The vibe and culture of Joshua Tree National Park is definitely different from other parks, but it is absolutely worth a visit! 
The trees are incredible and unique, and rock climbing is a must! If you need help planning your trip to Joshua Tree, make sure to visit dirtinmyshoes.com to get started.
Check out the full show notes here.

53: Favorite Winter Parks (Warm Weather Edition)

Thinking about going somewhere fun this winter to break up the long, cold days? You’re going to love this episode of Exploring the National Parks! 
Today, we are sharing our favorite national parks to visit in the winter if you are looking to escape the snow. These are some of our favorite warm-weather escapes, and we are excited to share them with you today! 
Join us as we discuss: 
The hottest and driest park that is best to visit in the winter
The national park that we could visit every single winter
One of our favorite parks to visit in the south
The best national park in Utah to visit in the winter
Where you can go in the winter and see some unique trees
The park we weren’t expecting to love in the winter
The perfect Hawaii national park getaway 
We hope you enjoyed hearing about our favorite national parks to visit when we need to get away from the cold. We visit at least a few of these parks pretty much every winter, and we hope you get a chance to do the same this year! 
If you want some help planning your trip to any of these national parks, head over to dirtinmyshoes.com to get started! 
Check out the full show notes here.

52: Zion Fun Facts

Ready to learn some interesting facts about Zion National Park? In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, John is taking the reins and sharing some Zion fun facts! 
This is a very popular national park that sees millions of visitors every year, so we are excited to dive into the history of the park and everything that makes it such a magical place to visit. 
Join us as we cover: 
A fascinating fact about the rock layers in Zion and the Grand Staircase
Where the Navajo Sandstone came from
The amazing history behind all of the rock layers and the rivers in the area
The destructive, creative, and life-giving force behind the Virgin River
The wildlife inside this park, despite the overall lack of water in the area
The surprisingly large amount of ferns you can find at Zion
What happened in 1776 that put this area on the map
The interesting human history in Zion
We hope you loved this episode and learning about Zion National Park! It is truly a magical refuge, and we hope you get to get out there and visit the park soon. 
If you are ready to plan your trip and want some help, head over to Dirt In My Shoes to get our Zion Itinerary! 
Check out the full show notes here.

51: Haunted National Parks

Halloween is right around the corner, and today we are talking about some supernatural and paranormal fun in this episode of Exploring the National Parks! We are sharing our favorite creepy stories from around the national parks that we all know and love. 
These parks are incredible, and they have some pretty insane stories associated with them as well. So gather around the campfire with us for a haunted national parks tour! 
Join us as we cover scary stories from: 
Yosemite National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
We hope you had fun exploring the eerie side of the national parks with us! If you are ready to plan your next trip to the national parks, head over to dirtinmyshoes.com to get started! Check out the full show notes here.

50: Exploring Zion

Looking for an adventure? We have just the park for you! In this episode of the podcast, we are exploring the incredible Zion National Park. 
We have been fortunate enough to spend a ton of time in this park, and it’s probably our favorite place for anyone looking for a stunning and high-adventure national park to visit. If done right, this is one of the most memorable places to visit, so we are excited to explore this incredible park with you today! 
Join us as we cover: 
Why Zion is such a great place to visit
What you need to know about the Zion Lodge
Everything you can see and do in this area 
Where to find the best views in Zion
Our favorite things to do in Zion Canyon 
Tips for how to do this park if you want to bring your kids
What you need to know before hiking Angels Landing 
Our favorite trails in Zion
The smaller, lesser-known places to visit in this park
The best food in this area 
Our favorite surprising area in Zion 
We hope you enjoyed exploring Zion National Park with us. You really can’t go wrong with this park – it will blow your mind! You’ll have some adventures that you’ll never forget. 
If you are ready to plan your trip and want some help, head over to Dirt In My Shoes to get our Zion Itinerary! 
Check out the full show notes here.

49: Best National Parks for Young Kids

Are you hoping to show your kids the beauty and wonder of the national parks? We are sharing our favorite parks to explore if you have toddlers or young kids in your adventure group! 
We firmly believe that it doesn't matter how young your kids are, you can have a fantastic time with them in the national parks! Sit back and relax as we share our favorite kid-friendly parks to add to your bucket list. 
Join us as we cover: 
What makes a good park for kids? Here’s what to keep in mind
The top 9 parks you’ll want to visit with your kids
Where to go for epic sand adventures
Best places to hike with kids
Where to go if your kids want to hunt for fossils
The perfect park for trains and animal lovers
Gateway towns that you don’t want to miss
Kid-friendly activities in each park
We hope you enjoyed this episode and that you get out there and explore the national parks with your young kids! 
If you are looking for fun, wholesome family destinations without the work and stress, these parks are definitely for you.Check out the full show notes here.

48: Great Smoky Mountains Fun Facts

It’s finally October, which means it is prime leaf-peeping season!  In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are excited to talk about one of our favorite leaf-peeping parks - Great Smoky Mountains National Park! 
If you are looking forward to learning five fun facts that will enhance your visit to the Smokies, this is the episode for you.
Join us as we cover: 
The fascinating roots of the Great Smoky Mountains
The tallest point in the Smokies 
The life and biodiversity in these mountains
The native trees that you can find in this park
The rich human history in this area 
We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about the Great Smokies! This park is truly life-giving, not only for creatures and plants but for the people as well. 
We hope you get a chance to get out there and explore these mountains for yourself in the near future! And if you need any help planning your next trip, check out this Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary.
Check out the full show notes here.