Exploring the National Parks
Join Ash and John from Dirt In My Shoes as we explore America’s National Parks! We’re taking you around the national parks and talking about our favorite things, fun facts, adventures, and trip planning. Expect big laughs and fantastic information as we tour the parks together. Let’s start exploring!
Episodes
Picture this: you’re standing at the foot of the tallest dunes in North America, a snow-capped mountain towering behind you, and nature singing all around you. If it sounds awe-inspiring, that’s because it is! And it’s exactly why Great Sand Dunes National Park needs to be next on your national park bucket list.
It may not be the country’s most well-known park, but it...
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of national parks and explore the interesting behavior that can be observed within these amazing landscapes. From hazardous driving incidents to ill-prepared hikers, we discuss the unique experiences that make national parks even more interesting.
We strive to strike a balance between amusement and respectful observation, and hope you enjoy learning about the antics and misadventu...
It’s going down!
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, John and Ash, a former park ranger, are fighting it out in the ultimate trail rumble! Join us as we rank our favorite national park hiking trails.
Buckle up because there will be some fighting. We both made our own lists, and we are ready to see who comes out victorious!
In this episode, we cover:
- An inc...
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are talking about what we consider to be one of the top road trips that you can take -- the Grand Circle. This amazing road trip includes nine western national parks!
You get to see some truly cool stuff on this route, and we are so excited to be sharing what we love about it today.
In this episode, we cover:
- Where to start when road tripping the Grand Circle
- Coo...
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into one of the parks we get the most questions about - Yellowstone!
Since everyone starts trip planning after the holidays, we figured this was the perfect time to tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful park in case you’re heading there this year. So come along as we explore Yellowstone!
In this episode, we cover:
- What we lo...
If you love a drive that has you gasping, laughing, and pulling over every few minutes for “just one more” viewpoint, you are going to have so much fun with this episode. We’re sharing 15 of our favorite scenic drives across the national parks and how you can plan your own visit to each!
In this episode, we cover:
- Our top 15 national park scenic drives, grouped into big bucket lis...
Wind Cave National Park is one of the most surprising, mysterious, and underrated parks in the Black Hills. Today we are diving into Wind Cave fun facts that will completely change the way you see this small-on-the-surface but massive-underground national park.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why Wind Cave National Park gets bypassed, and why we think it should not
- The human...
Wind Cave National Park is one of the most underrated stops in the Black Hills, and it is absolutely worth digging a little deeper for. Come with us into the prairies of South Dakota for rare cave beauty, bison sightings, and the kind of quiet that makes you exhale.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why Wind Cave is so underrated, and why I recommend it even when people say Jewel Cave is “prettier&r...
Cactus, sunshine, and desert drama: this is the episode where we go all in on the most iconic plant of the American West. Saguaro National Park is bursting with towering giants and incredible stories of survival, and we’re digging into all of it!
In this episode, we cover:
- Why the saguaro cactus is an American icon (and possibly a giant green lightsaber)
- What make...
The wildlife showdown is on! We’re covering the best national parks to see animals in the wild. Whether you’re hoping to see wolves in Yellowstone or whales in Glacier Bay, we share our favorite parks for seeing animals across the U.S., from the great plains of Yellowstone to the coastal coves of Glacier Bay.
In this episode, we cover:
- Our favorite national parks for wildlife over...
The silhouettes of giant saguaros against a glowing desert sky are the kind of view that stops you in your tracks. If you want one park that delivers pure golden hour magic, spicy Tucson flavor, and a choose-your-own-adventure split right down the middle, Saguaro National Park is it.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why Saguaro is basically two parks in one, with a whole city in between, and how that cha...
What do an erupting volcano, a flooded forest, and the 250th anniversary of American independence have in common? They all made our list of top national park adventures from 2025! This year gave us some unforgettable experiences, and we can't wait to share them with you.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why Boston is the perfect place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026
- Read more
Wondering when to visit the Mighty 5 or which parks are best for kids? Trying to figure out if staying inside the park is really worth the price? This episode of Exploring the National Parks is packed with tips and personal stories to help you plan smarter for 2026!
In this episode, we cover:
- When it's definitely worth camping inside the park versus staying in a gateway town
- Read more
Sunshine, salty breezes, and three incredible Florida national parks in one unforgettable road trip: Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas. Ready to chase wildlife, island-hop through the Keys, and discover Florida's wildest surprises in these national parks?
Welcome to our 10-day Florida national parks road trip!
In this episode, we cover:
- A full 10-day road trip that visits Everglades, Bis...
Congaree National Park feels alive in every direction, thriving with creatures, towering trees, and raw, wild energy. Step inside this primordial world with us and experience the Southeast as it once was through five fun facts!
In this episode, we cover:
- Why Congaree National Park feels like stepping into a primordial world
- Record-breaking floods, champion trees, ...
Acadia National Park in July was a whirlwind of foggy mornings, lobster feasts, and sweaty summit hikes! From heated parking lot showdowns at Jordan Pond to the peaceful waves of Schoodic Point, this trip was full of surprises, laughs, and plenty of learning moments.
In this episode, we cover:
- The absolute chaos of the Jordan Pond parking lot (and how to avoid it)
- Why f...
The swamp lights up like a galaxy, and the forest hums with life you can hear before you see. Congaree surprised us in the best way, and we left with our socks knocked clean off!
In this episode, we cover:
- Where Congaree National Park is, how close it is to Columbia and Charleston, and why it’s still one of the least visited parks
- When to go, including mosquitoes,...
Ghostly holiday parties, dancing desert lights, and a low‑tide cave with a mind of its own. Ready to let curiosity win for one spooky night?
In this episode, we cover:
- Halloween traditions in and around the parks!
- El Tovar at Grand Canyon and the friendly specter of Fred Harvey
- Big Bend by night, unexplained lights, and why it can feel like ...
Yosemite National Park never fails to surprise! This summer, we came for waterfalls and ended up with falling trees, surprise bear encounters, and a lot of laughs along the way. From Yosemite Valley to the High Sierra, every turn revealed the beauty of Yosemite and the persistence of life thriving in every corner of the park.
In this episode, we cover:
-
The highs and lows of our 2025 trip...
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re back in the deep, dark underworld of Mammoth Cave, but this time, we’re getting a little nerdy with our five favorite fun facts!
We're diving into the many layers of this incredible park to discuss some of its most fascinating secrets, from its geological origins to its rich human history. Join us as we get super excited about science, chat a little bit about ...
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