Is there a more life-giving place than Great Smoky Mountain National Park? We don’t think there is! This is the time of year this park really shines, so in this episode, we are exploring everything the Smokies have to offer. 
We know that some of you are heading out there in the next few weeks to see the fall colors, so we are excited to talk about and celebrate this beautiful national park with you!
Join us as we cover: 
Why this park is the most visited national park in America

 The most popular part of this park that you don’t want to miss

  Our favorite waterfall hike in this park

  What you need to know about Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

  What we love about Gatlinburg

  If you only have time for one trail, this is the one you want to do

  What you need to know about the trails - and how to pronounce them

  The diverse ecosystems in the park

  What to check out on the North Carolina side of the park

  The best way to get Smoky Mountain views

We hope you enjoyed exploring this stunning park with us! It is truly amazing, and it deserves all of the hype that it gets. There is so much magic in this park, and we know you’ll love it. 
If you want some help planning your trip to the Smokies and avoiding the massive crowds, grab your Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary before you go!
 
Check out the full show notes here.

46: Exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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!

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

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.

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

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.

77: Interview with Ranger Ryan from Lewis and Clark NHT

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.

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

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.

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

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.

46: Exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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