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Exploring the National Parks

Exploring the National Parks

De: Dirt In My Shoes
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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!Dirt In My Shoes, LLC Ciencia Ciencias Biológicas Ciencias Sociales Escritos y Comentarios sobre Viajes
Episodios
  • 137: The Best National Parks for Wildlife Viewing!

    137: The Best National Parks for Wildlife Viewing!
    Feb 4 2026

    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 overall, plus why Alaska is in a whole different weight class
    • Where to go for specific animals, including black bears, grizzlies, moose, wolves, and buffalo (yes, we said buffalo)
    • The best parks for sea life, from dolphins and manatees to whales you can literally hear from your room
    • A rapid-fire list of parks for some surprising creatures, like condors, bats, bighorn sheep, and birds

    Your task for today: What wildlife have you not seen yet that you really want to see in a national park? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!

    Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/the-best-national-parks-for-wildlife-viewing/

    Planning your own wildlife viewing adventure?

    • Dirt In My Shoes Itineraries: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-park-trip-itineraries/
    • Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
    • National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
    • Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
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    1 h y 10 m
  • 136: Exploring Saguaro National Park: Best Tips + Activities

    136: Exploring Saguaro National Park: Best Tips + Activities
    Jan 21 2026

    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 changes your planning.
    • The best time of year to visit, plus why sunrise and sunset matter here more than almost anywhere else.
    • Our go-to stops on West Saguaro, including our favorite campground, a tiny trail we do every time, and quick hikes with big payoff.
    • Our go-to stops on East Saguaro, where the saguaros get huge, the loop drive is paved, and bikers are everywhere.
    • The Tucson extras that make the trip even better, including Sonoran hot dogs, two museums we love, and one oddly specific RV tip.

    Your task for today: Pick your side! Are you a West Saguaro person who wants more solitude, or an East Saguaro person who wants the biggest, oldest saguaros you can find? Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know what you think!

    Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/136-exploring-saguaro-national-park-best-tips-activities/

    Planning your own Saguaro National Park adventure?

    • 5 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Saguaro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-saguaro/
    • 8 Day Spring Break National Parks Road Trip!: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-day-spring-break-national-parks-road-trip/
    • Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
    • National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
    • Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
    Más Menos
    1 h
  • 135: Our Top 3 National Park Experiences in 2025!

    135: Our Top 3 National Park Experiences in 2025!
    Dec 17 2025

    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
    • What it’s like to kayak Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park
    • How we managed to see Kilauea erupting in real time at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

    Your task for today: Check the USGS or NPS website to see if Kilauea is still erupting, and start planning your own once-in-a-lifetime lava-viewing trip. Or, if volcanoes aren’t in the cards, look up Revolutionary War sites in the national park system to help plan your 250th anniversary celebration in 2026. Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know what you think!

    Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/our-top-3-national-park-experiences-in-2025/

    Planning your own 2026 adventure?

    • Dirt In My Shoes Itineraries: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-park-trip-itineraries/
    • Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
    • National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
    • Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/
    Más Menos
    43 m
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A lot of useful information you may need before visiting national parks. They have great ideas on road trip planning to include multiple parks in one trip.

Great source of information for NP trip planning

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Ash and John are adorable, and clearly love what they do. If you love the parks, and enjoy getting into the weeds a bit with trip planning guidance and relevant (and/or amusing) "fun facts" about the wildlife, botany, geology, or cultural heritage of the places your NPS checklist, then give these guys a listen. Note: Ash seems very intentional in finding a reasonable balance between what she shares on the podcast vs the content that is only available on her website. She provides a generous amount of free resources on her website as well, and the paid content seems to be well researched and a good value. Although this podcast is clearly intended to drive traffic to the website (it is their source of income, after all!), Ash and John are careful to not be overly heavy handed with the self-promoting in the way that some podcasts can be. Ash comes across as warm, thoughtful, diligent, playful, equal parts adventurous and cautious, and perky in a way that you will either find delightful or off-putting, depending of your personality. If you are in the later category, than this podcast probably isn't for you, and frankly, that's your loss. John comes across as eager, generous, kind, humble, quirky, and bursting with thoughts and connections that he wants to share. John can also seem a little bumbly and naive some times, but also eager to grow and learn. For instance, on a recent episode, he seemed a bit awkward and tone deaf (but clearly well intentioned!) during the interview with the ranger from Grand Canyon, whereas Ash seemed more comfortable and experienced having conversations of a potentially sensitive nature. But, hey, experience is how we learn, right? John also loves to draw circuitous connections and parallels to the sort of pop culture references that nerds (especially Millennial nerds!) may particularly enjoy- Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, Pokémon, Indiana Jones, 80s and 90s tv shows, superhero lore, etc, etc. Sometimes his analogies are apt and incisive, and other times they can be a little silly and over wrought, but his earnestness and enthusiasm will hopefully win you over if you don't mind the occasional detour. All that to say, these guys are really sweet and helpful, and feel like the sort of hiking buddies that I'd like to introduce to other like minded folks. I hope you feel the same.

Useful, upbeat, and nerdy in all the right ways

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