It’s that time of year again, so get ready to be scared out of your wits! Just kidding, but we do have a fun lineup of stories in this episode about ghost towns in the national parks. While you can find deserted towns, remnants of bygone boom/bust cycles, in many of our national parks, today we will focus on just a few.   From once thriving mining towns near Death Valley, to the site of a now-defunct copper mine in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska, to the Thurmond Ghost Town in New...

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     A change to the America the Beautiful park pass starting Jan. 1st, 2024, ·     Whether we ever considered van life and our opinions on this lifestyle, ·     Some safety considerations when camping in Big Bend National Park, ·     A...

Buckle up, folks, for another road trip loop! In this episode, we’re taking you on an epic trip through the heart of Appalachia to four national parks and a national park service scenic byway. We’ll travel to national parks in five states: Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, New River Gorge in West Virginia, Shenandoah in Virginia, and Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee. From the world’s longest cave to one of the oldest rivers on earth to the most visited US national park, this...

Great Basin National Park, located in eastern Nevada, is a stunning example of the diverse beauty of the American Southwest. In this episode, we talk about why you'll want to put a visit to this park in your wish bucket the next time you plan a trip to this part of the country. Home to the mesmerizing Lehman Caves, Great Basin NP is one of the best least-visited parks in the NPS system. The caves, one of the park's main attractions, are an intricate cavern system complete with stalactites,...

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us.  In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     Recommendations for public lands and hikes in Southern California’s desert that are good to visit in winter and not crowded, ·     Cities and towns in the west that would make great home bases for working remotely and visiting...

Hugging the eastern border of Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a breathtaking example of raw and untamed nature. At a staggering 13.2 million acres, it holds the title of the largest national park in the United States. Its vast wilderness holds some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world, including the Wrangell Mountains and the coastal St. Elias Range, home to the second-highest peak in the U.S., Mount Saint Elias. The park is not just known for its geology and...

Our country’s national parks protect a huge variety of landscapes, and today, we’re playing in the sand in some of the national parks that feature sand dunes. These unique landforms offer a wide variety of activities, from hiking, saucer-sliding, tranquil sunset watching, and even camping. We share stories of our adventures and misadventures in these incredible public lands. We also provide tips about other activities you might want to consider and suggestions for where to stay when visiting...

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     The anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service ·     A brief overview of our nation’s newest national monument: The Baaj Nwaavjo (BAAHJ – NUH-WAAHV-JOH) I’tah Kukveni (EE-TAH – KOOK-VENNY) Grand Canyon National...

Nothing makes you feel like you’re in a national park more than staying in a rustic, historic cabin in the woods. (Or on an ocean bluff or the rim of the Grand Canyon.) In this episode, we describe many of our favorite cabins throughout the NPS system and recount our experiences staying in them. With views of everything from stunning mountain lakes to the rugged Badlands and bugling elk and brown bears hanging out just yards from our front porches, these cabins offered us a unique and...

Welcome to another episode of our podcast, where we're diving into the heart of America's most iconic national parks and highlighting some easy bucket-list hikes that are both breathtaking and accessible. Whether you're an avid hiker looking for a leisurely trek or a newbie just starting to dip your toes into the world of hiking, our list has got you covered.   Imagine standing beneath the massive rock structures of The Windows and Turret Arch in Arches National Park or gazing up at the...

In our Archive Episodes, we focus on a specific destination or topic we’ve covered in a previous episode, re-play that portion of the show, and add our updated comments. Today, we’re re-sharing our best hiking recommendations in Rocky Mountain National Park. RMNP is a summertime favorite for many outdoor enthusiasts and family vacationers, so if you’re heading there this summer, hopefully you’ll find some valuable tips here.   We also share the feedback we’ve heard about the park’s timed...

In this archive episode we’ve pulled together a couple excerpts from previous shows where we talked about our challenges with bugs while hiking and camping. Today, we’ve added additional information about five products we’ve used in the past on our outdoor adventures that have made our experiences much more bearable.   From headnets to lotions to a product you can spray on your gear to keep the insects away, we cover all our favorites and more. Don’t let your fear of bugs or the annoyance of...

Our Archive Episodes focus on a specific destination or topic we’ve covered in a previous episode. We re-play that portion of the show and add our updated comments. Today, we’re exploring the Pacific Coast beaches of Olympic National Park. Unlike any other coastline in the US, this stretch of wild and rugged beaches is a must-see for any visit to the park.   This episode includes an excerpt from episode #19, where we shared our experiences about camping on Shi Shi Beach, the furthest north...

In our Archive Episodes, we focus on a specific destination or topic we’ve covered in a previous episode, re-play that portion of the show, and add our updated comments. Today, we take you back to Gateway Arch National Park, one of our newest national parks.   We’ve included in this episode an excerpt from episode #31 where we talked about our experience riding to the top of the arch and added a bit more information about the history of the park, the new visitor center and museum, and the...

In our Archive Episodes, we focus on a specific destination or topic we’ve covered in a previous episode, re-play that portion of the show, and add our updated comments. Today, we take you back to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, one of the most concentrated regions of alpine splendor you’ll find anywhere in the national park system.   From our favorite hikes to the various lodging options, we give you all the information you need to plan your visit to this special place.   The...

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     How we determined the order in which we would visit all the national parks, ·     Have we ever seen a Bigfoot, and do we think he (she) is real, ·     Where might you go to experience a white Christmas in a national park, ·     Why...

A trip to Stehekin, tucked away in a valley in the North Cascades National Park complex, feels like a visit to an island. But instead of being completely surrounded by water, this remote village is hemmed in by spectacular alpine backcountry, making it impossible for cars or trucks to drive into or out of town.   Once frequented only by Native Americans on their trek through the mountains, this peaceful valley has been the site of sparse but consistent settlement since the late 19th century....

The Black Hills of South Dakota are home to not one but two of the world’s longest cave systems. Both in the National Park system, Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park are must-see destinations.   Located just 20 minutes away from each other, these two caves are different in so many ways. One features the world’s largest concentration of rare boxwork formations and the other glitters and sparkles with calcite crystals.   In this episode, we talk about what makes each cave...

State parks are a special kind of public land, beloved by locals but often as spectacular and exciting as their national park cousins. In episode #30, we featured six of our favorites, but our list of fabulous state parks is too long to end there. Here, we talk about five more must-see public lands.   From towering waterfalls you can walk under to breathtaking views of the churning ocean below, these places are worth visiting on your next road trip.   In this episode, we cover these five...

Since its completion in 1936, the Beartooth Highway has thrilled millions of visitors with jaw-dropping views of one of the most beautiful and wild areas in the lower 48 states. It seems fitting that a road built 90 years ago to take travelers to and from Yellowstone National Park would be as spectacular as the park itself.   In this episode, we talk about the stretch of highway that Charles Kuralt once called “the most beautiful roadway in America.” This 68-mile section of U.S. Highway 212,...

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     Which national parks were more than we expected when we visited them, ·     How to fit more passport stamps in your passport book when the pages fill up, ·     What activities to do and sites to visit in a camper van on the way from...

The American Bison symbolizes a bygone era when the Great Plains, with their millions of acres of tallgrass prairie, were undisturbed by railroads, fences, farmland, and towns. While we nearly squandered this extraordinary natural resource into extinction, instead of becoming a forgotten footnote about a lost wonder, our national mammal is thriving in numbers not seen in over a hundred years.   Today, the tale of the bison is one of the greatest success stories in American history. Yet the...

America is home to some of the world's most awe-inspiring landscapes and natural marvels. In this episode, we've chosen twelve stunning destinations that are also relatively easy for most people to experience. While there are many more beautiful sights to behold in the US beyond our list, the places we've included here are ones we feel everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.   Join us as we give you an overview of each place, provide tips and suggestions for making the most of...

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: ·     Visiting Channel Islands National Park, what to do, where to stay, ·     Hiking suggestions for Voyageurs National Park, ·     Whether we ever organize group hikes, ·     Advice for women who hike solo in public lands, ·     Gear that...

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Started in 1933 during the Great Depression as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal Program, the CCC was created to put young men back to work. However, this 9-year program did more than provide employment during difficult economic times. It was instrumental in improving our national parks and forests and establishing hundreds of state parks. Many of the facilities we enjoy today are the result of...