Exploring the National Parks Dirt In My Shoes

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.

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.

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.

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.

It’s that time of year again — time to start thinking about Yellowstone National Park! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we discuss the amazing wildlife that can be seen in Yellowstone. 
The wildlife in this park is incredible. It’s the North American Safari! Join us as we explore the top spots in Yellowstone to see wildlife, with a sprinkle of wildlife-themed dad jokes along the way! 
In this episode, we discuss: 
The unmatched spot in this park to see the best wildlife 
Where to find the most buffalo
The best spots to see wolves 
Our favorite places to see grizzly bears 
The one place to go if you want to see some elk 
The different types of birds you can see in the park
Where to see the fastest animals in North America 
The best times of year to see these animals
We hope you enjoyed hearing about the wildlife in Yellowstone. This park is packed full of amazing wildlife, and we hope you get the chance to see it this year! 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Have you had a wildlife encounter in Yellowstone? Tell us about it! Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring a park that is near and dear to our hearts – Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska! 
Ash worked as a park ranger in Glacier Bay and has so many amazing experiences to share about living in this part of Alaska! This national park has tidewater glaciers, massive mountains, and wildlife galore, so we’re excited to explore Glacier Bay with you! 
In this episode, we discuss: 
Our special connection to this national park
The unique route you need to know about if you want to visit this park
The thing that makes Glacier Bay so cool 
The best place to see humpback whales in this park 
The incredible wildlife in this area
The best way to see this park 
Our favorite spots in Glacier Bay 
What you can expect with the weather in this area
The cool thing about the glaciers in this national park 
What to do at Bartlett Cove 
Our favorite trails in this national park 
What you need to know if you plan to go fishing in Glacier Bay 
We hope you love this episode and learning about all of the incredible sights that Glacier Bay has to offer! This park is truly phenomenal so we hope that everyone gets a chance to visit. 
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! What wildlife are you most looking forward to seeing in Glacier Bay? Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.