Exploring the National Parks

We don’t like to rank national parks because we firmly believe that each one speaks to us all differently. However, there are some parks that end up being unexpected surprises, and quickly turn into lifelong favorites. Because of that, we’re crowning Theodore Roosevelt National Park as one of ours. 

Each time we visit, it just gets better and better. And in this episode, we're walking you through all three units of the park, all located in North Dakota, plus our favorite things to see, where to stop, and how we like to experience this hidden gem.

In this episode, we cover:

How to add Theodore Roosevelt National Park to your South Dakota road trip

The South Unit scenic loop drive and the best places to pull off for wildlife

Why Wind Canyon Trail is a must-see at sunset

Why the Elkhorn Ranch Unit is 100% worth the hour-and-a-half dirt road drive

The North Unit and its 14-mile scenic drive

The best overlooks in the park, including River Bend and Oxbow Overlook

The Medora Musical and why it's the thing to do in the gateway town

How long to spend here, and why rushing this park takes away the magic

Your task for today: Which wildlife are you most excited to see in Theodore Roosevelt National Park: the wild horses, the rough-and-tumble bison, the very vocal prairie dogs, or something else? Tell us over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!

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/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-best-tips-activities/

Planning your own Theodore Roosevelt National Park adventure?

8 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to Theodore Roosevelt: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-things-cant-miss-first-visit-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 

Episode 141:  Best Scenic Drives in the National Parks: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-scenic-drives-in-the-national-parks/ 

Episode 37: Funny National Park Stories (Vol. 2): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/funny-stories-vol-2-hiking/ 

Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 

National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 

Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Bison jams on the lower loop, a rainbow over the Lower Falls that felt like it was made just for us, prairie dog babies popping out of their burrows mid-traffic-stop, and of course, insane views — this is Yellowstone we’ve come to know and love. 

And it’s what we experienced on our latest trip there, yes, even in the summer! 

Prepare to be amazed, because even after several trips to America’s most well-known national park, there’s still so much to love. 

In this episode, we cover:

Why Yellowstone traffic is wild, but how you can still find peace and solitude in the park 

Why Lamar Valley remains the single best wildlife-watching spot in the country (and what we saw this trip)

Just how big this park really is, and why a good plan makes all the difference

Why the geothermal features in Yellowstone beat anywhere else on earth

Geysers you might not have on your radar yet

Why even frequent visitors to Yellowstone keep getting surprised, including a rainbow at Red Rock Point and a first-ever moose sighting in the park

Your task for today: Have you been to Yellowstone and had one of those moments of pure amazement? Tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page!

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/yellowstone-trip-report

Planning your own Yellowstone adventure?

Yellowstone Ultimate Guide: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-national-park/

Episode 112: Yellowstone Tips – What You Need To Know Before You Go!: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-tips-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-go/   

Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 

National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 

Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

Tucked between two of Colorado's most towering mountain ranges is a landscape that feels almost fictional. 30 square miles of dunes rising taller than the Gateway Arch, somehow thriving in the heart of the Rockies — it’s a place that you have to see to believe.

In this episode, we're digging into some fun facts that will show you why the Great Sand Dunes National Park is so incredible – including how it came to be and why it almost didn’t survive.

In this episode, we cover:

How the tallest dunes in all of North America came to be

The three main dunes: Star Dune, Hidden Dune, and High Dune

The rare surge flow phenomenon that can send waves 12 to 20 inches high

The naturally magnetic black sand called magnetite, and why a lightning storm can make your compass spin

Why geologists still can't agree on how old these dunes actually are

The Great Sand Dunes gold rush of the 1920s — and the local women's organization that saved the park from becoming a gravel pit

How a water development threat decades later nearly destroyed the sand recycling system

The 2004 legislation that made the park four times larger and solidified its protection

Your task for today: Find the nonprofit partner for your favorite national park, follow them on social, and let us know who they are over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram so we can support them too!

 

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/great-sand-dunes-fun-facts-everything-that-makes-this-park-so-incredible/

Planning your own Great Sand Dunes adventure?

5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to Great Sand Dunes: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-great-sand-dunes-national-park/

Episode 146: Prepare to be Wowed at Great Sand Dunes National Park! (Best Tips + Activities): https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-great-sand-dunes-national-park-best-tips-activities/

Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/ 

National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/ 

Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

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’s a gem in and of itself! Today, we are exploring Great Sand Dunes and walking you through everything you need to know to plan a perfect day in one of Colorado's most underrated parks.



In this episode, we cover:



The geography that makes this place so amazing


Where to stay near the park


The quiet little nature trail that will soothe your soul


The full Medano Creek experience, including when to come for "Colorado's beach" (yes…it is as interesting as it sounds!)


Sand sledding tips (and why it is so much better here than at White Sands)


Everything you need to know about hiking High Dune


Our perfect day at Great Sand Dunes from sunrise to sunset



 


Your task for today: Have you been to Great Sand Dunes National Park? Tell us your best (or most sand-blasted) memory over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram pages — and bonus points if you have a video of yourself sand sledding (gracefully…or ungracefully, no shame)!

 

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/exploring-great-sand-dunes-national-park-best-tips-activities/



 


Planning your own Great Sand Dunes National Park adventure?



5 Things You Can't Miss On Your First Visit to Great Sand Dunes: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-things-cant-miss-first-visit-great-sand-dunes-national-park/

Episode 35: Swimming Holes in the Parks: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/swimming-holes-in-the-parks-olympic-great-sand-dunes-and-dry-tortugas/


Episode 110: Colorado National Parks Road Trip!: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/colorado-national-parks-road-trip/


Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/


National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/


Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/

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 misadventures that have taken place, leaving us amused and entertained.

In this episode, we cover:

National Park Visitor Bingo

The craziest things we see every time we are in the parks

Two Truths and a Lie

The people who put the wild in wildlife

The things people do for social media 

Why the buffalo is the king of beasts

Sports in the parks

Yes, the water in Yellowstone is boiling

Dumb things the park service has done

Many of these things are funny, but how we interact with these national parks has a significant impact, so it's important to know what to do and what not to do! 

We created a bingo card for all the unusual tourist behaviors we've observed on our National Park visits. Just to name a few: drivers abruptly stopping on highways to capture photos of mundane objects like trees; tourists struggling to open bear-proof garbage cans; first-time RV drivers; people feeding wildlife with their hands; visitors approaching wildlife for selfies; hiking in flip-flops; and many more.

Your Task For The Day: Get ready for your summer travels! Grab our Bingo card so your group can play along on your next national park vacation! >> Download our BINGO card here <<

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/stupid-national-park-behavior/ 

 

Planning your own National Parks adventure?

Dirt in My Shoes Itineraries: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/ 

Dirt In My Shoes National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks/ 

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/