Exploring the National Parks

Tennis-ball-sized hail, 100-degree heat, and a weather warning that caused us to miss the glamping trip we’d been looking forward to for weeks. We (almost) risked it all to make the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

In this episode, we're sharing everything we experienced at the brand-new library in Medora, North Dakota. This is a bit different than our usual content, but if you love Teddy Roosevelt as much as we do, and you’ve been keeping up with our Theodore Roosevelt National Park episodes, you’re in for a treat!

In this episode, we cover:

Why we headed to Medora, North Dakota for the Library's July 4th weekend grand opening

The wild weather (including 60 mph winds and tennis-ball-sized hail) that forced an evacuation of our campground

A first look inside the library, including how the building itself was designed to blend into the Badlands

The Man in the Arena exhibit room, where Nick Offerman voices Teddy Roosevelt himself

The Elkhorn Ranch room and the story of the cabin where Teddy Roosevelt went to heal after devastating loss

The AI Teddy Roosevelt you can actually talk to, plus the AI photo booth that inserts your whole family into his story

The 1,776-drone show that closed out the celebration

Your task for today: Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and tell us which Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library exhibit you'd want to experience first — the Man in the Arena room, the Elkhorn Ranch cabin, or a chat with AI Teddy himself!
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/theodore-roosevelt-presidential-library-opening/

Planning your own Theodore Roosevelt National Park adventure?

Episode 141: Our favorite scenic drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and more: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-scenic-drives-in-the-national-parks/ 

Episode 149: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Best Tips + Activities: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-best-tips-activities/  

Episode 150: 5 Fascinating Fun Facts About Theodore Roosevelt National Park: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-fascinating-fun-facts-about-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ 

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/  

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/

This Grand Teton trip report is less about checklists and more about the pull of a place that gets passed down. On this visit, we brought our extended family — parents, siblings, and our four-month-old niece — back to Colter Bay for a summer built around making memories. 

During our stay, we adventured to String Lake, saw a rutting buffalo crossing at Elk Ranch Flats, and had a little detour that was unexpected, but proved to be one of the best parts of the trip. 

It’s different from our usual trip report, but we can’t think of any better way to spend time at Grand Teton National Park than with the people we love most!

In this episode, we cover:

A rundown of Grand Teton's 2026 construction projects, from the new Moose entrance station to the Taggart Lake and Mormon Row parking lot overhauls

Why these construction delays will carry into next summer, too

What makes Grand Teton a multi-generational, legacy park for us

Our day at String Lake doing nothing but relaxing on the water

The rutting buffalo sighting at Elk Ranch Flats and the hike to Moose Ponds

Ash's Jenny Lake "walk of shame" — and the insider timing trick that usually keeps it from happening

Your task for today: Do you have a legacy park — a place your family keeps returning to, generation after generation? Tell us over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page. If you don't have one yet, let us know which park you want to claim as yours!

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/grand-teton-trip-report/

Planning your own Grand Teton adventure?

Grand Teton Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/grand-teton-itinerary

The Ultimate Grand Teton Trip Planning Guide: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/grand-teton-national-park/

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/

Theodore Roosevelt National Park — it’s one of those national parks that doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves. But today, we’re fixing that! 

As the show title suggests, we’re taking you around the churned-up, colorful labyrinth of buttes in the quiet North Dakota prairie to share some of our favorite fun facts about Theodore Roosevelt National Park. 

In this episode, we cover:

Why Theodore Roosevelt National Park was the only unit ever designated a "National Memorial Park"

The real story behind how the teddy bear got its name (yes, it has everything to do with Teddy Roosevelt!)

How glaciers, ancient volcanoes, and the Little Missouri River spent 65 million years carving North Dakota's Badlands

The devastating winter of 1886 that wiped out Roosevelt's cattle herd and changed the direction of his life

Why Roosevelt called this land "the romance of my life" and how it helped him grieve and heal

The last-minute "Midnight Forests" scramble that protected 16 million acres of land before Congress could stop him

Just how much land Roosevelt protected by the end of his presidency

Your task for today: In the episode, we talked about the full list of lands Roosevelt protected through executive action. See if a forest, monument, or refuge near you made the cut, and 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/5-fascinating-fun-facts-about-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/

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 149: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Best Tips + Activites: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-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/

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/