IN the Parks

Come with me to one more national park, the Grand Canyon! This park definitely lives up to the hype. We loved walking along the rim to look down into the canyon, but I especially loved hiking down part of Bright Angel Trail! You'll also hear about Monument Valley and finding a place where Forest Gump was filmed, plus seeing all sorts of wild animals (hummingbirds, California condors, and elk) in the park.I wrap up by sharing the hiking gear we were thankful for, our rankings for the six national parks we visited, and which pie from Gifford's was the best!Plus, you'll hear a little about what's coming up next for IN the Parks. Season 3 starts in TWO WEEKS!Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend!Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.

Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, was our 5th stop in Utah's Mighty 5. We took on strenuous hikes and kid-friendly adventures! Arches has a spectacular entrance, accessible and back country hiking, a sizable nature center, and hundreds of arches. We loved spending a day and a half here! (Note: there are a TON of ravens in this park, and they will definitely come around if you have food. And even if you don't.) In this episode, you'll also learn about the Junior Ranger program and why 4th graders get in free.We hiked: Delicate Arch, Double Arch, Balanced Rock, Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, The Windows, Turret Arch, and Park Avenue.If you have a 4th grader (or will one day!), you'll want to learn about the Every Kid Outdoors program.Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Apologies for my froggy voice in the episode. I'm on the other end of a cold, and my voice is not quite back!Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.

My family and I are hitting our 4th of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks. We’re going to Canyonlands National Park, not far outside Moab. It was certainly a wilderness playground between the hiking, canyons, and offroading opportunities.We hiked trails at Grand View Point Overlook and Mesa Arch before taking on the famous Shafer Trail. Driving the Shafer Trail means managing switchbacks, passing cars on narrow gravel trails with steep dropoffs to the side, and making it 1,500 feet down to the bottom of the canyon. Then you have to come back up! An amazing trail!One thing of note: from what I could tell, Canyonlands only has pit or vault toilets. Even the bathrooms at the nature center were outdoors, so be mentally ready for that!Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.

Join me and my family on a trip to Capitol Reef National Park near Torrey, Utah. We stayed in Conestoga wagons at Broken Spur Inn before spending the day in the park. The park's geology is very interesting and to truly understand it, be sure you stop at the visitor center. Our "must do" trails include Goosenecks Overlook, Sunset Point, and Hickman Bridge. Plus, be sure to stop and see the petroglyphs. The trails we wish we had done include Cohab Canyon and Cassidy Arch trails. We also drove along the Scenic Drive and Grand Wash and got great pictures of Chimney Rock and Capitol Dome.Capitol Reef is also known for the Fruita settlement's orchards in the park. Be sure you stop at Gifford House to buy some pie! And learn more about the orchards from the National Park Service.Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.

On my family trip to the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks, our next stop is Bryce Canyon National Park. This park left a lasting impression on all of us; it was definitely a favorite! We got to enjoy Astronomy Fest events on our first night there, taking advantage of the park’s Dark Sky status. We were in awe of the hoodoos, unique rock formations all throughout the amphitheater. (Note: Bryce Canyon is not technically a canyon). And if a little kid can hike Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail, so can you!Learn more about hoodoo formation from the NPS site.Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel, which now includes the podcast with rotating pictures from the park.Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.

Join me and my family in Zion National Park! We hike the trail to The Narrows, Emerald Pools, and Court of the Patriarchs on our day in the park. I’ll give you our park strategy, tips, mistakes, regrets, and memories while sharing some info about the park. There are thousands of resources online about Zion from people who have spent considerable time there. Don’t get lost in all the options; just go and enjoy this truly stunning park!Want your own Indiana state park hat? You can buy one here! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. I'm also posting podcasts on YouTube with very basic video so you can see pictures related to the episode.Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.

It's time for Season 2, and I'd like to invite you to join me and my family on a road trip! We're headed to Utah's Mighty 5 National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches. Plus, we'll finish at the Grand Canyon. While there are no National Parks staff interviews, you'll hear from my family what we did, what we wish we'd done, and what we learned. I'll share information about each park and what makes each one special!Buy IN the Parks hats and stickers here! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.

Come discover what may truly be Indiana State Park's hidden gem: Trine State Recreation Area. The beautiful property is just minutes away from Pokagon State Park, and we have a woman named Helen Swenson to thank for the personality and style at each park. Helen's hand-drawn maps of each property still exist. Her attention to detail and intention in every design choice reflect a deep love for nature, color, and purpose.Today, Trine is still an oasis for people who love fishing, bird watching, quiet mornings, and scenic trails.If you want to see some of Helen Swenson’s art and read more about her, visit the ACRES Land Trust website.Podcast Listening Feedback Needed! Want to give input on your favorite park, what topics you want to hear about on the podcast, and more? I’d love it if you could take my listener survey Open through July. Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast!Interviews edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own.