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09 Five National Park Hidden Gems

You’ll often see the same handful of National Parks topping the “best of” lists, but there are some real hidden gems out there too that are worth visiting. In this episode, we’re sharing our top five parks that have lower visitation numbers. We discuss how we got to these parks, what there is to do in each one, and what we loved about them. From island hopping at Dry Tortugas to hiking along a border river in Big Bend, join us as we venture through some of these lesser known parks.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Taking a boat to Dry Tortugas NP
  • Big Bend NP along the Rio Grande River
  • Karen sneaks Carlsbad Caverns onto the list
  • The archeological sites at Mesa Verde NP
  • Taking in the beautiful landscapes at Great Basin NP
  • Why Lassen Volcanic NP is like a mini Yellowstone

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08 Katmai National Park: Bear Watching

Of all the experiences we had while traveling to the U.S. national parks, bear watching in Katmai National Park is at the top of the list. Tucked away in a remote part of southwest Alaska, Katmai is truly a unique and exciting place to visit. During certain weeks each summer, visitors are pretty much guaranteed some phenomenal bear watching. Join us on this episode to hear stories about our incredible bear encounters and our recommendations for planning your own trip to Katmai.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Why Katmai became a national park in the first place
  • Where it is and how to get to there
  • What to do (and not do) if you have a close encounter with a bear
  • Tips for the best places to view the brown bears in the park, and
  • Our “interesting” bear encounters while visiting the park

Links:

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07 Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Join Matt and Karen as they descend 750 feet underground to explore what Karen thinks is one of the most magical places in the entire U.S. national park system: Carlsbad Caverns. Matt’s not a huge fan of dark, scary holes, but he puts on a brave face during the couple’s multiple visits to this enchanted part of the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico. You might want to have a flashlight or two close by when you listen to this episode, just in case the lights go out and you need to self-rescue your way back to daylight. That’s one of the lasting effect these cave visits had on Matt: he never goes anywhere now without at least a couple light sources with him.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The variety of cave tours offered at Carlsbad Caverns
  • Which caves Matt and Karen visited
  • Why Matt’s not a fan of caves
  • What to know if you’re planning to attend the bat flight program
  • The ranger speech that made Karen tear up
  • Why Karen is thinking about becoming a scientist

Links:

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