Parklandia

They say that when one door closes, another one opens. And in our case, we are swinging our RV door open to a new adventure with a new podcast and a whole new way to celebrate the National Parks community we've come to know and love. We're drawing Parklandia to a close and launching Hello Ranger, an independent podcast designed to showcase and celebrate communities within the national parks, and how these places unite us together.Find us at the Hello Ranger website and on Facebook, and be sure to join our Facebook group community page, because together we are “United by Nature.”Thank you so much for coming along on our journeys for two seasons! We love you and hope you'll follow us into our next chapter.Goodbye Parklandia, and Hello Ranger! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our final installment of Traveling Eats, we visit the Alpine wonderland of Veil, Colorado, take in the German-inspired architecture and more importantly, the food and drink, both traditional and modern.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe the most basic task of the full-time RV life is...living in the RV. And in order to make that transition from our Chicago loft to our new home, we had to do a lot of downsizing. It was not easy and involved a lot of difficult decisions and we had to leave a lot of things we love behind and in storage. In this last installment of Boondocking With Brad, we'll discuss what that process was like and the trade-off between our old brick-and-mortar home and life on the road.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the pandemic changed literally everything about our day-to-day life, we recorded a series of episodes focusing on the food and drink scenes in a number of cities that we really love. This week, we're talking about Portland, Maine and all of the deliciousness we hope to return to when life returns to normal. Thank you for listening, take care, and wash your hands.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is made up of living and nonliving things that are all hanging out together in different configurations. The stuff that's hanging out together in Yellowstone — wolves and porcupines and Douglas firs and mayflies and geysers and snowstorms — are different than what you'd find in the Everglades between alligators and turkey vultures and sawgrass marsh and microorganisms. And just like with sports or the stock market or your family at Thanksgiving, there are rules of engagement between the stuff in the natural world — no matter what these elements are —  and the study of these rules of engagement is called ECOLOGY. And in this bonus episode, we sit down with our show's researcher Jesslyn Shields to get a crash course in this field of study that literally encompasses the entire world (and beyond).Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot to see and do in Florida. It’s got Mickey Mouse, South Beach, Harry Potter, Key West, orange juice, and… two of the most terrifying animals, together at last. That’s right, Everglades National Park is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist, and it’s just one of many fascinating facts about this epic national park.  Yet as scary as that may seem, it pales in comparison to the horrors of having no WiFi. Everglades is really just a place of pure wonder, excitement, and inspiration, and the fact that gators and crocs happen to both live here is just one of the many unique aspects that make it destination-worthy. We'll climb into a kayak and explore the history and the ecology of this gem of park in our season 2 finale.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, disrupts life across America, one of the many unexpected consequences of much of public life shutting down is the closure of campgrounds and the displacement of full-time RVers and van-lifers. We heard from many listeners living out on the road that they were scrambling to find new sites to go to and we thought we could help guide listeners toward some of the resources in place, speak with some of those being affected, and with others who are trying to help.Displaced Nomads and Full-Time RVers Relocation Resource Facebook groupCampendiumRootless LivingRV MilesAnd of course, we're always happy to talk at the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever since I was a kid, when I would rent Jaws from the local video store on a weekly basis, the ocean has simultaneously been the most captivating place for me, and also my worst fear. It’s a testament to the ocean, and the mystery of that watery wilderness that kept me coming back for more. This is a park where getting into the water is paramount. You can’t come here and not doing something at least on top of the water, if not under it. After all, 95% of this 172,000-acre park is water. We're excited to dive in, literally!This episode, we'll also talk to Sandra Ramos, also known as the National Park Patch Lady, about leaving politics and finding a renewed sense of self in photography and the National Parks.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode of Boondocking with Brad, we answer perhaps the most basic question: what is "boondocking?" Basically, it's staying in your RV without hooking up to outside power, and we'll talk you through some of the dos, don'ts, concerns, and things to keep in mind while on... and off... the road.Got more questions? We'd love to talk! Join the conversation in the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Also be sure to follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We compare national parks to movies a lot on this podcast, and that’s mostly because these places have a larger-than-life vibe and atmosphere that truly looks like something out of a film. But no park is as much of a cinematic star as the one we’re talking about today, which is Redwood National Park in California. These soaring forests have totally soared to movie stardom over the years, appearing as the backdrop for some pretty serious blockbusters. And it makes sense; these trees are truly other-worldly, what with its sky-scraping trees, misty beaches, and fern canyons, so we get why the redwood forests are like catnip for movie directors. That’s also what made this park such a fun place to visit, and even better to experience as part of a family vacation. Redwood National and State Parks may not have dinosaurs and Ewoks, like the movies would have you believe, but it’s still an out-of-this-world place to visit.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think about the Grand Tetons, what comes to mind? Is it iconic, snowy mountains, pristine lakes, and grizzly bears? But how about White Russians, white water rafting, and hootenannies? All of those things take place here at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and clearly, there’s a lot to love about this epic park. We'll discuss the magnificent vistas, the food, the need for proper footwear, and the ubiquity of bear spray.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Mexico has some of the best regional foods and ingredients in the whole country and we are obsessed. Green chilies, blue corn, piñon nuts, and the list goes on. So many amazing flavors—too many to fit into one episode, so we're focusing on just two areas we've spent time in: Albuquerque and Santa Fe. In this bonus episode, we'll cover some of our favorite local dishes, restaurants, brews and spirits.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American history is fraught with contradictions and incomplete—or sometimes outright wrong—interpretations. We were confronted with this head-on at Little Bighorn National Monument in southern Montana. The place serves as a monument to the Battle of Little Bighorn, which took place in June of 1876 between new settlers and the Lakota-Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples. Until 1991, this site was named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer. In this episode we'll talk about what we learned (and what we had to un-learn) about the tragic history of the battle that gave this monument its name.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On our Yellowstone first-parter, we talked about both of our individual first trips to America’s O.G. national park, along with info on thermal features and a supervolcano that you don’t really need to worry about. Now it’s time for the sequel episode, Yellowstone: Full Throttle. Because just like that insane sequel to Charlie's Angels, our part 2 episode of Yellowstone is filled with stunts and sights that defy logic and possibility. And subbing in for Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu, we have the two of us and Finn. And grizzly bears instead of an evil Demi Moore. Plus, we'll sit down with Parklandia's researcher, Jesslyn Shields, to talk about biodiversity! There’s a lot of ground for us to cover.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So you've got your brand new RV and you're ready to take in on your first journey and you pull into your campsite and... now what? In this bonus Boondocking with Brad episode, we'll talk about the basics of hooking up and turning on... your lights and water! Plus, Brad finally spills the story about The Incident in Santa Fe that we've been hinting at all season. Spoiler: It is gross!Got more questions? We'd love to talk! Join the conversation in the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Also be sure to follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With over 200 miles of mapped passageways (and a mind-boggling amount yet to be discovered), Jewel Cave National Monument is the third longest cave in the world. And all of that lies in just four square miles beneath South Dakota. The folks who named the cave did so appropriately (and not after the singer), because inside lies a dark, ominous cavern lined with shimmering crystals. This episode, we recount our visit and about sharing our RV with our first on-the-road guest, plus, we'll talk with our first honest-to-goodness park ranger, Michael Wiles, Jewel Cave's Chief of Resource Management.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For season 2 of Parklandia, there are a lot of firsts we were excited about, and new chapters to begin. From the first guest interviews to the first time we called 911 from a national park. And today is another first: it’s our first time covering an urban park! Washington D.C. is just so rich with history and culture. And the omnipresence of memorials and historic sites is inescapable. And while the classical white marble buildings of the National Mall and the memorial parks are a far cry from Yosemite, the city is filled with more national park sites than most states have. In this episode, we'll walk in Nicholas Cage's footsteps, find out what we didn't know about D.C., and indulge in some of our favorite cookies on the planet.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this past week's episode, we covered Matt's family trip to Yellowstone. Brad visited Yellowstone while on the "maple trail," selling barrel-aged maple syrup for Burton's Maplewood Farm across the country. In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Tim Burton (not the director, the producer...of maple syrup!) in-studio to talk about the journey on the maple trail, camping in the world's first national park inside of a box truck, and the very special people we were traveling with. Tim is a very special person in our lives, as you'll hear, and we're so happy to introduce him to you!Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think it’s safe to say that Yellowstone is the most iconic national park in the country. It’s the first example people think of when they think of national parks, and its most notable features, like geysers and bison and grizzly bears, have come to be synonymous with the National Park Service. Not only is it an American icon, but it’s the second largest national park in the contiguous U.S., it’s one of the most visited parks in the country with more than 4 million annual visitors, and most impressively of all, it’s the oldest national park in the entire world. For this first-part episode, we’re gonna dive into some Yellowstone history, talk about Matt's first visit, and discuss some of the controversial ecological issues that have played out there.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We love our life on the road, but it's hard not to long for some of the familiar sights...and tastes...of our old home in Chicago. In this episode of Traveling Eats with Matt, we'll start in our old neighborhood of Ukrainian Village and go over our favorite places to grab a bite and a drink.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to big-time national parks, it doesn’t get much more iconic than Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. I mean, really, these mountains are featured on Coors Light cans. That’s big. This park really is just larger-than-life and overwhelming in the best way, with some of the mightiest mountains in the country. So it’s no wonder why Rocky Mountain is not only one of the most visited parks in America, with more than 4 million annual visitors, but also a symbol of the national park service in and of itself. And in addition to the mountains themselves, this amazing Colorado park also features many other incredible sites, from some of the most pristine lakes and rivers to hotels both haunted and dreamy. After all, this is the kind of place that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. And any park influential enough to inspire Stephen King and Coors Light is sure to be memorable, to say the least. We'll recount our visit, plus welcome our very first guest ever to the show! Our friend Elena Kherson joins us to talk about her Matt's first visit to the Rockies.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our second installment of Boondocking with Brad, we'll go over the nuts and bolts of what you need to know about operating and maintaining an RV, from how to power it all the way down to what kind of toilet paper you need for the very different lifestyle on the road.Got more questions? We'd love to talk! Join the conversation in the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Also be sure to follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most people think of Kentucky, they might think of bourbon, horse races, fried chicken... all fitting, but what about the largest cave system in the world? Mammoth Cave National Park is not only the longest cave on Earth (or in Earth), but it is fascinating to learn about all the weird and wild ways this cave has been used over the years, from burial site to gunpowder manufacturing, to whiskey distillery, to church, to hospital...and more. This episode, we explore this bustling park, both below- and above-ground!Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there is anything we love more than visiting National Parks, it's definitely discovering all of the amazing food and drinks this country has to offer while we're out on the road. And with that in mind, we're starting up another miniseries of bonus episodes called Traveling Eats. And for this first installment, we're heading to the happiest place on Earth, Disney World!Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to iconic images from the national parks, Arches is right up there with the Grand Canyon, Old Faithful at Yellowstone, and the bat cave at Carlsbad Caverns. Especially the Delicate Arch, which is so popular that it’s featured on Utah’s license plates. Arches National Park in Utah was a bucket list priority of ours once we first started living and traveling in the RV. It was actually one of the first national parks we visited once we made the official leap from Chicago condo to RV. This episode, we recount our time there among these natural wonders, each with their own unique personality—from Delicate Arch to the Parade of Elephants to the park's own twins, Double Arch. We'll also talk about our visit to the city of Moab.Follow Parklandia on Instagram at @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the topics of conversation that comes up with our listeners often is about the RV lifestyle — how to get started, which vehicle is right for you, what to know before you head out on the road. So this season, we'll be devoting a number of bonus episodes to just that. In this first installment of Boondocking With Brad, we'll talk about the different classes of campers available, from pop-up to big rig, and what you should know about each of them.Got more questions? We'd love to talk! Join the conversation in the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Also be sure to follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a New Year and a new season of Parklandia! To kick it off, we're doing our first episode on a National Seashore, Cumberland Island off of Georgia's southwestern coast. Things got pretty dramatic for us there, with torrential downpours and a terrifying lightning storm, but it wasn't all terror! We has a pretty great time exploring this beautiful island which is truly unique among all the national parks we've visited, with its wild horses and ruined mansions. Grab an umbrella and join us!Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 2 of Parklandia is coming January 1st — New Year, New Season! And we're so excited to announce that it's going to be full of our adventures through our National Parks, monuments, historic sites and more. Plus, we'll be talking to friends and travel companions, fellow National Park lovers, we'll discuss more of the ecology and conservation regarding these amazing places, AND you'll get more practical knowledge on the RV lifestyle and how to stay well-fed on the road. All coming your way in 2020!Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group and Like our Facebook page! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this crossover episode, we appear on the show Committed, hosted by Jo Piazza.Last year Brad and Matt Kirouac gave up their very comfortable and secure lives in a beautiful loft in a gorgeous neighborhood in Chicago to live as nomads in an RV with the goal of visiting all of 61 the country’s national parks. Their new lifestyle challenges every single part of their relationships and they’ve been forced to dig deep to see if they really want to be in this together.Listen to the full episode and subscribe to Committed at committedpodcast.comWe'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the final episode of our first season, we're changing things up just a little bit. This episode is our first one highlighting a national park service unit that isn’t a technical national park. But Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania is no less amazing. It’s the kind of place every student in America learns about growing up, and maybe even visits. And especially from a historical perspective, it’s one of the biggest bucket-list destinations in the country.We also cover our trip to nearby Hershey!Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was read by Winston Tharp.We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He makes an appearance in our show intro, and in this bonus episode we discuss our best friend and travel companion, our dog Finn. Life on the road with a pet presents some interesting challenges and we answer a listener question with our tips and ideas about taking care of your fur kids in this mobile lifestyle so they can take care of you.Got questions of your own? We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boiling rivers, bubbling mud pots, steaming hot springs, and giant volcanoes. It kinda sounds like that fiery hellscape from Lord of the Rings, but really it’s Lassen Volcanic National Park, the least visited of all 9 of California’s national parks, and a place that’s not nearly as terrifying as its geologic features could have you believe. This week, we recount Matt's ascent of Lassen Peak, Brad's impromptu dip in the lake, and our fav lodging accommodations yet.We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to chase waterfalls and run from black bears, then cap it all off with an apple martini at a makeshift speakeasy, Shenandoah National Park is the place for you! This place has it all: bountiful forests, foggy mountaintops, scenic drives, intimidating wildlife, and quaint towns filled with chatty cab drivers and friendly restaurant service. It’s also got a lot of history, and we’re excited to share all our findings on this wonderful Virginia park.We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our uncontrollable impulses is comparing National Parks to Disney movies. Hiking through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado reminded us of Maleficent's castle in "Sleeping Beauty," with all the twisted, gnarly trees and the pitch-blackness of the canyon. In this episode, we'll recount our visit to this hauntingly beautiful place.Have questions for us? We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode, recorded in the RV that has taken us around the country and to these National Parks we've been talking about all season, we decided to introduce ourselves a little bit. Both of us come from very different backgrounds and have very different stories, and we talk about how those disparate paths led us to each other and to this life on the road.Have questions for us? We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between the misty rainforests, the ominous beaches, the craggy mountaintops, and immense wildlife like elk and whales, exploring Olympic National Park is like stepping into the home of the Grecian gods themselves. But you don't need to be immortal to enjoy all the adventure and beauty this million-acre park has to offer. Got questions of your own? We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We return to our mail bag and talk about what we said "thank you" to and let go of when we moved into the RV and the logistics of parking one of those things in a National Park.Got questions of your own? We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Al Capone was alive today, we have a feeling he'd be a Parklandia listener. The notorious gangster was, after all, a lover of national parks, just like us! Or at least he was known to frequent the thermal baths at Hot Springs National Park. This episode, we explore this bustling Arkansas mountain city, along with the history, heritage, not to mention craft beer and bath salts it has to offer. Hot Springs is truly not your typical National Park!Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've been getting questions on Facebook and Insta and in this special Saturday episode, we take some time to answer a listener question about life on the road. In short: it's not an endless vacay, keep a stash of quarters, beware of poo showers.Got questions of your own? We'd love to hear from you! Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fair warning, listeners: anytime we reminisce about Badlands National Park we tend to get super emotional. Matt first traveled to this South Dakota wonder in 2016 and the Badlands brought on a sweeping sense of awe and admiration. In this episode, we recount our trip here together to this landscape that is part Grand Canyon, part Mars. Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people equate flooding with disaster, but it can do just the opposite sometimes—like at Congaree National Park in South Carolina, where flooding represents the circle of life. Matt and Brad go kayaking and make some new friends, and even answer some listener mail.Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas is a paradise for hikers and rock-lovers, with the tallest peaks in the state, gypsum sand dunes, tons of human history, and the largest Permian fossil reef in the world. And apart from the whole Matt almost dying thing, it made for a wonderful visit! This episode, Matt and Brad battle Mother Nature and enjoy a lot of tuna salad.Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Batman were to live in a national park, he would definitely live at Carlsbad Caverns. The Dark Knight would surely feel right at home in the enormous, pitch black chambers, just him and a couple hundred thousand roommates who fly out to eat bugs each night. This episode, Matt and Brad explore the caves, take in the wildlife, and work up an appetite at Carlsbad.Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapod, and join the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the late 1100’s, the cliff faces of Mesa Verde were veritable cities filled with homes, towers, and central plazas. Then, the ancestral Puebloan people completely deserted their homes and communities, effectively disappearing... except for their spirits which still live in these mesas. This episode we recount our visit to those cliff homes and beyond.Follow Parklandia on Instagram @parklandiapodJoin the Parklandia Rangers Facebook Group Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we were to hop into a time machine and travel back to the year 220 million BC, let’s just say things wouldn’t go well for us. This was a time when the food chain was dominated by crocodiles the size of our RV, and when modern day Arizona was a veritable Jurassic Park of dinosaurs and jungles as beautiful as they were dangerous. Imagine us visiting Isla Nublar, but instead of Jeff Goldblum’s pithy comic relief, it’s pure terror and there is no Dr. Grant to save you. Fortunately, this era has been fossilized and preserved for a far safer experience in the year 2019, and in this episode of Parklandia, we recount our visit to Petrified Forest National Park and the crystalline beauty of its namesake attraction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our inaugural episode of Parklandia, hosts Matt and Brad bring friends along for a murder mystery train ride and explore the true comeback story of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which went from notoriously polluted to winning the Oscars of rivers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A married couple packed up everything from their home in Chicago and bought an RV to travel the country full-time, with one goal: to visit as many national parks as possible along the way. With each stop in each park, Brad and Matt Kirouac immerse themselves and the listeners – and the Kirouac’s dog Finn! – in these beautiful, larger-than-life places and share our discoveries about what makes them truly special, from the intimidating wildlife of the Everglades to the cinematic lore of Redwood, all with a dash of what it’s really like to live in an RV full time. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.