Our Top 3 National Park Experiences in 2024!

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 100 episodes of Exploring the National Parks than by sharing our top 3 national park experiences in 2024 with you! In this special milestone episode, we’re wrapping up the year by sharing some of our most unforgettable adventures.

Whether it’s exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland, backpacking through the majestic Tetons, or witnessing the magical synchronous fireflies in the Smokies, we hope these stories inspire your next journey.

Let’s dive in!

Podcast Episode Overview

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re celebrating a huge milestone—100 episodes! It’s also the final episode of 2024, so we’re diving into some of our favorite national park adventures from this year.

Whether you’re planning next year’s national park bucket list or just dreaming of your next big trip, this episode is packed with inspiration for unforgettable experiences.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Our trip to Iceland and the national parks we visited while we were there
The backpacking trip you can’t miss and why it was one of the highlights of our year
The number one most incredible thing we did this year – a jaw-dropping experience that left us speechless!

Thank you so much for joining us on this journey through 100 episodes of Exploring the National Parks! We hope you loved this special episode and feel inspired to make some of these adventures your own in the coming year.

And don’t forget to complete your task for the week! Have you ever won the lottery for the synchronous fireflies? If so, we want to hear all about it! head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and share your experience with us!

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Our favorite Non-U.S. National Park Trip in 2024: Iceland

One of our favorite trips this year was to Iceland! It’s been on my bucket list for a long time, and it was incredible. So many of you asked for an itinerary, but this episode will have to do! If you want to plan a whole itinerary, we recommend you check out Rick Steves, the Europe travel master.

We started at Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian continental plates are pulling apart. You can hike through one of these rifts in the lava fields surrounded by basalt rock. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Þingvellir is also where the world’s first parliament was held in 930 A.D.

Next, we went to Vatnajökull National Park, the park to go to if you want to see glaciers and volcanoes! Vatnajökull covers 13 percent of Iceland and is home to the largest glacier in all of Europe. We approached the park from the south coast, though you can access more from the north and other areas if you go when the weather is clear and snow-free.

I loved Diamond Beach in Vatnajökull, a black sand beach covered by polished ice that shines like diamonds, hence the name! We also visited the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, one of the most popular places to stop, and Fjallsárlón, a smaller glacier lagoon with guided boat tours. The glaciers here reminded me so much of my experiences as a park ranger in Glacier Bay National Park!

My favorite park was Snæfellsjökull National Park because it felt wild and less crowded than the other parks. Snæfellsjökull also has its own saga, adding to the feeling of being in Iceland’s long and storied history. Sea stacks, arches, very, very old churches, and waterfalls dot the peninsula. You’ll find yourself taking a million photos in this park!

Backpacking through Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park

Let’s head back to the United States! You might know by now that Grand Teton is my favorite national park, so of course, one of my favorite 2024 moments was here. Hiking through Cascade Canyon is not only one of my favorite 2024 moments, but it’s also one of my favorite ways to soak in the grandeur of the Tetons!

We took our kids backpacking for the first time here this year because the trail is beginner-friendly for new backpackers. And they did great! The mind-blowing scenery kept us all in awe. It feels like you can reach out and touch the Grand Teton.

We have a complete guide on hiking Cascade Cayon in Episode 83: Hiking the Cascade Canyon Trail in Grand Teton National Park. It’s about a 15-mile hike if you take the Jenny Lake shuttle boat or 20 miles if you skip the shuttle. We managed to get two nights in the same group campsite on the trail so we could spend our free time swimming in Lake Solitude, relaxing, and hiking to other nearby areas.

Hiking Cascade Canyon was a perfect family trip (minus one giant hailstorm!). We can’t wait to do it again!

The synchronous fireflies of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Seeing the synchronous fireflies in the Smokies totally blew us away and was our number one favorite national park experience of 2024!

There is a lottery system to get into the specific areas of Great Smoky Mountains where the synchronous fireflies are, and it’s extremely competitive! Around 40,000 people entered the lottery system to get a total of 900 parking spots over the few days when the fireflies were active.

The synchronous fireflies live up to their name – they blink on and off in unison for a few hours each night. I can’t believe this exists in nature! It can be hard to predict when the fireflies will be active because it’s influenced by weather and other factors. So, seeing it in person is extra special.

I’ve never been lucky with lottery systems. I’ve entered the firefly lottery for several years and have never been selected. In 2024, I didn’t even enter the lottery system. Instead, I estimated when the fireflies would be active and booked a campsite at Elkmont. I used this trick on Recreation.gov to book a spot, and we were there for peak firefly season!

If you’re excited to head to the Smokies next summer, check out our Great Smoky Mountains National Park itinerary!

We hope you’ve had a wonderful 2024! Dream big for your 2025 trips, and let us know how we can help you on your adventures!

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

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