Hey there Reader, Last month, we spent a quick weekend getaway in the Smokies with our dogs Toby and Lily. If you've ever looked for dog-friendly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you probably already know that out of the 800+ miles of trails, dogs are allowed on exactly 2. There's the Gatlinburg Trail, which starts right in Gatlinburg, and the Oconaluftee River Trail, which is about an hour south of Gatlinburg deeper into the mountains near Cherokee, NC. While we do enjoy...

Hey there Reader, As a scientist, I love data. The more I have, the better I can plan. But I also like tools that are simple and give a “close enough” answer to be useful (what good is a tool if you have to enter a ton of variables?). Minerva and I have road tripped across the US a couple of times, covering over 36,500 miles exploring National Parks. We usually drive our own cars because they’re comfortable, reliable, and get solid gas mileage. Plus we know the exact trunk size which makes...

Hey there Reader, Most people come to Indiana Dunes National Park for the beaches and rolling sand dunes along Lake Michigan. But there’s another side that doesn’t get as much attention — the quiet wetlands and marshes that stretch just inland. We spent a full day exploring two short trails that show off both sides of the park: the peaceful Great Marsh Trail and the stair-filled Dune Succession Trail. Great Marsh Trail: Birdwatching & Wetlands We started our day at the Great Marsh Trail, a...