What do an erupting volcano, a flooded forest, and the 250th anniversary of American independence have in common? They all made our list of top national park adventures from 2025! This year gave us some unforgettable experiences, and we can't wait to share them with you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Boston is the perfect place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026
• What it’s like to kayak Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park
• How we managed to see Kilauea erupting in real time at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Your task for today: Check the USGS or NPS website to see if Kilauea is still erupting, and start planning your own once-in-a-lifetime lava-viewing trip. Or, if volcanoes aren’t in the cards, look up Revolutionary War sites in the national park system to help plan your 250th anniversary celebration in 2026. Head over to the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know what you think!

Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/our-top-3-national-park-experiences-in-2025/

Planning your own 2026 adventure?

• Dirt In My Shoes Itineraries: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-park-trip-itineraries/
• Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
• National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
• Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/