Tezels on the Road

Our Road, Our Story

Mark & Alicia Tezel — retired explorers sharing travel stories, trail adventures, national park wisdom, and the places that shape us.

▶ Just Released  ·  Ranger PamPaw Podcast  ·  May 27, 2026

S1E8 — Why You Shouldn’t Feed Wildlife in National Parks

What rangers really want visitors to know about wildlife. Feeding myths, “rescue” stories gone wrong, and the difference between respect and interference — from a ranger who has seen it all.

Explore What We Do

Stories, trails, podcasts, and park encounters — all in one place.

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Travel Blog

Trip stories, photos, and reflections from cruises, road trips, and adventures near and far.

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Ranger PamPaw

Park stories, behind-the-scenes insight, and ranger wisdom from 35 years in the National Park Service.

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Tuesdays on the Trail

A video series exploring scenic hiking trails across national parks and historic landscapes, one trail at a time.

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First Encounters

Exploring the National Park System — one first visit at a time. Stories from parks seen through fresh eyes.

Now Exploring

🌍 2026 Travels

Follow along as we explore the world in 2026 — a Southern Caribbean Cruise, Big Bend, Chicago, and more adventures on the way.

Ranger PamPaw’s Park Guides

Practical guides and trail resources for exploring America’s public lands — drawn from a lifetime in the National Park System.

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Ranger PamPaw’s Guide

In-depth park guides covering history, planning, and what to expect — written from a lifetime of National Park experience.

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Trail Guides

Step-by-step trail guides with distance, difficulty, highlights, and practical tips for hikes across the National Park System.

Latest from the Road

Our most recent stories, episodes, and trail adventures.

  • ► A Note from Ranger PamPaw Some places hold their history close. Fort Davis puts it right in front of you. Stone walls, an open parade ground, a canyon at your back — Fort Davis doesn’t dramatize what happened here. It stands and lets you read it. The Army built this post twice: once in…

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  • Trail Guide – Spectra Point Trail

    Ranger PamPaw’s guide to the Spectra Point Trail at Cedar Breaks National Monument — a high-elevation rim walk above one of Utah’s most dramatic amphitheaters, with ancient bristlecone pines and sweeping canyon views.

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  • ► A Note from Ranger PamPaw In July 2012, we folded Cedar Breaks into a family swing through southern Utah that had taken us to Bryce Canyon the day before. I’ll be honest — I wasn’t sure Cedar Breaks could hold its own right after Bryce. It held its own. The amphitheater hits you the…

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    Grapevine Hills Trail Big Bend National Park Ranger PamPaw’s Trail Guide A Wonderland of Rocks in the Heart of the Chihuahuan Desert The Grapevine Hills Trail puts you inside the landscape rather than looking at it from a distance. The route follows a sandy desert wash through a tight valley enclosed by towering laccolith spires…

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Mark & Alicia Tezel — lifelong explorers, national park advocates, and storytellers. Meet the Tezels →

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