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 · April 15, 2026
S1E5 — What I Wish Every Park Visitor Knew
Leave No Trace with nuance, why rules exist, and how visitors really help parks — delivered with ranger candor by a nearly four-decade National Park Service veteran.
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.
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Ranger PamPaw’s complete guide to Big Bend National Park — Texas’ gift to the nation. Trails, canyons, the Chisos Mountains, practical visitor tips, and a lifetime of personal history with this extraordinary place.
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I’ll be honest with you — I wasn’t sure what to expect from Indiana Dunes. I’d heard the name, seen it on maps, and driven past the signs more than once on trips through the Chicago corridor. A national park between steel mills and Lake Michigan suburbs? It sounded more like a compromise than a…
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Trail Guide – Dune Succession Trail
Ranger PamPaw’s Trail Guide to the Dune Succession Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park — a one-mile loop at West Beach walking through four stages of ecological succession, a jack pine grove, 270 stairs, and a sweeping Lake Michigan view.
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Shedd Aquarium & Heading Home: Chicago 2026
The final day of Chicago 2026 — a lazy morning, coffee in bed, checkout from the Hilton Chicago, an amazing afternoon at the Shedd Aquarium, and a late-night flight home to San Antonio. What a trip!
Mark & Alicia Tezel — lifelong explorers, national park advocates, and storytellers. Meet the Tezels →
