Can a scary story inspire you to travel? The hosts of National Park After Dark have been spooking listeners into enjoying the outdoors for years. In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, Cassie and Danielle share the stories that continue to haunt them, what it’s like to stay in historic hotels with ghostly reputations, and how these morbid stories created a community of better prepared travelers. 

What Can Go Wrong In National Parks?

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• How these stories can empower travelers to enjoy the outdoors. 


• Cassie and Danielle’s favorite hikes in U.S. national parks


• What it’s like to go on a group trip with NPAD and where they’re headed next. 

The Cozy, Creepy Vibes of Haunted Hotels 

Don’t miss these moments: 

[02:57 ] How National Park After Dark began. A love for the outdoors and a morbid curiosity. 

[11:53 ] Storied stays in haunted hotels: The Stanley Hotel and the Crescent Hotel. 

[17:46 ] Community stories about the weird and creepy things that happen outside. 

[23:09 ] Danielle and Cassie’s favorite national parks. 

“Enjoy the View, But Watch Your Back,”

For Cassie and Danielle, it was their shared morbid curiosity and separate passions for wildlife and history that led to the creation of National Park After Dark. From the way large predators get a bad rep to the brave, outdoorspeople who made a lasting impact, this episode will inspire you to do your own morbid research and lean into the darker side of national parks. 

Resources

Read the full transcript of this episode.

Visit the National Park After Dark website or follow them on Instagram. 

Explore 7 of the most haunted hotels in America. 

Plan a trip to Grand Teton National Park or hike the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier.  

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.