Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#47: Dining Around the Parks Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

Over the years while we explored the national parks, we also found a lot of unique and authentic places to eat, and today we’re sharing some of our favorites. In this mid-summer bonus episode, we provide a sampling of great restaurants, bars and bakeries. From donut shops to breweries and steakhouses, we discuss where you can get some delicious food while you’re visiting the parks. It’s always fun to find your own hidden gems when traveling, but if you find yourself at a loss for where to dine, we have some suggestions for you to try.

Some of the places and areas of the country we cover in this episode:
Pizza, pizza, beer and quesadillas in Moab, Utah
Pizza and noodles in Springdale by Zion NP
Covered wagons, pizza and pie in Torrey, Utah by Capitol Reef NP
A place to buy socks and dinner in Escalante, Utah
It’s all about the huckleberries in Glacier NP in Montana
In and around the three NPs in Washington state
Black Hills and Badlands NP in South Dakota
Donuts and barbeque in Estes Park, CO by Rocky Mountain NP
The best trailer pizza in Terlingua, TX, near Big Bend NP
A breakfast spot in Joshua Tree, CA
A brewery in Flagstaff, AZ, not far from the Grand Canyon

Links to more information:

Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#46: Twenty-Five National Parks to Visit in Your Lifetime Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Our country’s national parks are frequently referred to as “America’s Best Idea,” for good reason. There are 423 National Park Service sites that protect everything from natural wonders to historical sites to endangered animals. Every one of them has something unique and special to offer visitors, but on this episode, we showcase our favorite 25 national parks. If you’re not planning to visit every national park, these are the ones we think you should visit in your lifetime.

What are some of the parks that made our list?

The crown jewel of the North Atlantic coast
A park that contains 2,000 sandstone arches
A park that’s beloved for its fruit orchards and its mini pies to go
The largest park in the lower 48; it’s also the hottest, driest and lowest park
A park where visitors walk amongst brown bears
A park where you can see the largest trees by volume in the world
The park that’s referred to as the Alps of America
A park that has multiple ecosystems
A park with the highest road and the highest Visitor Center in the U.S.

Links to more information:

A list of all the NPS sites
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

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#45: Badlands National Park Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

The southwest corner of South Dakota has an incredible variety of National Park Service sites to explore, and one of our favorites is Badlands National Park. From its mixed-grass prairie to its jaw-dropping geologic rock formations, this is a must-see park. In this episode, we talk about ways to explore the area on foot, by driving along the scenic road and by stopping at the numerous overlooks. You’re likely to spot the resident wildlife: bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and lots of prairie dogs welcoming you to the park. Plus, we offer suggestions on where to stay and how much time to allot for your visit.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

Other amazing public lands to explore near Badlands NP
Why there’s a chance you could find a million-year-old fossil in the park
How Badlands got its name
When and how bison were returned to the park
How black-footed ferrets were saved from extinction
Our favorite hikes in the park
What it was like to stay in a cabin at Cedar Pass Lodge
Why Wall Drug is worth a visit
One perfect day in Badlands National Park

Links to more information:

Book a cabin at Cedar Pass Lodge
NPS Badlands National Park website
Book a tour at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Learn more about Wall Drug
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#44: Mailbag! May 27, 2021

Show notes

It’s time again for our monthly mailbag episode where we answer questions from our listeners about national parks and other public lands, as well as questions about gear, hiking trails, and a broad range of travel-related topics.

Some of the questions/topics we discuss in this episode:

What kind of backpacks we use on our hikes
Whether or not mosquito headnets really work
Why we don’t use hydration bladders in our backpacks
Which parks are good for small children
Why we each have our own passport stamp books
Whether or not we’ll be heading back to the Chilkoot Trail again this summer
Driving a remote and rugged dirt road in Capitol Reef National park
Advice and tips for older hikers

Links to more information:

Road conditions in Capitol Reef National Park
Where to buy Permethrin Insect Repellant for clothing
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#43: North Cascades National Park May 20, 2021

Show notes

Only a three-hour drive from Seattle, North Cascades National Park looks like you’ve traveled all the way to Switzerland. With its 300 glaciers and soaring mountain peaks, North Cascades is a wilderness park best explored on foot during the summer months. We discuss our favorite hikes, as well as a unique park lodge in the tiny town of Stehekin that can only be reached by boat, seaplane, or on foot. And we share a story about a frightening night we spent in a remote backpacking campsite.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

The three NPS units that make up the North Cascades park complex
Where the Visitor Centers are
The best time to visit for hikers
Why this is one of the least visited national parks
Where we like to stay when we visit the park
Our favorite hike in the national park
How to get to North Cascades Lodge in Stehekin
Fun things to do and see in the Stehekin area
What happened to us during our backpacking trip to Stehekin

Links to more information:

Book a room at North Cascades Lodge in Stehekin
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#42: Crater Lake National Park May 13, 2021

Show notes

In the third episode of our series about volcano parks in the Pacific Northwest we’re featuring Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park, which has one of the most stunning scenes in any national park: a sapphire-blue lake situated in the middle of a collapsed volcano’s caldera. Reaching a depth of almost 2,000 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest and most pristine lake in the country. What is there to do in this park besides gaze in awe at this incredible view? A lot, actually. On this episode we talk about the wide variety of activities available, plus lodging options in the park, and the best seasons to visit.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

Where the only place to swim in the lake is located
Why there is no limit or license needed to fish
The different boat tours available
Who the Old Man of the Lake is
Why Matt wants to be a trolley captain
Our favorite hikes in the park
What gives the lake its deep blue color
Things to do in the park in the winter

Links to more information:

Check out Crater Lake’s webcam
Book a room at Crater Lake Lodge
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#41: Mount Rainier National Park May 06, 2021

Show notes

Rising more than 14,000 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. In this episode we discuss this active volcano and the incredible national park that surrounds it, one of the oldest parks in the national park system. With 97% designated as wilderness, we share tips on how to visit some of the developed areas, with information about what to see, where to stay, when to go, and our favorite hiking trails.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

Why it’s called Mt. Rainier and the controversy surrounding its name
How to visit the park in the winter
Why you might want to wait until July for your summer visit
What the five different developed areas of the park are like
What it’s like to stay in Paradise Inn, one of the great lodges of the West
Our favorite hike in the park
Information on summiting Mt. Rainier
Other things to do and see in the park

Links to more information:

Check out the current road status in Mount Rainier National Park
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#40: Climbing Mount St. Helens Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

What’s the most difficult day hike we’ve ever done? Without question it was climbing to the top of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in WA state. Mount St Helens is part of the Cascade Range: 13 volcanoes that lie in an 800-mile chain from British Columbia to northern California.

Seven of these thirteen volcanoes have erupted at least once in the past 200 years, one of those being the most catastrophic and deadly volcanic event ever experienced in the United States: the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. In this episode we’ll discuss the details surrounding the eruption, as well as our grueling hike to the rim of the volcano.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

What happened in the months leading up to the eruption
What kind of devastation the blast caused
Why so many people died as a result of the eruption
Why the area was made a national monument
Tips as to how to prepare for your climb to the rim of the volcano
What it was like to stand on the edge of the crater
Other things to do and see in the park

Links to more information:

Link to a video of Mount St. Helens’ eruption
Where to get a Mount St. Helens climbing permit
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#39: Mailbag! Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

It’s time for our monthly mailbag episode again, where we answer questions about national parks and other public lands, as well as gear, camping and a broad range of travel-related topics.

Some of the questions/topics we discuss in this episode:

What NPS sites turned out to be more than we expected
Whether or not you need a campsite reservation in Olympic NP in the summer
Have we been recognized by fans during our travels
In which parks did the cost to get there outweigh the experience
How many days does it take to see Congaree NP
What are some ways to visit the ocean parks
What has been our most difficult day hike

These questions and more on this episode of Mailbag!

Links to more information:

Link to boat tour to Channel Islands NP
Link to boat tour to Dry Tortugas NP
Link to boat tour Biscayne NP
Where to learn more about our books and travels
Join the conversation on Facebook - we want to hear from you!
Check out our Instagram account

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#38: The Ten Essentials Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

What’s in your backpack? To prevent emergencies from happening while you’re hiking, and to deal with any that might arise, it’s important to include items from the Ten Essentials list. The National Park Service encourages all hikers to know what the Ten Essentials are, and to carry some version of them in their backpack. In this episode, we’ll discuss each of the ten categories, and give suggestions about what we like to carry with us on day hikes.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode include: