Fall is the ideal time of the year to visit New Mexico as the summer heat begins to cool down and the colors become more vibrant in the filtered autumn light. In this episode, we discuss our favorite things to do and see in the Land of Enchantment.

Starting in the north and working our way south, we share some of our experiences exploring the unique landscape and cultural history of New Mexico.

Whether you are planning a road trip through the state or looking for activities to add to an upcoming visit, we hope you find some inspiration in this episode.

Some of the places we cover include:

- Chaco Culture National Historical Park

- Bandelier National Monument

- Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

- Pecos and Fort Union National Historical Parks

- Petroglyph National Monument

- The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

- Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

- Three Rivers Petroglyph Site

- White Sands National Park

- Ruidoso, Capitan, and the Smokey Bear Historical Park

- Carlsbad Caverns National Park

- Guadalupe Mountains National Park

- And more!

Helpful Link:

Learn more about the American Battlefield Trust and its work preserving America’s battlefields: American Battlefield Trust

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We share our stories, photos, and videos in a few different places. Here’s where you’ll find them:

Patreon – Behind-the-scenes updates, bonus audio, and more personal storytelling

Email newsletter on Substack – Travel tips, suggestions, and whatever we can think to write about each week.

Social Media – Everyday observations, humor, recommendations, and quick moments from our travels. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

The best way to contact us is at: [email protected]

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The Narrows in Zion National Park is one of the most iconic hikes in the American West. We recently returned to the park to hike the Narrows for the third time, and it’s been a while since we last talked about it on this podcast. Our first Narrows episode was episode 6, six years ago, so we figured it was time for an update.

If you would like information about other activities in the park, check out the Substack article we published recently: Our 10 Favorite Things to Do in Zion National Park

The Narrows is a section of Zion Canyon where the Virgin River carves its way through walls that rise over a thousand feet and push in on each other, sometimes as close as thirty feet apart. There's little trail in the traditional sense. The river is the trail for about sixty percent of the hike, which makes it one of the most unique walks anywhere.

In this episode, we talk through the bottom-up route that starts at the end of the Riverside Walk at the far north end of the canyon’s scenic road. It’s a ten-mile round trip that needs no permit and no GPS; there’s really no way to get lost on this hike. We share how long it took us, how deep the water got, and what it was like returning fourteen years after our first visit.

We also discuss how much Zion has changed. Visitation has nearly doubled since 2010. We describe our experience catching the very first shuttle going up canyon at 7:00am on the day of our hike and the size of the crowds waiting in line with us.

And because preparation makes or breaks this one, we cover what to wear, why neoprene socks were a game changer for us, the case for a hiking stick, and our honest take on whether to bring the kids.

If you're planning to hike The Narrows, this episode is for you, with practical tips throughout to help you make the most of your day in the river.

A couple more helpful links:

Here you can find out the current conditions and flow rates for the North Fork of the Virgin River.

And for more information about this hike, here is the park’s webpage about The Narrows.

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We share our stories and ideas in a few different places. Here’s where you’ll find them:

Patreon – Behind-the-scenes updates, bonus audio, and more personal storytelling

Email newsletter on Substack – Travel tips, suggestions, and whatever we can think to write about each week.

The Blog at www.mattandkarensmith.com – Adventure stories and firsthand experiences from the road

Social Media – Everyday observations, humor, recommendations, and quick moments from our travels. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

The best way to contact us is at: [email protected]

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#175: Great Pizza Places Near National Parks

After over fifteen years of traveling to the U.S. national parks and other public lands, we’ve learned there are a few key pieces of information you need to make a road trip a success. And at the top of the list is... knowing where to find a great pizza.

We can’t claim to know where all of the best pizza restaurants are near our incredible national parks, but we’ve started a pretty good list.

In this episode, we talk about our favorites; the ones we keep going back to whenever possible. We cover at least 16 in this recording and have added more in our companion Substack article. Here are a few of the highlights:

·      North Cascades National Park: East 20 Pizza

·      Mount Rainier National Park: The Carlson Block

·      Olympic National Park: Barhop Brewing and Artisan Pizza

·      Glacier National Park: Moose’s Saloon

·      Yellowstone NP: Wild West Pizzeria & Saloon

·      Grand Teton National Park: Dornan’s

·      Zion National Park: Zion Pizza & Noodle Co

·      South Central Utah: Escalante Outfitters

·      Big Bend National Park: Long Draw

·      New River Gorge National Park: Pies and Pints

·     And many more!

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Don’t take notes! Read our companion Substack article instead.

Consider joining us on Patreon for behind-the-scenes updates, bonus audio,

Find us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

The best way to contact us is at: [email protected]

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Across our U.S. public lands are more than 130 national monuments, each protecting a unique natural or cultural treasure. In this episode, we’re diving into ten that feel a lot like visiting a national park, but without the crowds.

We share a mix of places we’ve visited over the years, and each one surprised us with just how much they have in terms of scenery, hiking, and overall experience. From towering rock formations and remote desert canyons to cultural sites with deep historical meaning, these monuments offer many of the same “wow” moments you expect from a national park.

In this episode, we talk about:

If you’ve ever felt like the national parks are getting a little too crowded, or you’re just looking for new places to explore, this episode will give you a list of destinations that deserve a spot on your radar.

Want more?

If you enjoyed this episode, check out

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We recently returned to Pinnacles National Park, a place we hadn’t visited since our first trip in 2013. Situated about 75 minutes south of Monterey, California, Pinnacles is known for its dramatic volcanic rock formations, remnants of a once 8,000-foot volcano.

When we first visited, Pinnacles had just become a national park, and we stopped there as part of our journey to visit all the U.S. national parks. This time, we had a different reason to return. Karen wanted to explore one of the park’s talus caves.

In this episode, we discuss our visit to the park, where we hiked into the lower portion of Bear Gulch Cave, then to Bear Gulch Reservoir, and finally into the high peaks.

We also dive into the park’s fascinating geology, its history as a national monument established by Theodore Roosevelt, and the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps in building many of the trails and structures still used today.

And of course, no visit to Pinnacles would be complete without talking about California condors. Pinnacles is the only national park that actively manages a condor release site, and we explain how these remarkable birds were brought back from the brink of extinction.

If you’re planning a visit to Pinnacles, this episode is for you, as we also share practical tips to help you make the most of your time in the park.

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Follow this link to join us on Patreon.

And don't forget to check out our Substack account where you can subscribe for free to our weekly articles.

You do not need to set up a Substack account to read our posts or subscribe to our weekly email.

If you are already familiar with Substack, look us up at mattandkarensmith.

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Having visited all 63 U.S. national parks, we felt it was time to broaden our scope and explore one of the most popular and biologically diverse national parks outside the United States: Galápagos National Park. Located hundreds of miles west of mainland Ecuador, this archipelago of tropical islands straddles the equator.

Because the islands were isolated from other landmasses for millions of years, many plants and animals evolved into species found nowhere else on Earth. Much of the wildlife you encounter in the Galápagos exists only there.

Galaxy Cruises recently hosted our visit to this remarkable national park for four days and five nights aboard their EcoGalaxy catamaran. If you’d like to learn more about Galaxy Cruises, follow this link. And if you use the promo code MattandKaren at checkout, you’ll receive a 5% discount. If you use this code, we may earn a marketing fee, but you won’t pay anything extra.

Here are some of the topics we cover in this episode:

· A brief overview of the Galápagos, including a bit of history

· Our stay in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, for a couple of days before the cruise

· The flight from Quito to the islands and the process of getting through immigration, customs, and paying the park entrance fee

· Our daily activities during the cruise, including what we did and what we saw - like snorkeling in deep water for the first time while sea lions swam alongside of us

· Our impressions of the EcoGalaxy, the crew, and the accommodations

· And more!

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We now post ad-free versions of our episodes on our Patreon account (search for mattandkarensmith). If you are interested in joining, follow this link to check it out.

Subscribe to The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and if you’ve enjoyed our show, please leave us a review or rating on Apple Podcasts. Five-star ratings help other listeners find our show.

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#171: An Epic Road Trip Along California’s Highway 395

The 150-mile stretch of Highway 395 from Bridgeport to Lone Pine takes travelers through a landscape of wide valleys, alpine lakes, volcanic wonders, and Old West history. Running along the eastern edge of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, this is one of the most scenic drives in the West.

On our recent trip, we revisited some of our favorite places along the route, including towns and landmarks that feel like the land that time forgot. From the ghost town of Bodie to the alpine beauty of June Lake and the resort town of Mammoth Lakes, every stop had a story to tell. We explored hot springs, ancient forests, and film locations that have been featured in hundreds of Hollywood movies.

In this episode, we share the highlights of this unforgettable road trip, including:

· The eerie allure of Bodie Ghost Town, frozen in time,

· Where to find the best fish tacos on the planet (hint: inside a gas station),

· The alpine lakes, fall colors, and mountain views that make the June Lake Loop so special,

· Hidden gems like Hot Creek and Convict Lake,

· The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to trees nearly 5,000 years old,

· The sobering history of Manzanar National Historic Site,

· And our favorite way to end the trip – eating a pancake the size of a hubcap at Whitney Portal beneath the tallest peak in the lower 48.

If you love mountain scenery, quirky small towns, and fascinating history, Highway 395 is one of America’s great drives. And one that every traveler should experience at least once.

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Don't want to take notes while listening?

We’ve created a companion blog post for this episode with all the Highway 395 stops and details, so you don’t have to take notes while you listen. You can find the blog post by following this link: https://www.mattandkaren.com/highway-395-california-road-trip/

We now post ad-free versions of our episodes on our Patreon account (search for mattandkarensmith). If you are interested in joining, follow this link to check it out: http://bit.ly/3L7lCdZ

Subscribe to The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and if you’ve enjoyed our show, please leave us a review or rating on Apple Podcasts. Five-star ratings help other listeners find our show.

Follow us on Instagram at @mattandkarensmith, on Facebook at mattandkarensmith, or check out our blog at https://www.mattandkaren.com/

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Nestled below the granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley is a village bustling with visitors year-round. For over a century, Curry Village has welcomed guests who want to stay in this magnificent valley yet are looking for an affordable option to the other pricier accommodations nearby, namely The Ahwahnee Hotel and Yosemite Lodge.

With over 500 rooms and tents, several eating options, a grocery store, a mountain outfitter, and more, visitors have everything they need to enjoy the valley without having to venture out of the park to find a place to stay.

On our recent trip to the park, we spent a couple of nights in one of their cozy tents (ours had an optional heater) while we hiked to the nearby gushing falls during the day. While the place was packed with visitors, our experience was better than we expected, and we will for sure go back again.

In this episode, we discuss the good, the bad, and the scary of Curry Village, including:

- An overview of all the accommodations at Curry Village,

- What our tent and the adjacent facilities were like,

- The eating options within the village (spoiler alert - there were many, and all fantastic),

- The proximity of the village to many of the activities in the valley,

- Some of the aspects of the village that could have been better (the bad),

- A couple of events from the past that might put a fright into even the most intrepid travelers,

- And more!

We now post ad-free versions of our episodes on our Patreon account (search for mattandkarensmith). If you are interested in joining, follow this link to check it out.

Subscribe to The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and if you’ve enjoyed our show, please

 Follow us on Instagram at @mattandkarensmith, on Facebook at mattandkarensmith, or check out our blog at www.mattandkaren.com.

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This episode is sponsored by GO RVING™

Nothing says “All American Road Trip” more than loading up an RV, hitting the road, and having an adventure. And that’s exactly what we did recently with the help from our friends at GO RVING™

In the spring of 2025, we rented an RV in Phoenix and drove up to Page, Arizona where we spent five days and four nights enjoying the Roam America Horseshoe Bend campground and exploring this incredible part of the Southwest.

The trip was an epic adventure, and in this episode, we’ll discuss our experience as newbie RVers, the activities we did in the area, and some of the camping recipes we enjoyed cooking at our site. All this and more, coming up next!

Activities we discuss in this episode include,

·     Touring Cardiac Canyon (part of Antelope Canyon),

·     A visit to the Navajo Bridges on Highway 89A,

·     Kayaking the Colorado River from Petroglyph Point below Horseshoe Bend to Lees Ferry,

·     Seeing petroglyphs at Petroglyph Point on the Colorado River,

·     Hiking in Waterhole Canyon,

·     Viewing the dam from the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook,

·     Visiting the Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam,

·     Hiking the Beehive Trail, (also known as The Wave 2),

·     Snaping our pic at the Shell Sand Cave,

·     And a few more suggestions for activities on Lake Powel!

Links to organizations and activities we mentioned in the episode:

·     GoRVing.com (our sponsor for this episode – check them out!)

·     RVShare (the site we used to rent our RV for this adventure)

·     Taadidiin Tours (for the Cardiac Canyon hiking tour)

·     Kayak the Colorado (for the kayak rental and backhaul taxi service on the Colorado River)

·     Roam America (we stayed at their “Horseshoe Bend” campground in Page, Arizona)

·     Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas (for the Rainbow Bridge boat tour)

·     Carl Hayden Visitor Center (at the Glen Canyon Dam)

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In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us.

In this episode, we cover these topics:

·     An alternative to visiting the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park while the road is closed due to flood damage,

·     Road trip suggestions for visiting the Washington and Oregon coasts,

·     How to deal with crowding in the parks and the consequences of reservations becoming so difficult to get,

·     Which district of Saguaro National Park we’d choose to visit if we only had one day,

·     Whether you need bear spray when visiting Washington State’s three national parks,

·     And more!

We now post ad-free versions of our episodes on our Patreon account (search for mattandkarensmith). If you are interested in joining, follow this link to check it out.

Subscribe to The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and if you’ve enjoyed our show, please leave us a review or rating on Apple Podcasts. Five-star ratings help other listeners find our show.

Follow us on Instagram at @mattandkarensmith, on Twitter at @mattandkaren, on Facebook at dearbobands, or check out our blog at www.mattandkaren.com.

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