Reviews
Rate ShowThanks guys
I have enjoyed your stories and wisdom so much. I am nearing retirement and yearn on a daily basis to get out of my town and explore and hopefully have some similar experiences. Your podcasts are a very bright spot in my fairly mundane life. I hope you keep making more content but I am sure it is a tremendous amount of work to produce such great stuff . Y’all deserve a billion dollars. This is the show to advertise on if you want people to hear about your product. This is the first time i have felt the need to rave about a podcast and I can assure you it takes a lot of effort to get me excited enough to rave about something. I hope you guys are having great adventures this summer and you will share more of your stories . I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate what you and your team do! Ed Johnson 53 from Charleston s.c.
- Ed____johnson
- Sept. 15, 2025
- Traveling this summer
- Aug. 28, 2025
Thank you!!!
I’ve been listening to your podcast the years and a seed was planted when I listened to your visits to North Cascades! I’m currently on the ferry to Stehekin and checked out Leavenworth yesterday, two places I never would have heard of if not for you two! Thank you! Can’t wait to try the bakery…❤️
- magari321
- Aug. 11, 2025
Great on the Details
I just came across this podcast as I’m taking a small group of women to Wrangell St Elias for 5 days of guided backcountry backpacking. I went last year and loved it. I already have a trip planned for next summer to backpack Gates of the Arctic.
While I love the content- a little less giggling would make your podcast more enjoyable. Also - less on the small plane phobia and accident. Makes it sound like the small plane carriers are unsafe.. I have only experienced skilled and well experienced pilots.
- Yellow house
- July 22, 2025
Friends
I’ve been a listener for years, sort of living vicariously through Matt and Karen. Now I’ve been able to go on a couple NPS trips with my family and often refer to “that podcast I listen to”. My family just took our first trip to Yellowstone 🤩 and to shorten the phrase of who I was referencing, just started says “my friends” with a little wink. Then my husband listened to a couple episodes and started to referring to “Mom’s friends” Our 21 and 24 year old kids downloaded a bunch of episodes for us to listen to as we drove through Yellowstone. They esp likes the CCC and Buffalo Soldier episodes. Thanks to Matt and Karen for a great podcast 🦬
- sara from Chicago
- July 17, 2025
Good
This podcast is amazing! My 12 year old daughter was answering a campfire question from a game we were playing. The question was “If you could follow one person around for a few days, who would it be?” My daughter’s answer was “Karen from Dear Bob and Sue!”😂 We love to hear about your adventures to inspire our travel.
- lidy-bug
- April 4, 2025
Great travel podcast!
Started out by reading their books and then when I discovered podcasts I found theirs and love it! We also love visiting national parks and monuments (and state parks) and have used their advice many times. They are a joy to listen to and my husband and daughter ran into them at a hotel breakfast area and talked to them last summer. Matt and Karen were even gracious enough to take a minute for a photo! I have recommended this podcast and their books to many of our friends who also enjoy hiking.
- meridithhelms
- March 13, 2025
great podcast!
Been a listener for years! I love hearing about places I’ve been AND places I haven’t (yet!) helps me with planning!
- MorbidOutdoorsPodcast
- Feb. 2, 2025
Doesn’t matter where you go- love the podcast!
Whether you are reviewing national parks, state parks, BLM lands, national forests or whatever- love your perspective!
- gg7fyghg)
- Feb. 1, 2025
Convincing
Loved the information as we have a trip planned. They convinced me to take the family on the Bridge Walk.
The BEST podcast’
I listen to many podcasts, ranging widely in focus. This podcast is, hands down, my favorite. When I need to escape from the drama of our current culture, I listen to Matt and Karen and dream about adventures to come! This podcast is filled with valuable information for anyone visiting any public lands in the United States, but is also quite entertaining and humorous. Thank you, Matt and Karen, for sharing about your trips and experiences. I am another active traveler about your age, and your podcast inspires me!
- lesfrank
- Jan. 19, 2025
My favorite escape
Fell in love with the books, and the podcast is such a wonderful escape from daily busy life. I feel like I get to spend time in the parks even when I’m not physically there. Cheers to Matt and Karen, appreciate your content very much!!
- AF_Pod_Reviews
- Nov. 4, 2024
Synchronous fireflies
You guys are REALLY underestimating what happens with those fireflies. There is no video or photograph that will ever do that event justice. Just know that it is 100% something you need to see. It is on a scale you cannot possibly imagine.❤️ Of the two locations you mentioned, see them in the smokies if possible.
- Rockstarhippie
- Oct. 2, 2024
Thank you!
When we are planning a trip, first thing I do is listen to the podcast about the area we are visiting! We have done a National Park trip, 4 years in a row!
- HarBot14
- Sept. 26, 2024
Love!
I LOVE this podcast! Whenever I am planning a new trip to a National Park Service destination, this podcast is one of the very first places I go to in order to get info and tips. Matt and Karen are genuinely funny and their love for the outdoors and for the NPS is infectious! 5 out of 5 stars!
- leswag_97
- Aug. 19, 2024
Such a great podcast!
This has become one of my favorite podcasts. I began listening to National Parks podcasts in late 2023 as we planned our June 2024 trip to California. (We visited 19 different public land units, including Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake, and Redwood NP’s, as well as several CA state parks and other NPS sites). I started with the episode about the Northern California road trip loop, then listened to the individual episodes about each of the places we would visit and I doubt we would have seen half of what we did if it weren’t for this podcast. It’s so well-researched, informational, and fun to listen to. Since we’ve returned, I have been listening to more episodes and planning out future trips to the National Parks. Thanks so much for all you do Matt and Karen!
- JLefty100
- Aug. 14, 2024
Great podcast for National Park junkies!
My husband and I love listening to the Dear Bob and Sue podcast on road trips. It’s kind of scary how much we can relate to Matt and Karen’s sense of humor, thoughts toward group tours & “interesting” people and good pizza. We enjoy the trips, stories and fun banter between the hosts. We look forward to each new episode!
- Nature Nut Anita
- Aug. 14, 2024
Great
Light hearted and informative. Unlike the previous reviewer, I think the laughing is completely appropriate- keep up the good work Matt & Karen, great podcast!
- stefanie264
- Aug. 2, 2024
Almost perfect
Great podcast with all you want to know before visiting a national park… but only if you don’t get distracted by the irritating, permanent laughing. To the hosts: please be a little more considerate of the listener in that respect. Keep the fun, pleasant and eloquent voices but not the minutes-long ha ha ha which do not make any sense. Besides that, the podcast is perfect!
- Guillaume 0102
- July 14, 2024
Amazing podcast!
I stumbled on this podcast while researching a 2-week trip out west (specifically to Northern Arizona and Southern Utah). I cannot say enough good things about it. The recommendations that Matt and Karen give are spot-on. So much enjoyment was added to our trip because of this podcast. Definitely give it a listen!
Great information!
They seem to answer all the questions I have about traveling to a certain place! So thoughtfully done! Both hosts have such fun and delightful personalities!!!!
- umsoleil
- June 24, 2024
Helpful info
Great info. Friendly personal experiences and great advice from people who have been there.
The BEST podcasst
I am a long time podcast listener. I found this podcast because they showed up on my instagram account (no surprise here...I love national parks and follow quite a few on social media!). It is hands down my favorite podcast. In a time when so many podcasts are negative and dwell on what is wrong with our country, this podcast focuses on our country's greatest treasure...our national parks! The podcast is informative and entertaining. And Karen...how many more reviews do you need? I don't suppose it would be right for me to leave more than one five star review, but I would love to! Give it a listen. You won't be sorry!
Perfect advice for Olympic Nat'l Parka nd Columbia River Gorge
I've read all their books and listen to every podcast. Matt and Karen are insightful and Funny! Honestly, I wish my husband and I had as fun a relationship as they do. We just returned from Olympic Nat'l Park and Columbia River Gorge, following so much of Matt and Karen's perfect advice. They give little details in the podcast than you can't get anywhere else. Especially where to eat! pizza, beer, ice cream!!!! Thank you Matt and Karen for your wonderful hiking, camping, National Parks News and History Channel informative podcasts.