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Dear Bob and Sue #2
Dear Bob and Sue: Season 2
In this second book of the series, follow Matt and Karen as they work their way around the western United States discovering some of our most beautiful public lands, hidden gems, and revisiting a few of their favorite national parks. Some of the places they write about in Season 2 include Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park, Mojave National Preserve, Hoover Dam, Indian Canyons (Palm Springs), Goblin Valley State Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Buckskin Gulch.
More than a laugh out loud travel memoir, Dear Bob and Sue: Season 2 will bring to life the joy of discovery, the pure satisfaction of accomplishment, and the humor that comes with experiencing new places and activities. Season 2 is the follow-up to Dear Bob and Sue, a charming and sometimes irreverent chronicle of a middle-aged couple as they visit each of the country’s fifty-nine national parks, testing their mettle and stretching their endurance.
This book is not a hiker’s guide, though you will feel as if you are right there with them on some of the most amazing trails the country has to offer. Through a series of emails written to their friends, Bob and Sue, the couple brings the reader along on their adventures, sharing their experiences as they hike the lesser known parks and national monuments. By the end of the book, you’ll be itching to drag out your hiking boots, dust off your tent, and discover the culinary joy of eating freeze-dried meals next to a campfire. If you are looking for a fun and easy read that takes you to new and exciting places, the Dear Bob and Sue series is for you.
More than a laugh out loud travel memoir, Dear Bob and Sue: Season 2 will bring to life the joy of discovery, the pure satisfaction of accomplishment, and the humor that comes with experiencing new places and activities. Season 2 is the follow-up to Dear Bob and Sue, a charming and sometimes irreverent chronicle of a middle-aged couple as they visit each of the country’s fifty-nine national parks, testing their mettle and stretching their endurance.
This book is not a hiker’s guide, though you will feel as if you are right there with them on some of the most amazing trails the country has to offer. Through a series of emails written to their friends, Bob and Sue, the couple brings the reader along on their adventures, sharing their experiences as they hike the lesser known parks and national monuments. By the end of the book, you’ll be itching to drag out your hiking boots, dust off your tent, and discover the culinary joy of eating freeze-dried meals next to a campfire. If you are looking for a fun and easy read that takes you to new and exciting places, the Dear Bob and Sue series is for you.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2012
263 people are currently reading
831 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
September 25, 2015
Really enjoyed reading this second volume. Sure wish they told us what their visits to 59 parks cost!
October 18, 2020
We listened to this on audio during a road trip/camping trip in Colorado and it was the perfect book for that. Matt and Karen tell about their outdoor adventures - travel, hiking, and camping -- set up as a series of emails to their friends Bob and Sue. They have a great sense of humor and we laughed both about their escapades as well as about the normal moments that come in relationships. In this installment, we had been on several of the hikes that they mentioned and it was a blast to hear about their experiences. We always end up adding some of their destinations to our bucket list and Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3 will be on our list for our next road trip adventure.
August 14, 2018
For the armchair traveler or the real one, a must read.
Matt and Susan share their travels in this, their third book, David Vickers, they share through the format of emails a real in site to our National Monuments and National Parks. Because of Matt's direction, you can use their book as a guide. Sharing the good and the bad about their travels makes you feel you are traveling right all g with them. Hope there's another book in the works. Also pictures are,available on a web site.
Matt and Susan share their travels in this, their third book, David Vickers, they share through the format of emails a real in site to our National Monuments and National Parks. Because of Matt's direction, you can use their book as a guide. Sharing the good and the bad about their travels makes you feel you are traveling right all g with them. Hope there's another book in the works. Also pictures are,available on a web site.
August 15, 2018
Another funny book by Matt and Karen. I knew a bunch of the stories from their blog, but it was still fun to travel to the parks and other places with them. I’m glad they’ve found camping, but I don’t fault them for Hampton either. And listening to their bickering with each makes me laugh out loud every time. I suppose because I can relate.
March 29, 2022
Similar to the first book, this offers snippets of info on NPS travels in the western USA. It provides lots of ideas of trails to travel. And includes backpacking and camping outings this time. The biggest improvement is the index in the back of the book, which makes it helpful if you want to review info on a particular location.
October 18, 2025
Another fun adventure with Matt and Karen! The humor Matt brings to their hiking days is entertaining. And are they seriously turning their living room into a visitors center?! I want to go see it and I promise to bring a box of Cheez-Its with me because who doesn’t have them on their packing list for vacations?
August 10, 2020
I loved this 2nd book in the series by the Smiths. This one contains much more information on hiking trails than just broad observations of their experiences in traveling the National Parks. I look forward to reading book #3!
August 9, 2025
A continuation of Matt and Karen's adventures, this book focuses on the trips they took in 2017 mostly in the Northwest and Alaska. I enjoy their humorous style of writing, and the situations they tend to get themselves into. finished this one while hammocking in the New River Gorge National Park.
June 12, 2025
I love these books! So funny while also sharing such special travel experiences. I like that this one highlights how your adventures don’t always go as planned
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September 22, 20255
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August 8, 2018
Fun books to read for anyone but especially for people interested in the National Parks, hiking and enjoying traveling in our big, beautiful country.
July 29, 2018
Funny, entertaining, enjoyable! Can't wait to finish our own National Park journey!
July 24, 2018
We want to be Matt and Karen when we become empty nesters. I hope they appreciate being within a days drive of such incredible places!
July 9, 2018
I read the first Bob and Sue book just before flying to USA for my first road trip where I fell madly in love with American National Parks. Fast forward five years and I"m about to return for my third trip to see the Parks of Colorado.
Matt and Karen write amusingly about hiking and camping, and share their knowledge at the same time. You'll snigger and then learn something. And whilst it's not a central theme, they certainly demonstrate how shared goals and values help make a happy and healthy relationship.
England may not have such variety of landscape but I am left inspired to get outside and explore a bit more.
Matt and Karen write amusingly about hiking and camping, and share their knowledge at the same time. You'll snigger and then learn something. And whilst it's not a central theme, they certainly demonstrate how shared goals and values help make a happy and healthy relationship.
England may not have such variety of landscape but I am left inspired to get outside and explore a bit more.
July 9, 2018
Inspiring!!
The wonderful thing about Matt and Karen's books is that they inspire me to travel this awesome country of ours. They open my eyes to places and trails I didn't know about. I love the touches of humor they add to their books. Well done guys! Hope there is a Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3.
The wonderful thing about Matt and Karen's books is that they inspire me to travel this awesome country of ours. They open my eyes to places and trails I didn't know about. I love the touches of humor they add to their books. Well done guys! Hope there is a Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3.
March 26, 2025
I enjoy outdoor hiking, true outdoor hiking stories, and the humor of these authors. We've also been to some of these places and I enjoy hearing about them again.
"In this second book of the series, follow Matt and Karen as they work their way around the western United States discovering some of our most beautiful public lands, hidden gems, and revisiting a few of their favorite national parks. Some of the places they write about in Season 2 include Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park, Mojave National Preserve, Hoover Dam, Indian Canyons (Palm Springs), Goblin Valley State Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Buckskin Gulch.
More than a laugh out loud travel memoir, Dear Bob and Sue: Season 2 will bring to life the joy of discovery, the pure satisfaction of accomplishment, and the humor that comes with experiencing new places and activities. Season 2 is the follow-up to Dear Bob and Sue, a charming and sometimes irreverent chronicle of a middle-aged couple as they visit each of the country’s fifty-nine national parks, testing their mettle and stretching their endurance.
This book is not a hiker’s guide, though you will feel as if you are right there with them on some of the most amazing trails the country has to offer. Through a series of emails written to their friends, Bob and Sue, the couple brings the reader along on their adventures, sharing their experiences as they hike the lesser known parks and national monuments. By the end of the book, you’ll be itching to drag out your hiking boots, dust off your tent, and discover the culinary joy of eating freeze-dried meals next to a campfire."
"In this second book of the series, follow Matt and Karen as they work their way around the western United States discovering some of our most beautiful public lands, hidden gems, and revisiting a few of their favorite national parks. Some of the places they write about in Season 2 include Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park, Mojave National Preserve, Hoover Dam, Indian Canyons (Palm Springs), Goblin Valley State Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Buckskin Gulch.
More than a laugh out loud travel memoir, Dear Bob and Sue: Season 2 will bring to life the joy of discovery, the pure satisfaction of accomplishment, and the humor that comes with experiencing new places and activities. Season 2 is the follow-up to Dear Bob and Sue, a charming and sometimes irreverent chronicle of a middle-aged couple as they visit each of the country’s fifty-nine national parks, testing their mettle and stretching their endurance.
This book is not a hiker’s guide, though you will feel as if you are right there with them on some of the most amazing trails the country has to offer. Through a series of emails written to their friends, Bob and Sue, the couple brings the reader along on their adventures, sharing their experiences as they hike the lesser known parks and national monuments. By the end of the book, you’ll be itching to drag out your hiking boots, dust off your tent, and discover the culinary joy of eating freeze-dried meals next to a campfire."
September 8, 2019
The second book in the Bob and Sue series picks up on Matt and Karen Smith’s outdoor adventures. Where the first book provided tales of their journey visiting all the US National Parks, this book honed in on one year (2017) in the life of the couple’s outdoor travel adventures, subsequent to their comprehensive National Park tour. The book is equally as entertaining as volume 1 and I thoroughly enjoyed the snapshot into more of the couple’s travels. Although it was featured as an aside, I am enthralled with the concept of remodeling their living room after a National Park visitor center. Also I am quite on board with Matt’s growing pelt collection! Matt’s love of Cheez-Its is equally endearing and Karen is ever the good sport throughout it all. I really enjoy this couple and love the fact that they are able to successfully pull off co-authorship. Although it may not be the direct purpose of the book, it does serve as a travel guide and educational primer on some of the treasures of the western US. I aspire to follow in Matt and Karen’s footsteps and lace up my hiking boots. Well done, I can’t wait to dive into Season 3 and Dories, Ho!
April 12, 2021
I really appreciated season 2 more than their first book. While I enjoyed the story of their National Park trips, in this later work they have surpassed it. From a voice perspective their writing has matured, become more authentic and natural I think. That had a huge impact on my rating. In addition, the subject matter expands to include some of their home life and friendships, which flushed out Matt and Karen so much more and made them feel much more like friends sitting around a fire pit or a sunken living room/visitor center. In their ability to expose the reader to opportunities on other public lands and facilities was spectacular. Examples are the duo researching the state archives in Juneau, Alaska or acquiring limited scope permits to collect petrified wood from a regional Bureau of Land Management office in Utah. This book was a fantastic ride, and I am glad they gave up their day jobs to pursue travel and writing!
November 2, 2020
This book was actually more enjoyable to me than Season 1. Part of the reason is that I think that I had gotten used to the narrators and found them more tolerable in this edition. It was also nice to hear about other places than the National Parks. In the first book, there was a kind of frenzied feel, as Matt and Karen had to get to all the parks on their list. In this one, they are mush more relaxed, and they are not so focused on getting their passports stamped, and pictures in front of the National Park sign, which was getting redundant in the first book. It was also nice that they traveled with two other couples in this book, which made the stories a little more interesting. Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy the first book. I just liked this one better.
March 6, 2019
Come on a journey with Matt & Karen as they travel to our National Parks, State Parks and Bureau Land Management properties in the West/Southwest regions of the United States. Dear Bob & Sue Season 2 is a series of e-mails sent back to their friends from their travels. Their book is not intended as a travel guide but never know could pick up a few good tips. An easy read, good humor and puts you right there with them on their travels. When your done reading will you be itching to bring out those hiking boots and hike the hiking trail? I know I'm ready to get out there to explore. Happy Trails!
April 4, 2022
I found myself literally laughing out loud when reading parts of this book. I found the author duo through my love of podcasts and hiking. They have captivated me through their spoken words, so I decided to try their written words. The book did not disappoint. I could “hear” them speaking while reading. I’m happy they have several books to enjoy, I plan on reading more in the future. I picked this one first because I want to travel to one of the parks they featured. I have and will continue to recommend their podcast - and now also books - to others who love hiking and the beautiful National Parks.
February 21, 2019
Much like the first Dear Bob and Sue book, this one was just okay for me. I don't find Matt and Karen super engaging, but some of their stories are entertaining and I liked knowing what places they had visited. This one was a little better than the first, considering they seemed to take more time to enjoy the places they were visiting and not rushing like when they did their big National Parks trip. It was fun to see them with friends, camping and truly ENJOYING places. So that was a good thing and a plus over the first book!
October 4, 2018
In this book, Karen and Matt travel to less places but give more detailed descriptions of their visits. I enjoyed their time at some of these places because I actually have been there myself, even if it was a different season! I also found out about the tunnel in the mountain at Glacier and watched a video of the scary hike to Angel’s Landing, a hike Karen and Matt didn’t attempt and neither would I! Once again, I was able to learn about new places as well.
November 10, 2018
Matt and Karen's books have definitely inspired me! In fact, my husband and I are now following in their footsteps on a quest to visit each of the national parks. On the day before a park visit, we always re-read the appropriate chapter so that we can plan where to hike and where to eat! This book was not quite as funny as the original book, but was it was still very enjoyable and informative. We've added some new places and trails to our ever-growing bucket list!
October 13, 2019
I enjoyed reading about the national parks they visited with the added details. Being avid hikers and National Park enthusiasts ourselves, found a few new places to visit. I couldn't quite get into the sense of humor, but overall the book was a fast read and enjoyable especially when they were hiking with their friends. I did not care for the parts about fur and pelts, though. Rated closer to 3 1/2 stars.
August 14, 2020
A lovely travel memoir about trips to national parks and recreation areas
Similar to their first book, this is a continuation of their various trips to different places, and their experiences. It is a lovely book written by a couple who have their quirks but still obviously love each other very much. Reading their experiences feels like they are taking you with them on their journeys. Highly recommend this book.
Similar to their first book, this is a continuation of their various trips to different places, and their experiences. It is a lovely book written by a couple who have their quirks but still obviously love each other very much. Reading their experiences feels like they are taking you with them on their journeys. Highly recommend this book.
February 2, 2021
If you enjoy the outdoors, public lands and hiking as I do, then you will probably enjoy this book. Lots of quirky humor provided by Matt and Karen as they recount their adventures in the form of "emails" to their friends Bob and Sue. This is the second in a series of three Dear Bob and Sue books, and the second I've read. I needed this fun, light read after reading The underground Railroad, and this fit the bill.
May 30, 2022
So, the second in this series. I enjoy hearing about the varied parks they visited and the humorous things that happen on their trips. It does make me think about visiting all the national parks and hiking, but these guys really hike... like 9 miles at a time. I couldn't do that anymore, so I guess I'll just read about it. Matt also gets on my nerves once and a while. He can often be a jerk. None-the-less, I do enjoy the travelogue aspect of the stories. I think there is a third book out, also...
June 22, 2025
I loved the first “Dear Bob and Sue” book, so was excited to continue reading about their travels! This next book wasn’t quite as good as the first one, I think. Some of the dialogue heavy sections felt a little forced and just kind of dumb. (Sorry!). But the traveling, hiking and camping stories were very enjoyable. Pretty sure I laughed out loud a few times. And this book inspires me to get out into nature and go on an adventure, which is great!
July 22, 2025
Audiobook. I loved Season One and find myself relistening to the audio when I need something comforting in the background. I am so glad they kept the same narrators for Season Two! While I enjoyed Season One more because of the vastness that book covered, this was very funny and lighthearted like the first book and I enjoyed the time I spent listening to it. If you liked Season One and enjoy the banter between Matt and Karen, you'll like this book as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews