grand circle tour podcast

484 episodes

A celebration of all Disney Parks but mostly the American ones.

Grand Circle Tour Podcast Your Tour Guides

• Society & Culture
• 5.0 • 4 Ratings
• MAY 17, 2024

Adventure 310: Magic Kingdom Trivia Game

Join your tour guides Stan Solo, Beatrice Beadizfan and Jason Thomason as they play the game to see who is the Magic Kingdom trivia master.  Plus Splash Mountain's real name, fact checking in real time, oogolie moogolie, all the stars and more! Follow us on Facebook at Disney Friends of the Grand Circle Tour Podcast for live shows every Thursday night, on Instagram at @grandcircletourpodcast  and on YouTube at @grandcircletour Brought to you by https://celebratingflorida.com/  and https://mei-travel.com/ The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy

• MAY 12, 2024

Detour: Disney's Pop Century Resort (2003)

Join your tour guides Stan Solo, Kris Banas and Beatrice Beadizfan as they discuss the history, creation of, amenities, fun, overall greatness of and the unexpected magic that is Walt Disney World's Pop Century Resort!   Follow us on Facebook at Grand Circle Tour Magic Ticket Holders for live shows every Thursday night, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/grandcircletourpodcast/  and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@grandcircletour The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy  

• MAY 9, 2024

Adventure 310: Our Favorite Things at Pabellón de México

Bienvenidos amigos!  Join your tour guides Kris Banis, Beatrice Beadizfan and Dan Hansen as they head south of the border to Epcot's Mexico Pavillion to talk about all their favorite things there.  Plus Panchito's full name, interactive art exhibits, there's always a line for tequila, Epcot is still educational and more! Follow us on Facebook at Disney Friends of the Grand Circle Tour Podcast for live shows every Thursday night, on Instagram at @grandcircletourpodcast  and on YouTube at @grandcircletour Brought to you by https://celebratingflorida.com/  and https://mei-travel.com/ The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy

• MAY 2, 2024

Adventure 309: Unlimited Shopping

Join your tour guides Beatrice Beadizfan, Holly Wood Crawford and Kris Banas as they discuss the shopping magic they would make at Disney if they had the Fairy Godmother's credit card.   Plus cake AND mimosas, lederhosen Mickey, five hours of Bon Jovi and more! Follow us on Facebook at Disney Friends of the Grand Circle Tour Podcast for live shows every Thursday night, on Instagram at @grandcircletourpodcast  and on YouTube at @grandcircletour Brought to you by https://celebratingflorida.com/  and https://mei-travel.com/ The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy

• APR 25, 2024

Adventure 308 - 6 month prediction show part 1

I may not be Madam Leota but I can predict that you are about to laugh and have some fun as Capt. Stan Solo Welcomes Ringmaster Holly Wood, Conducter Dan and Cruise Director Beatrice to the studio. They are predicting whats next for everyones favourite parks. Listen in and see if you agree. Keep score of your guesses too because there will be a test in six months. Follow us on Facebook at Disney Friends of the Grand Circle Tour Podcast for live shows every Thursday night, on Instagram at @grandcircletourpodcast  and on YouTube at @grandcircletour Brought to you by https://celebratingflorida.com/  and https://mei-travel.com/ The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy  

• APR 19, 2024

Adventure 307 - Creating The Perfect After Hours Event - Holly, Jay & Stan

Welcome aboard, passengers for another Grand Circle Tour Podcast adventure. Join Ringmaster Holly Wood, Skipper Jay and Capt. Stan Solo as they offer their ideas for the perfect after hours event. Get ready to laugh along at some great, near great and... well, let's just say I like my job so they are all brilliant. Follow us on Facebook at Disney Friends of the Grand Circle Tour Podcast for live shows every Thursday night, on Instagram at @grandcircletourpodcast  and on YouTube at @grandcircletour Brought to you by https://celebratingflorida.com/  and https://mei-travel.com/ The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy  

• © GCTPODCAST

Customer Reviews

A new perspective.

I love this new podcast. It is awesome to hear a Canadians perspective on Disney. They have a great crew of hosts. Get on board asap and enjoy the ride.

Top Podcasts In Society & Culture

You might also like.

Grand Circle Tour Podcast

By your tour guides.

Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store .

Category: Places & Travel

Open in apple podcasts, open rss feed, open website.

Write a review

Description.

#92: The Grand Circle Tour

It’s time for another road trip!

It’s time for another road trip! The Grand Circle Tour is a driving itinerary that takes you to some of the most amazing natural wonders in southern Utah and northern Arizona. Travel along with us in this episode as we start in Las Vegas, travel northeast through Utah, loop down to southwestern Colorado, and come back to Utah before making a few stops in northern Arizona on our way back to Las Vegas.

This tour is a general guide; you can customize it to your liking. You can also begin and end it from any point on the loop if Las Vegas is not your starting point. So, buckle up and get ready for an incredible ride. Below is a list of the places we talk about as we travel along the Grand Circle Tour:

·     Start in Las Vegas

·     Valley of Fire State Park

·     Zion National Park

·     Bryce Canyon National Park

·     Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument

·     Capitol Reef National Park

·     Goblin Valley State Park

·     Moab (Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point SP)

·     Monticello, Utah (Canyonlands NP, Bears Ears NM, Natural Bridges NM)

·     Hovenweep National Monument

·     Mesa Verde National Park

·     Four Corners

·     Bluff, Utah

·     Valley of the Gods

·     Moki Dugway

·     Goosenecks State Park

·     Monument Valley

·     Page, Arizona (Antelope Canyons, Horseshoe Bend)

·     North Rim of the Grand Canyon

·     Kanab, Utah (Buckskin Gulch)

·     Back to Las Vegas

Here’s a link to a map of the route

Check out our fun and inspiring apparel at Dirtlander.com

Subscribe to our Patreon Account

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 .

To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] .

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

Recent Episodes

• #158: Three Perfect Days in the Columbia River Gorge
• #157: Celebrating National Park Week
• #156: Mailbag: Visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park and More!
• #155: Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks Road Trip
• #154: Mailbag: Visiting Virgin Islands National Park and More!
• #153: The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in Our National Parks
• #152: Dry Tortugas National Park Update
• #151: Hiking in the Palm Springs Area
• #150: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park

#92: The Grand Circle Tour

8 sep 2022 · dear bob and sue: a national parks podcast.

It’s time for another road trip! The Grand Circle Tour is a driving itinerary that takes you to some of the most amazing natural wonders in southern Utah and northern Arizona. Travel along with us in this episode as we start in Las Vegas, travel northeast through Utah, loop down to southwestern Colorado, and come back to Utah before making a few stops in northern Arizona on our way back to Las Vegas.   This tour is a general guide; you can customize it to your liking. You can also begin and end it from any point on the loop if Las Vegas is not your starting point. So, buckle up and get ready for an incredible ride. Below is a list of the places we talk about as we travel along the Grand Circle Tour: ·     Start in Las Vegas ·     Valley of Fire State Park ·     Zion National Park ·     Bryce Canyon National Park ·     Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument ·     Capitol Reef National Park ·     Goblin Valley State Park ·     Moab (Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point SP) ·     Monticello, Utah (Canyonlands NP, Bears Ears NM, Natural Bridges NM) ·     Hovenweep National Monument ·     Mesa Verde National Park ·     Four Corners ·     Bluff, Utah ·     Valley of the Gods ·     Moki Dugway ·     Goosenecks State Park ·     Monument Valley ·     Page, Arizona (Antelope Canyons, Horseshoe Bend) ·     North Rim of the Grand Canyon ·     Kanab, Utah (Buckskin Gulch) ·     Zion National Park ·     Back to Las Vegas   Here’s a link to a map of the route   Check out our fun and inspiring apparel at Dirtlander.com   Subscribe to our Patreon Account   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

• Listen Listen again Continue Playing...
• Follow Unfollow

• Most played
• Most popular

#158: Three Perfect Days in the Columbia River Gorge

• Listen later Listen later
• Mark as played
• Go to podcast

Carved by the once-wild Columbia River, the Columbia River Gorge is a dramatic canyon that snakes through the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest on its way to the Pacific Ocean. It's an area of stunning natural beauty with endless outdoor adventure options.   Using the town of Hood River, Oregon, as our home base, we recently visited the gorge in search of waterfalls. (The area has nearly 100.) And being that it was spring when we were there, the waterfalls did not disappoint -- especially the famous Multnomah Falls – the most-visited single natural attraction in the Pacific Northwest.   In this episode, we talk about several of the best waterfalls in the area, a couple of breathtaking trails to hike close to Hood River, a state park you won’t want to miss, and some of the restaurants and breweries we visited. We also share a little history of the area.   A few links we mentioned in this episode: ·     KURU Footwear’s website https://www.kurufootwear.com/ ·     A link to KURU’s RIDGE Motion shoes ·     Link to our Patreon account   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#157: Celebrating National Park Week

Each year, the National Park Service celebrates National Park Week in April. And this year, they’ve planned events from April 20th through April 28th.   In this episode, we highlight some of the activities that will happen during National Park Week, give a brief history of the creation of the NPS, and interview our special guest, Jacob Wolfley, who recently spent a summer as an intern park range at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota.   Jacob will enlighten us on what it takes to score a job or internship at a national park, what it’s like working as a ranger, and his ambitions for a possible career with the NPS.   So, tune in and get ready to learn about the NPS and all the exciting activities coming up in National Park Week.   Here are a couple of links related to the topics we discussed in this episode: ·     Find out more information about National Park Week here ·     Here is a link to the National Park Service’s jobs site ·     Check out our interview guest, Jacob Wolfley, on Instagram   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Missing episodes?

Click here to refresh the feed.

#156: Mailbag: Visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park and More!

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 overview of some of the closures within the national parks this year, ·     Suggestions for hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, ·     Tips for avoiding altitude sickness when traveling to high-elevation parks, ·     Common mistakes people make when planning a trip to the national parks, ·     Relationship advice for couples who are together 24/7, ·     And more!   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#155: Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks Road Trip

 One of the most frequent questions we get from travelers is how to plan a visit to Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton NPs in a single road trip. In this episode, we cover all the details you’ll need to do just that.   Without a doubt, these three parks are at the top of our “most spectacular” list. Each has its unique history and landscape, yet they’re all great places to witness once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. The other thing they have in common is that they all have mountainous regions. Given their elevations, winter weather can sneak up on you anytime during the year, which makes carefully choosing your dates to visit even more important than with many other destinations.   With the current popularity of the national parks, especially these three, embarking on a road trip to see them requires advanced planning. We suggest a year or more before your desired travel date. However, you can do it, and we’ll share all the tips and tricks we know to help you.   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#154: Mailbag: Visiting Virgin Islands National Park and More!

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: ·     News about a faster way to enter Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, ·     Update about cabin demolitions within Olympic National Park, ·     Travel advice for a listener wanting to visit the Pacific Northwest this fall to see the mountain larches change colors, ·     Tips for visiting Virgin Islands National Park, ·     Our thoughts about a couple of our favorite “hard-to-get-to” national parks, ·     The ranger-led tours in Mesa Verde National Park ranked from easiest to most difficult, ·     National Parks that are good for kids, ·     And more!   Click this link for more about us: https://linktr.ee/mattandkaren The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] .   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#153: The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in Our National Parks

Long before the National Park Service was founded, the U.S. Army was put in charge of protecting America’s national parks. One of the groups that played a crucial role in fulfilling this invaluable service to our country was the Buffalo Soldiers: African American officers and enlisted men serving in the Army.   When the regimen stationed in San Francisco was tasked with protecting and developing infrastructure in Sequoia and General Grant (now Kings Canyon) National Parks, these incredibly hardworking soldiers made jaw-dropping progress in their first season of duty.   Led by the infamous Captain Charles Young, who was later posthumously promoted to Brigadier General, this group of approximately one hundred men set out to guard and improve these priceless areas. They built roads into the parks and protected the land from poachers and trespassers, making it possible for future generations of visitors to these national treasures.   In this episode, we discuss the accomplishments of the Buffalo Soldiers, not just in these two parks but also in Yosemite and the surrounding public lands.   --- Click this link for more about us: https://linktr.ee/mattandkaren The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#152: Dry Tortugas National Park Update

Dry Tortugas National Park is in a category of its own: pre-civil war fort, 70 miles out to sea with nothing else around it, incredible history, beautiful tropical keys with campsites, and right in the path of the most powerful hurricanes on the planet. Nowhere else can you visit a place with world-class snorkeling and see the rooms where they held the most dangerous civil war prisoners.   In this episode, we discuss some recent updates about the park, provide details about visiting and camping there, and reminisce about our visit over a decade ago. What started out for us as a brief update episode has rekindled our interest in this incredible national park and our desire to revisit it someday. And when we do, maybe we’ll camp. There’s just one small detail you might want to know about the Dry Tortugas camping situation that makes Karen a little worried. You’ll have to tune in and listen to find out what that is.   A couple of links where you can find important, up-to-date information: ·     Dry Tortugas National Park’s website ·     Yankee Freedom boat ticket information   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#151: Hiking in the Palm Springs Area

This episode is a companion to our previous release, #150: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park. So many travelers to this magical part of Southern California spend time in both Joshua Tree NP and Palm Springs that these back-to-back episodes would be perfect for anyone planning a trip to the area.   Today, we’re focusing on hikes in and around Palm Springs, sharing a few of our favorite trails with you. From an easy hike through an oasis in the Indian Canyon area of the Agua Caliente Reservation to a ladder-aided scramble up a slot canyon on a Bureau of Land Management site, we discuss just a few of the fantastic hikes waiting for you in the Coachella Valley.   From fall to spring, this desert playground is a perfect place to get out into nature and challenge yourself with a heart-pounding hike before relaxing by the pool or enjoying a round of golf. And if you are looking for a real test of endurance, there is even a trail known to be the most difficult day hike in America. The Cactus to Cloud Trail rises from the desert floor over 10,000 vertical feet to the top of the San Jacinto Mountain range.   So, get out your notepad and prepare to jot down a few travel tips while we take you to Palm Springs!   Links to some of the things we discussed in this episode: ·     Info about the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway , and ·     Indian Canyons   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#150: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park

Welcome to our journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of America's national parks! Today is part one of a two-part series about Southern California's desert playground, where we explore the magical and rugged terrain of Joshua Tree National Park. Located about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a world of its own. With over three million visitors annually, it's a favorite spring break destination, though the park reveals its unique charm throughout the year. In this episode, we give an overview of the park's most popular hiking trails and share our experiences hiking some of our favorites. We also provide a "lay of the land," including information about campgrounds, visitor centers, and a little vegetation education thrown in for good measure. And for those who want to wander outside the park boundaries, we recommend a couple of unique local attractions and places to eat and drink once the sun slips over the park's peaks. All this and a history story or two make this a must-listen episode for anyone planning a trip to the park. Next week, in part two, we'll move south of the park and talk about the diverse areas throughout the greater Palm Springs region, where you'll find some of the best hiking trails in southern California. Links to some of the things we discussed in this episode: ·     Joshua Tree NP’s bird list ·     The Copper Room at Yucca Valley Airport ·     Visit Pioneertown ·     Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out. And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com. 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. To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#149: Mailbag: Digging for Diamonds in an Arkansas State Park and More!

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: ·     Our thoughts on visiting a state park in Arkansas where a visitor recently found 7-carat diamond, ·     Suggestions about fun hiking trails for young teenagers in Utah’s national parks, ·     Places to visit in the Pacific Northwest when traveling from Mt. Rainier NP to Cannon Beach in Oregon, ·     Tips on how to prepare for a hike to Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon of Arizona, ·     And more!   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#148: Hiking Safety Tips from a National Park Ranger

Who knows better what could go wrong while hiking in a national park than the people whose job it is to rescue hikers? That’s why we connected with a national park ranger to hear first-hand tips about hiking safety. In this episode, we interview Sara Shoemaker, a law enforcement ranger at Canyonlands National Park (Needles District) in southern Utah.   For several years, we’ve exchanged emails with Sara, and we recently met her while visiting her park. It was then we cooked up the idea to have her be a guest on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast to share practical advice on staying safe while on the trail. Hopefully, you’ll pick up an idea or two from Sara that will help make your future hiking adventures enjoyable and safe.   We start the episode by briefly reviewing the ten essentials of hiking and sharing a few stories about our near-dangerous encounters while hiking when we were not fully prepared for what we encountered on the trail.   A link to a blog post about the hiking ten essentials: ·     Washington Trails Association Ten Essentials   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#147: The Best of Big Bend National Park

A national park that started out as a state park more than 90 years ago, Big Bend is often called Texas’ gift to the nation. With over 1,200 square miles of pristine land, this park has a wide range of ecosystems, from sprawling deserts to mountains reaching nearly 8.000 feet.   From November to April, the weather is ideal for visitors to hike in several regions of the park. In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite trails in the desert, mountains, and along the Rio Grande River.   Another unique feature of this park is that it shares a border with Mexico. And unlike in the past, you can now cross the Rio Grande River during scheduled times and visit a charming Mexican village a short hike away. If you’re planning an early November visit, check out the Terlingua Chili Cookoff in the small town by the same name, just a few miles to the west of the park.   A link to one of the places we discussed in this episode: ·     Terlingua Chili Cookoff information   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#146: Mailbag: How to Get Started Camping and More!

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: ·     We reveal our ambitious 2024 New Year’s resolution (and you can join us!), ·     Our gear suggestions for a family who wants to get started camping, ·     A discussion about the difference between “strenuous” and “dangerous” trail descriptions, ·     An overview of Glacier National Park’s 2024 shuttle program, ·     Clarifying which reservations you’ll need in 2024 to visit Carlsbad Caverns NP, ·     And more!   A few links related to the topics in this episode: ·     Where to purchase your self-guided tour tickets for Carlsbad Caverns ·     Family camping checklist from REI ·     And for all you Dirtlander fans, here is a link to our Floral Bison t-shirts   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#145 Unique Experiences in the National Parks

For many visitors, hiking is their go-to activity in the national parks; it is for us. But there are so many other activities the parks have to offer. In this episode, we talk about a dozen or more things you can do in the parks that are unique and amazing. From dogsledding to synchronized firefly tours, the parks offer activities that will thrill the entire family. Here are a few of the ones we discuss: Walk on the catwalk underneath the New River Gorge Bridge, Horseback ride, Attend the bat flight program in Carlsbad Caverns NP, Raft down a wild river, Hike to and spend the night in a backcountry chalet or lodge, See the first sunrise in the US, Pick fruit in an orchard, And more! The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out. And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com. 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. To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#144: Five Perfect Days in Saguaro NP and Southern Arizona

As the temperatures drop up north, it’s time to start thinking about warm-weather escapes. In today’s episode, we have the perfect destination for you: Saguaro National Park and a whole bunch of other incredible public lands in Southern Arizona.   Join us as we take you on a journey through both districts of Saguaro NP, Catalina State Park, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, and the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, all within a stone’s throw from the always-bustling college town of Tucson.   We even take you on a few side trips an hour or two away from Tucson: Chiricahua NM, to the east; Casa Grande Ruins NM, north of town; and Organ Pipe Cactus NM, in the secluded desert to the west. And if you are missing the cold, snowy conditions back home, you can always take a day trip to the top of Mount Lemmon, where you can ski, do a little shopping, and be back down to the warmth of Tucson just an hour or so drive away.   A link to one of the places we discussed in this episode: ·     Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#143: Mailbag: Where to See Moose in the National Parks, and More!

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: ·     Glacier NP announced their vehicle entrance reservation plan for 2024, ·     Grand Canyon NP is temporarily closing a stretch of Bright Angel Trail until mid-April 2024, ·     We answer a question about where some of the best places in the national parks are to see moose, ·     Our opinion on which airport is the best to fly into when visiting the Grand Canyon, ·     Whether we have a goal to visit all the national parks in Canada, ·     And more!   A few links related to the topics in this episode: ·     Glacier NP’s 2024 vehicle entrance reservation plan, ·     Detail about Grand Canyon NP’s Transcanyon Waterline Project, including the the 2024 Bright Angel Trail closure, ·     And for all you Dirtlander fans, here is a link to our Bandana Moose t-shirts   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#142: 20 Incredible Things to See and Do in Southern Utah, Outside the National Parks

Southern Utah is home to five must-see national parks, but if you’re traveling to this part of the American Southwest, you won’t want to miss the other incredible things to see and do. In this episode, we take you to 20 of our favorite places we’ve discovered over the years. Each site is worth exploring, from slot canyons to one-of-a-kind landscapes to priceless cultural treasures.   Places we discuss in this episode: ·     Kanarra Falls ·     Cedar Breaks National Monument ·     Willis Creek Narrows ·     Kodachrome Basin State Park ·     Hole in the Rock Road ·     Lower Calf Creek Falls Hike ·     Goblin Valley State Park ·     San Rafael Swell ·     Dead Horse Point State Park ·     Corona Arch ·     Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument ·     Hovenweep National Monument ·     Bears Ears National Monument ·     Natural Bridges National Monument ·     Moki Dugway ·     Goosenecks State Park ·     Valley of the Gods ·     Monument Valley ·     Rainbow Bridge National Monument ·     Buckskin Gulch   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#141: Utah’s Remote and Remarkable Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Find a comfortable seat and sit back as we take you with us on our boat tour to Rainbow Bridge National Monument, located just steps away from Lake Powell in a remote corner of southern Utah. On a recent road trip earlier this month, we were lucky enough to snag a reservation for a boat tour. And while the temps in early November can get downright cold on the lake, we had beautiful weather for our trip to this jaw-dropping national monument. Revered by the Navajo as a sacred site, Rainbow Bridge's remote location makes it accessible only by a multi-day backpack trip or boat ride. This remarkable natural wonder, famous for its impressive size and striking geological formation, is a majestic sandstone arch. Carved by erosion over millions of years, it stands as one of the world's largest known natural bridges, spanning 275 feet and reaching a height of 290 feet. In this episode, we talk about our experience visiting this natural wonder, stories of the early explorers to the area, and a bit of history about the formation of Lake Powell. Links we discussed on this episode: ·     Our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide, ·     Where to get more info or to sign up for the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out. And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com. 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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#140: Northern California / Southern Oregon National Park Loop

Listeners frequently ask us to create episodes about road trip itineraries, and in this episode, we outline a stunning 8-day driving loop through public lands in northern California and southern Oregon. On this journey, you’ll visit three national parks and two national monuments, while driving 800 miles through a beautiful swath of the American West that’s off the beaten path.   Starting in Redding, CA, we take you to Lassen Volcanic NP, Lava Beds NM, Crater Lake NP, and Oregon Caves NM before wrapping up the trip in Redwoods National and State Parks.   From some of the most dramatic volcanic landscapes in the country to the world’s tallest trees along the Pacific Coast and more, this road trip is everything public lands and nature lovers would want.   All this and more, coming up next!   A link we discussed on this episode: ·     Where to watch Ken Burn’s documentary The American Buffalo   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#139: Ghost Towns of the National Parks

It’s that time of year again, so get ready to be scared out of your wits! Just kidding, but we do have a fun lineup of stories in this episode about ghost towns in the national parks. While you can find deserted towns, remnants of bygone boom/bust cycles, in many of our national parks, today we will focus on just a few.   From once thriving mining towns near Death Valley, to the site of a now-defunct copper mine in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska, to the Thurmond Ghost Town in New River Gorge National Park, we share the history and the stories of paranormal activity in these historic places.   But no episode would be complete without a mention of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, so imagine how happy Karen was when she learned that this week marks the Centennial of this natural wonder. And fittingly for this time of year, we’re celebrating Bat Week. That’s right, Bat Week, an entire week dedicated each year to these flying mammals, who, as you’ll learn in this episode (spoiler alert), are NOT flying rats.   All this and more, coming up next!   The best way to support our podcast is to become a member of our Patreon account. Follow this link to check it out.   And don’t forget to check out our new online merch store and www.dirtlander.com.   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.   To advertise on The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, email us at [email protected] . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Grand circle tour podcasts.

1 Grand Circle Tour Podcast

Your tour guides, 1 phil vassar's songs from the cellar, american songwriter, steve mandile, 1 monorail supply co, 1 detour: disney's pop century resort (2003) 50:56, 1 adventure 310: our favorite things at pabellón de méxico 58:58, 1 adventure 309: unlimited shopping 55:03, 1 adventure 308 - 6 month prediction show part 1 55:06, 1 adventure 307 - creating the perfect after hours event - holly, jay & stan 45:43, 1 adventure 306: disney legends 1:03:38, 1 adventure 305: predictions show part ii, 6 months later 54:55, 1 detour: disney's animal kingdom lodge resort (2001) 1:04:42, 1 adventure 304: march madness 1:09:34, 1 adventure 303: disney princess films 1:13:46, 1 adventure 302: disney sidekicks 53:06, 1 adventure 301: cruising what and what not to pack 1:13:31, 1 adventure 300 a celebration & history of the gct 1:21:34, 1 adventure 299: disney oopies daiseies 50:16, 1 adventure 298. 90's live action disney films 51:24, 1 detour: grand californian hotel (live episode) 1:06:08, 1 adventure 297. first or second time, when disney gets it right and wrong 1:01:10, 1 adventure 296. extinct attraction music 1:09:25, 1 adventure 295: disney and it's environmental impact 1:05:12, 1 adventure 294. the dan game attraction quote edition 1:02:28, 1 adventure 293: dunube river cruise: budapest to nuremberg 1:04:01, 1 adventure 292. goodbye 2023, hello 2024 1:05:21, 1 doctor who: the church on ruby road 51:34, 1 doctor who: the giggle 56:33, 1 doctor who: wild blue yonder 43:44, 1 adventure 291. 2024 predictions 55:29, 1 adventure 290. doctor who and the star beast 56:26, 1 adventure 289. a holly jolly dolly wood christmas 1:02:29, 1 disney world jollywood nights guide 40:22, 1 doctor who: our top 5 favorite stories 1:15:21, 1 adventure 288. once upon a studio 56:48, 1 adventure 287. disney princesses, real world 59:18, 1 adventure 286. tips for wdw first timers 1:01:21, 1 adventure 285. extinct attraction tributes 54:48, 1 detour - it's a grand circle tour pumpkin, charlie brown 24:10, 1 adventure 284. live action 1990's films 55:53, 1 adventure 283. date night at disney 38:13, 1 detour: a visit with dave bossert 55:36, 1 adventure 282 - wish or fantasy - with dan, kris and beatrice 1:01:19, 1 adventure 281. tips to beat the summer heat 56:25, 1 adventure 280. gct 6 month predictions 1:07:01, 1 adventure 279. detailing the disney details 58:54, 1 adventure 278. destination d23 2023 1:02:28, 1 adventure 277. the dan game returns movie quotes edition 1:06:29, 1 disney vacation club overview part two 34:30, 1 adventure 276. live action films of the 1980's 1:02:10, 1 disney vacation club overview part one 37:49, 1 adventure 275. jay goes to mickey's not so scary halloween party, sorta 56:43, 1 2023 mickey’s not-so-scary halloween party guide 45:30, 1 adventure 274. adventures by disney review 1:02:55, quick reference guide.

A celebration of all Disney parks but mostly the American ones.

Looking for Grand Circle Tour merchandise? Look no further, simply copy and paste the link below.

https://www.teepublic.com/user/grandcircletour

• All Episodes

Adventure 238. Disney & Social Media

Nov 24, 2022

Sarah Wright joins your tour guides Dan Hansen, Holly Wood Crawford and Kris Banas as they talk about the online and real worlds of Dis ocial media.  Plus more tours in the new year, some of our real life bff's we met in Facebook groups, a story that starts with villains and fireworks, the disastrous deceptions of doing...

Detour: A Tale Of Two Bobs

Nov 22, 2022

Join your tour guides Stan Solo, Holly Wood Crawford and Justin Clark live as they discuss the breaking news of Bob Chapek's leaving, Bob Iger's returning, what the future may hold and what they're hoping will happen over the next two years.

Be sure to catch the GCT Live every Thursday at 9 Eastern on Facebook and...

Andor Episode 11: "the Daughters Of Ferrix"

Nov 20, 2022

Join your tour guides Stan Solo, Justin Clark, Jason Thomason and Justin Clark as they discuss and review " the Daughters Of Ferrix ” the penultimate episode of Star Wars Andor Season 1 now streaming on Disney+.  May the Force Be With You

The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or...

Adventure 237. Our Favorite Disney Legends

Nov 19, 2022

Join your tour guides Kris Banas, Justin Clark and Beatrice Denis as they talk about their favorite Disney legends.  Plus Walt's favorite song, Fantasmic is back and better than ever, Dippy Dog's evolution into Goofy and more!

The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated...

Andor Episode 10: "One Way Out"

Nov 15, 2022

Join your tour guides Stan Solo, Justin Clark and Justin Clark as they discuss and review "One Way Out” the tenth episode of Star Wars Andor now streaming on Disney+.  May the Force Be With You

The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or...

About the Podcast

A celebration of all Disney Parks but mostly the American ones.

Share This Episode

Private premium login.

Having trouble logging in?