Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks

History doesn't necessarily change, but our understanding of it does. And sometimes, returning to a place years later allows us to see an entirely different story.

In this episode of Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks, Susan and Monica explore Monticello, the historic Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson, America's third president and author of the Declaration of Independence.

Susan has visited Monticello three times—1998, 2011, and 2026—and each visit has offered a different perspective on this remarkable and complicated place. While Monticello is known for Jefferson's architecture, inventions, gardens, and agricultural innovations, there is another esse...

Ever wonder what it's like to walk into a volcano? This week the Two Chicks head to northeastern New Mexico to cover Capulin Volcano National Monument — one of the most perfectly symmetrical cinder cone volcanoes on Earth, and one of the only places in the world where you can actually hike down into the crater vent.

In this episode we cover:

🌋 How Capulin formed — and why it "seeped" instead of exploding, spreading lava roughly 16 square miles in every direction

🚗 The 2-mile road that spirals to the summit (plus a brand-new 2026 update: it's now one-wa...

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest national park in the U.S. — 13.2 million acres that almost never got protected at all. In this episode, Susan and Monica dig into the Russian explorer the park is named after, the 1978 deadline that nearly opened the land to development, and the wild story of Kennicott: a copper mining town that made $200 million in ore and then vanished almost overnight. Plus: the infamous 60-mile, pothole-filled McCarthy Road, hiking the north side's Caribou Trail, and an honest debate about whether the trip out to Kennicott is actually worth it.

Fe...

Chamizal National Memorial doesn't look like much — until you learn a flood moved a river, stranded a piece of Mexico inside U.S. territory, and kicked off a border dispute that took 99 years, two presidents, and a concrete channel to finally settle. In this episode, Susan and Monica dig into the 1864 flood that started it all, the human cost of relocating 5,000 El Paso residents to make the border permanent, and why Chamizal is one of only two NPS sites in the country honoring a peacefully resolved international boundary dispute (the other? Washington's "Pig War" island).

📍 Featured: Chami...

Two battles. One field. And a modern fight to keep it from being swallowed by development. In this episode of Two Chicks With Hiking Sticks, Susan and Monica head to Manassas National Battlefield Park (a.k.a. Bull Run) in Northern Virginia, site of the Civil War's first major land battle. We cover the well-to-do spectators who showed up with picnic lunches and ended up fleeing for their lives, the birth of the "Stonewall" Jackson nickname, and the Henry House, which was destroyed in the fighting and rebuilt by the family in 1870. Then we look at a side of the...

Denali National Park almost wasn't named for the mountain at all — the whole thing got saved because one guy in the early 1900s wouldn't stop fighting to protect the Dall sheep from overhunting. In this episode, we dig into how Denali became a national park in 1917 (as Mount McKinley National Park), how it tripled in size to over 6 million acres under Jimmy Carter in 1980, and the messy, ongoing fight over what to call the mountain itself.

We also cover the wild story of the Pretty Rocks Landslide — permafrost that was moving up to 14 inches a day and...

Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks head to Dayton, Ohio to explore the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park — the six-site park honoring Wilbur and Orville Wright AND poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. 

We walk the Wright Cycle Company shop and discuss where the Wrights proved flight was practical. Come with us as we uncover how a bicycle shop, a poet, and a prairie changed the world.

📍 Featured: Wright Cycle Company | Huffman Prairie Flying Field | Paul Laurence Dunbar House | Wright Brothers Memorial Hill

🥾 Trails covered: Wright Brothers-Huffman Prairie Trail, Eastwood MetroPark Buckeye Trail, and more e...

This week Susan and Monica cover White Sands National Park — our 62nd of 63 — and there's way more going on here than sand. We get into why it sat as a "national monument" for 86 years before finally becoming a national park in 2019 (spoiler: it involved a defense bill), why the park sometimes has to shut its only road down for active missile testing next door, and the 21,000–23,000-year-old human footprints that are rewriting what we know about the first people in North America.

Plus: the Mescalero Apache and early farming cultures who called this basin home, a ghost...

This week we're at Tumacácori National Historical Park, a 360-acre National Historical Park protecting the ruins of three Spanish colonial missions along Arizona's Santa Cruz River. We dig into Padre Kino's 1691 mission and the Anza Trail's road to San Francisco.

📍 Featured: Mission San José de Tumacácori, Tumacácori Museum

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Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks heads to Lassen Volcanic National Park — and it turns out the story behind this "hidden gem" is way weirder than we expected. We dig into how a failed political fight only got resolved because the mountain literally erupted, how the devastating 2021 Dixie Fire reshaped huge parts of the park, and why the man the park is named after might not have deserved the honor at all.

🌋 In this episode:

Susan and Monica head to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park just outside Macon, Georgia — a site with evidence of continuous human habitation for 12,000 to 17,000 years. We cover the Great Temple Mound (55 feet high, built basket by basket by South Appalachian Mississippian laborers), the massive 1930s archaeological excavation, and the uncomfortable truth behind it: the human remains that were disinterred and are still being repatriated to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation nearly 100 years later. We also get into the bigger questions this place raises — who owns a mound if it's on your land, whether Ocmulgee deserves to become the 64th official U.S...

We're covering one of the least-visited parks in the whole system — North Cascades National Park in Washington State. This place has over 300 glaciers, turquoise glacial lakes, ancient Indigenous trade routes crossing the mountains 10,000 years ago, and a wild history of dams, clear-cut forests, and an international fight with Canada that just got a nearly $1 billion resolution THIS YEAR. Plus: the fire lookout summer that inspired Jack Kerouac, our must-see spots, best trails, and — obviously — a Bigfoot check-in. Grab your sticks and come hike it with us!

⏱️ Chapters below

🥾 Established 1968 | 300+ glaciers | No entrance fee

📖 Jack Ker...

Most people have never heard of the Mexican-American War — but it gave the United States everything from New Mexico and Arizona to California. And it all started right here, on a quiet coastal prairie near Brownsville, Texas. Join Susan and Monica as they dig into one of the most underrated — and most important — National Park Service sites in the entire country: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park.

We're talking about the war that literally completed the map of America, the only NPS site dedicated to preserving where it started, and the surprisingly moving story of thousands of peo...

Join Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks as we explore Petroglyph National Monument on the edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico — home to an estimated 20,000-25,000 petroglyphs carved into volcanic basalt by Ancestral Puebloan peoples and Spanish settlers over the last 700+ years. In this episode, we hike the easy-to-moderate trails of Boca Negra Canyon, Rinconada Canyon, and Piedras Marcadas Canyon, explore the monument's volcanic geology and five dormant cinder cones, and dig into the deep cultural history that makes this landscape sacred to nearly 20 Indigenous nations today.

🥾 Trails featured: Boca Negra Canyon (Macaw & Cliff Base Trails), Rinconada Canyon Loop...

Ever wondered what it's actually like to visit Mount Rainier National Park? In this episode, Susan shares her firsthand experience visiting in August 2024 — and she and Monica break down everything you need to know before you go, from the park's layout to the logistics that can make or break your trip.

Mount Rainier is one of America's most iconic national parks — and one of the most misunderstood. It's not just a pretty mountain. It's an active stratovolcano, the highest peak in the Cascade Range at 14,410 feet, home to 25 glaciers (including Emmons Glacier — the largest in the contig...

Ever driven past a historical site and thought... but why is this here? That's exactly the conversation we had about Fort Union National Monument in northeastern New Mexico — and we're not holding back!

Monica was our boots-on-the-ground explorer and Susan did the deep research dive, and together we take you through the full story of this FREE National Park Service site: the three forts built on the same spot, the Civil War battle that changed the West, the adobe ruins slowly melting back into the prairie, and the big question — should your tax dollars be protecting this...

In this episode of Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks, Susan and Monica dig into one of San Antonio's most beloved urban parks — Phil Hardberger Park — and the remarkable 175-year story behind how it came to exist.

What started as a Republic of Texas land grant to a Battle of San Jacinto hero eventually became a tight-knit community of dairy farms known as Buttermilk Hill. The last family standing? Max and Minnie Voelcker — a childless couple who milked cows twice a day, 365 days a year, and whose trust ultimately made this park possible. Throw in a mayor who sp...

Welcome to another adventure with Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks!

In this episode, Susan and Monica explore one of the most unique and underrated parks in Texas—Palmetto State Park. Located between Luling and Gonzales, this small but fascinating Texas State Park is home to dwarf palmettos, scenic hiking trails, the San Marcos River, Oxbow Lake, incredible birdwatching opportunities, and even a local swamp creature legend!

Join us as we discuss the history of the park, its Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) roots, easy hiking trails, camping opportunities, kayaking and canoeing on the San Ma...

We’re heading to one of the most underrated national parks in the entire country — Guadalupe Mountains National Park in far West Texas! Rising over 3,000 feet above the Chihuahuan Desert, these mountains hide a jaw-dropping secret: they’re actually the remains of a 260–270-million-year-old reef that once sat at the bottom of an ancient tropical sea.

In this episode, we explore the natural wonders, rich cultural history, and best hiking options at Guadalupe Mountains — including trails perfect for the 50+ crowd who love a great adventure without the extremes.

⏱️ WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE:

What would you do if a simple hike turned into an unexpected overnight stay in the wilderness?

In this episode of Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks, we're diving into essential outdoor survival skills every hiker, camper, and outdoor explorer should know before heading out on their next adventure. From the Ten Essentials and emergency shelters to navigation, hydration, signaling for help, and common mistakes that can quickly become dangerous, we're covering practical tips that could make all the difference when things don't go as planned.

Whether you're a beginner hiker, a weekend camper...

Have you ever actually seen the Milky Way with your own eyes? Not a photo — the real thing, overhead, arching across a pitch-black sky? If not, this episode is for you.

Susan and Monica dive into the world of Dark Sky Parks — what they are, how places earn that designation, and what it actually takes to visit one and see something that will genuinely blow your mind.

🌠 IN THIS EPISODE:

• What a Dark Sky Park actually is (and why 99% of Americans have never seen a truly dark sky)

• The 5 types of Da...

Texas has one natural lake — and most people have never heard of it. 🌿

Caddo Lake State Park in East Texas is unlike anywhere else in the Lone Star State. We're talking 400-year-old bald cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, a swamp full of alligators, 12,000 years of human history, and a founding father of the Republic of Texas who was shot dead in the water on

Independence Day. Yeah. It's THAT kind of place.

In this episode we cover everything you need to know:

🏹 HISTORY

- 10,000 BC – The first...

Welcome back to Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks! 🏜️ In this episode, we're heading to one of the most jaw-dropping places on Earth — Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches (yes, TWO THOUSAND!), this park is a bucket-list destination for a reason — and we're breaking down everything you need to know before you visit.

In this episode we cover:

•      The fascinating history of how Arches went from a cattle ranch to a National Park

•      The geology behind those incredible arches — and why they're still forming (and falling!) today

•      The best easy-t...

She escaped slavery alone at night. Then went back. Thirteen times.

In this episode, we dive deep into the full, extraordinary life of Harriet

Tubman — from her brutal childhood on Maryland's Eastern Shore, to her

daring escapes on the Underground Railroad, to her secret career as a

Union Army spy who led the most successful military liberation raid in

American history — freeing over 700 people in a single night.

We cover:

✅ Her complete biography — the real story, not the sanitized version

✅ How the Underg...

In 1933, with 25% of Americans out of work and the land itself in crisis, FDR launched one of the most ambitious — and successful — programs in American history: the Civilian Conservation Corps.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the CCC — how it was created in just 10 days, how 3 million young men were put to work across America's most iconic landscapes, and how the structures they built with their own hands still stand in our national parks today.

We cover:

→ The twin crises of the Great Depression and environmental collapse that forced F...

In this episode of Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks, we cover TWO powerful stories connected by one theme: protecting the places and values that matter most.

🎥 PART 1 — THE RIVER AND THE WALL FILM SCREENING We attended a special community event hosted by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Keep Big Bend Wild, Latino Outdoors, the San Antonio River Foundation, and the Big Bend Conservation Alliance at Confluence Park in San Antonio, TX. The evening featured a panel discussion with regional wildlife and conservation experts followed by an outdoor screening of the award-winning 2019 documentary "The River and the W...

What happens when one man tries to build the perfect world — and his workers say enough is enough? Welcome to Pullman, one of the most fascinating and layered history destinations in the entire United States.

In this episode, we're diving deep into Pullman National Historical Park on Chicago's far South Side, a place where utopian dreams, brutal corporate control, a nation-shaking labor strike, and the roots of the African American Civil Rights Movement all collide in one remarkable neighborhood.

We cover everything you need to know before you visit:

✅ The story of G...

Join Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks as we explore the stunning landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park where two deserts collide to create one unforgettable adventure.

In this episode, we break down what to see, where to go, and essential travel tips for making the most of your visit. Whether you’re planning your first trip or just curious about this iconic national park, we’ve got you covered with practical advice, a little history, and plenty of real talk.

From the Mojave Desert’s famous Joshua trees to the Colorado Desert’s wide-ope...

Welcome back to Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks! In this episode, we takes you on a deep dive into one of the most beloved national parks on the East Coast: Shenandoah National Park in northwestern Virginia.

Whether you're planning your first visit or your fifth, this episode covers EVERYTHING:

•      ✅ Key facts and history — from the 1926 congressional authorization to the CCC to President Hoover's wilderness retreat

•      ✅ The natural world — ancient Blue Ridge geology, over 860 wildflower species, black bears, and the rare Shenandoah salamander

•      ✅ The cultural and historical story — the displaced mountain people, the CCC, the civil rights hi...

Step back in time at Fort Scott National Historic Site in Kansas. It is a place where America’s frontier dreams, broken promises, and Civil War struggles all collided. Built in 1842 to enforce the Permanent Indian Frontier, Fort Scott quickly became a symbol of westward expansion, Native displacement, and the tension that fueled Bleeding Kansas. During the Civil War, it transformed into a Union supply depot and the birthplace of the First Kansas Colored Infantry. In fact, it was the first African American regiment from a Northern state to see combat.

In this episode, we explore Fo...

What if we told you that one of the most dramatic and consequential battles in American history happened in a small Michigan city — and almost nobody knows about it? In this episode of Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks, we explore River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe, Michigan: the site of the War of 1812's greatest American defeat, the birth of the rallying cry "Remember the Raisin!", and a place where Native American, French, British, and American stories collide in one of history's most complex moments.

We cover everything you need to know for a perfect vi...

What do you do when a doctor tells you you'll be impaired for life — and you simply refuse to believe them?

Award-winning journalist, Peabody Award winner, and bestselling author Jo Giese joins Two Chicks with Hiking Sticks to share her extraordinary story of survival, determination, and defying medical odds after a catastrophic fall ruptured her Achilles tendon — and a botched surgery left her without one entirely.

In this episode, Jo opens up about:

✅ The accident and surgical nightmare that changed everything

✅ Being told she'd never walk normally again — and rejecting...

What if one of America’s most “hostile” landscapes turned out to be one of its most breathtaking?

In this episode of Two Chicks With Hiking Sticks, we explore Badlands National Park in South Dakota — a land shaped by 75 million years of erosion, ancient inland seas, prehistoric mammals, and powerful Lakota history.

We’ll walk through:

Today we’re exploring one of the most beloved places in America — Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Straddling the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, this park is the most visited national park in the United States — and once you see the mist rolling across these ancient mountains, you’ll understand why.

In this episode of Hike & History, we explore:

Why the Smokies are some of the oldest mountains on Earth

The incredible biodiversity that makes the park famous

The best hikes for first-time visitors

The hidd...

Discover the powerful history and lasting legacy of Vicksburg National Military Park — one of the most pivotal battlefields of the American Civil War. In this episode we explore how the 47-day Siege of Vicksburg helped shift the course of the war, giving the Union control of the Mississippi River and dividing the Confederacy forever.

We’ll walk through:

✔️ When and why the park was established

✔️ Key historic sites you must see, including earthworks, monuments, and the USS Cairo

✔️ The natural beauty and ecology of this preserved landscape

✔️ Visitor stats, cultural sign...

Did you know you can walk through an actual Ice Age dig site in Texas?

In this episode, we explore Waco Mammoth National Monument, one of the most fascinating paleontological sites in the country — right in the heart of Central Texas. Discovered in 1978 and designated a national monument in 2015, this site preserves the only known nursery herd of Columbian mammoths in the United States.

We’ll cover:

Join us on a moving journey through Andersonville National Historic Site, one of the most powerful and important historical sites in the United States. In this episode, we explore:

🔹 The harrowing history of Camp Sumter, a Confederate Civil War prison

🔹 The tragic story of tens of thousands of Union prisoners and nearly 13,000 who died here

🔹 What life was like inside the stockade — disease, starvation, and survival

🔹 The creation of Andersonville National Cemetery and its continuing role

🔹 How the National Prisoner of War Museum honors all American POWs

🔹 Why this sit...

Independence National Historical Park reminds us that America was never meant to be finished. It was designed as a living experiment shaped by debate, fueled by hope, and challenged by contradiction. The same questions they wrestled with inside these buildings — freedom, equality, power, responsibility — are the same ones we wrestle with today. Walking these streets isn’t about idolizing the past; it’s about recognizing our role in the future. Come join us for a review of Independence National Historic Park.

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Lace up your boots and bring your appetite — it’s time for another adventure in our Hike & Feast series!

In this episode of Two Chicks With Hiking Sticks, we explore the beautiful Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne, Texas. From peaceful creekside trails and towering cypress trees to wide-open Hill Country landscapes, Cibolo is one of the best hidden gems for hiking near San Antonio.

After hitting the trails, we keep the adventure going with the “feast” part of the journey — because every great hike deserves a great meal.

Whether you’re looking for...

Put your walking shoes on and step into history with Two Chicks With Hiking Sticks as we explore Gettysburg National Military Park — one of the most important and emotionally powerful landscapes in America.

In this episode, we will talk about where the Battle of Gettysburg unfolded in July 1863. From Little Round Top and Devil’s Den to Pickett’s Charge and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, we break down why this battlefield changed the course of the Civil War and the future of the nation.

Whether you’re a history lover, outdoor adventurer, or weekend ex...