Saturday in the Park? Not If Government Shutdown Closes National Parks
April 8, 2011
The numbers are staggering. If the federal government shuts down, 17,000 National Park Service employees would be furloughed in addition to 15,000 private contract workers who operate restaurants, hotels and gift shops. About 800,000 daily visitors to 394 national parks, monuments and historic sites... Read more »
National Park Fee Free Days for 2011 Announced
January 5, 2011
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today (Jan. 5) announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011 and encouraged all Americans to make a New Year’s resolution to visit a national park this year. “Many people have made resolutions... Read more »
Wintry Inspiration in Yosemite
December 15, 2010
Perhaps John Muir said it best: “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.” Every year, close to 4 million people stream into Yosemite National Park in California to share his wonder. They come in cars, campers, motorcycles and motorhomes. Whether... Read more »
National Historic Landmark Photo Contest Underway
July 26, 2010
They are places where Americans have a great time, like the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster in San Diego, and places where great Americans have lived, like Albert Einstein’s house in Princeton, New Jersey. America’s 2,470 national historic landmarks are tangible elements of our past – and... Read more »
A Glacial Coming of Age: Glacier National Park 100th Anniversary
May 1, 2010
“It’s a grizzly!” exclaimed my wife, Janie. “And it’s coming right at us.” Upon hearing our voices, the bear reared on its haunches and tried to find us. We grabbed cans of bear spray from our belts and began a slow retreat. Simultaneously, we noted the frosty appearance... Read more »
National Park Getaway: George Washington Birthplace National Monument
February 19, 2010
The first president of the United States was not born at a spa, but you might think so from the tranquility and rejuvenation you’ll experience on a visit to his birthplace. This plantation situated along the Potomac River on the Northern Neck of Virginia appears as this week’s National Park... Read more »
National Park Getaway: Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
January 28, 2010
In less than three weeks, figure skaters will be spinning, lugers sliding, and skiers racing cross-country and whizzing down-mountain for gold. That metal – even when not in the form of a medal – can inspire people to leave home, travel great distances, and perform Olympian feats like climbing... Read more »
National Park Getaway: Steamtown National Historic Site
January 20, 2010
SCRANTON, Pa. – Steam rises around you. A giant turntable revolves. Excitement simmers in your chest. It might sound like you’re dancing the night away at a trendy club, but the turntable before you (used for positioning locomotives) isn’t manned by a DJ, and here, steam creates power,... Read more »
National Park Getaway: Golden Gate National Recreation Area
January 16, 2010
Hearing about the plight of natural areas around the world-areas invaded by non-native species, sullied by pollution, and beset by a host of problems linked to climate change-can create a feeling of helplessness. One may hardly know where to start when confronting global phenomena. You’ll find... Read more »
National Park Getaway: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
December 16, 2009
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – “Remember the Alamo!” Many travelers to San Antonio already do; they know before they arrive that they want to visit this site, which gained fame during the Texas Revolution. They may, however, appreciate a reminder to remember the Alamo’s four sister sites,... Read more »
