Tagged: national-parks

Understaffing Could Make National Parks a Real Mess This Summer

The temporary hiring freeze that has been ordered across the entire U.S. federal government by the Trump administration could wreak havoc on national parks this summer, observers…

What a Federal Government Shutdown Means for Air Travel, National Parks, and Passports

When the U.S. Congress can't agree on a budget before federal funding expires, the government goes into shutdown mode, ceasing all operations deemed nonessential and furloughing…

America Names Newest National Park Units, Including One for This Trailblazing Woman

The U.S. National Park System got its 433rd addition this week, when President Joe Biden established the Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine. Though not exactly a…

National Park Free Days in 2025: When All U.S. National Parks Waive Entry Fees

Around 100 of the more than 430 sites in the U.S. National Park System charge entrance fees—and those include many of the most-visited parks. But on a few select dates each year, the…

Reminder: Now Is a Good Time to Make Summer Reservations

Well, the vaccines are here, and so for the first time in a year, we finally have a clearer vision of the road map to the future. We know that as long as significant chunks of the…

Moo Deng Dupes: U.S. Zoos Where You Can See Pygmy Hippos

To see the young pygmy hippo–turned–internet sensation Moo Deng (pictured above) in real life, you'd need to travel to Thailand, where the charismatic star resides at Khao Kheow Open…

What You’ll See on the Newly Expanded, More Interactive Tour of the White House

While we all stress out over who will move into the White House in January, one of the building's current occupants has unveiled some long-in-the-works upgrades to how visitors…

The Best National Parks to Visit for Fall Colors This Year? Surprising New Data Shapes This List

For hikers and road trippers eager to see vibrant fall colors, many U.S. national parks have impressive displays this time of year. Makes sense—where there are trees, after all, there…

Alaska by Train: A Car-Free Itinerary for Touring the 49th State

August 19, 2024 As you might have heard, getting a rental car in Alaska can be tough. Inventory is limited and demand is high, especially during the peak travel months of May to…

New UNESCO World Heritage Sites for 2024 in Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, More

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has added 24 cultural and natural wonders to its esteemed World Heritage List of sites the organization…

All About USA’s Newest National Park: Texas' Blackwell School National Historic Site

A former school that was built in west Texas for Mexican and Mexican American students during the era of "separate but equal" education has become the newest addition to the U.S.…

The Best National Parks to Visit in the Fall

Updated July 11, 2024 Autumn can be an exuberant season in U.S. national parks. In some of them, the mating calls of elk fill the air. In others, the turning of the leaves gives…

New Bryce Canyon Stargazing Resort Lodges Guests in Futuristic Glass Domes

There's already something eerie about the landscape in and around southern Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park, thanks to all the Martian red rocks and stone spires known as hoodoos. So…

King Charles to Open Scotland's Balmoral Castle, Where QE2 Died, to Tours

Fans of the British Royal Family probably thought this announcement would ever be made. King Charles of the United Kingdom has announced that he will be opening Balmoral Castle, his…

This World-Famous Destination Will Soon Cost $200 Just to Enter

Inflation is pushing up prices across the board, even in one of the world's most pristine natural destinations.While it may be demoralizing to get fewer Froot Loops despite a higher…

California State Parks That Would Be National Parks Anywhere Else

Updated March 11, 2024 There are nine national parks in California—more than in any other state. From the iconic waterfalls and granite cliffs of Yosemite to the stark desert expanses…

Waterfall Lovers, This Is Your Year: California's Snows to Bring Gushers Worth Traveling For

Two years ago, California's rivers ran so dry that outdoor tour companies that depend on the state's waterways had to close shop in midsummer. But in 2024, the cyclical weather pattern…

Which National Parks Require Reservations in 2024?

Overcrowding remains a problem at the most popular U.S. national parks. Just ask the folks at Yosemite.  After dropping the California preserve's timed-entry permit for summer 2023,…

Star Clippers’ Cruise Along Panama and Costa Rica: What to Expect

Heidi Sarna is the co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com, a guide to small-ship cruising. For more than 30 years, Star Clippers has offered small-ship cruising in the Caribbean,…

Three New U.S. National Park Units Were Just Announced, And Hikers Will Love Them All

Three networks of hiking trails have been added to the National Park Service, the highest designation for public recreational spaces in the United States. The newly elevated trails…

Entrance Fee–Free National Park Days in 2024

More than a quarter of the 425 sites managed by the U.S. National Park Service charge entrance fees, ranging in price from $10 to $35.  But on a few select dates each year, the federal…

Redwood Trees: Where to Find Them, Hike Through Them, and Camp Under Them

Where is the redwood forest? If you had asked that question in mid-19th century California, the answer would have been "Where aren’t there redwood trees?” Some 2 million acres of these…

Best U.S. National Park Lodges for Families

From erupting geysers at Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, America's best national parks feature some of the most beautiful sights that nature has to offer. These national…

2023 Will See the Best Whitewater Rafting in Years in California

Sierra South Mountain Sports, which has operated whitewater rafting tours since 1985 in Kern County, California, used to be able to take visitors out onto the rivers each summer season…

Acadia National Park: How to Plan the Perfect Vacation in This Iconic Park

Acadia National Park is New England’s most multifaceted—and downright splendid—natural attraction. It’s home to Cadillac Mountain, the tallest peak on the Atlantic coast; granite…