Of all the national park units we have visited, none provide a more pleasant experience than driving the 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Vistas through North Carolina and Virginia aren’t as spectacular as those along Rocky Mountain’s Trail Ridge Road, Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road, or Yosemite’s Tioga Road. However, for a pleasant drive that lasts several days rather than several hours, the Blue Ridge Parkway is without peer.

The recently issued NPS concession prospectus for Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim proposes some major construction in the Maswik lodging area.

One of the most elegant hotels in the National Park System, the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, has received a $10 million+ facelift, one that has addressed structural needs, room renovations, and added some suites.

While many national park lodges are on the National Register of Historic Places, not all lodges reflect the preservation and well-maintained appearance you might expect for such properties. In a two-part series, the Traveler looks at the highs and lows of upkeep in the National Park System.