| Page 1053 | National Parks Traveler

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is OUTSTANDING. CUVA may not be as big as Yosemite but that's part of its charm - you can be hiking above the ski line at Boston Mills one moment, enjoying lunch at Szaley's and buying apples and corn within the hour, then watching goat herds chew their way through fields or exploring waterfalls or climbing rocks in the afternoon - all within very do-able distance

Oct 26th - 11:47am | Anonymous

Kudos for preserving this land from certain urban sprawl. But, it is not worthy of National Park status, especially when signature parks are scraping with insufficent budgets. The federal government should phase control over the park to the MetroParks and devote the funding to other parks in the system. And CVNP isn't the only park that should be reevaluated.

Oct 24th - 19:17pm | KayGeeJay

Sorry, but no. Cuyahoga's resource base would make a nice addition to the existing and very competent MetroPark systems. But a National Park experience? It is not and never will be.

Early Snowstorm Gives Rocky Mountain National Park Mid-Winter Look

Oct 27th - 10:29am | Glynn

Wonderful photographic images. Winter comes early in the mountains.

Oct 27th - 06:52am | Paul @ Driving ...

Amazing ... we're hoping we can still eke out a bit of spring in Colorado this year.

Creature Feature: The American Marten

Oct 27th - 09:45am | Bob Janiskee

[This comment was inadvertently deleted] Name: Dave Saunders | Email: [email protected] | URL: | IP: 198.96.80.15 Creature Feature: The American Marten

Reader Participation Day: Is The Current Level Of Visitation To National Parks A Concern?

Oct 27th - 00:20am | Meg

Second we must rebel against the concessionaires at the popular parks who offer little more then a bed for $180/night and a disgusting burger for $10. Many of you will say just camp and bring your own food but sorry to tell you, most Americans don’t camp. Truthfully, is Xanterra benefitting or hurting the NPS. Given my experiences, I would opt for other options.

Oct 26th - 21:42pm | Anonymous

What you said about the Utah parks is true. A ranger told me that 50% of Bryce Canyon visitors are from France and Germany alone. Europeans love Death Valley in the summer. They have nothing like either place in Europe. But why more Americans don't go is a mystery to me (aside from the economy).

Oct 26th - 20:16pm | Wulverine

The National Park Service is truly a conundrum. It strives to protect great natural wonders of our country and encourage tourism which may unintentionally destroy those great natural wonders. One of these has to give.

Oct 26th - 17:24pm | Anonymous

As someone who visited numerous national parks this summer and fall, I think visitation will be down for 2011 also. The numbers won't come up until the economy improves and gas prices come down. I found vacancies at the North Rim, Zion and Bryce at the last minute. Other travelers remarked on how empty those parks seemed. Based on my observations, I'd say that Yosemite visitation was about

Oct 26th - 17:03pm | Lee Dalton

I agree with almost everything said by all the previous posters. But unravelling the great tangle of government that has been allowed to build over the last 250 years or so will take determined effort of the most incredible magnitude. And that brings the questions -- by whom and how?

Oct 26th - 12:10pm | Dottie

I totally agree with the first paragraph of Kurt Repanshek's comment. But I believe that the National Park Service has become an umbrella used by too many statesmen in Washington for putting something in their state under its care. I have gone through the entire list of places and looked at all the websites that fall under NPS and concluded there are many places that should fall off the list.

Oct 26th - 10:38am | Anonymous

"I am not one of those who believes that government is inherently a problem - I think almost all of the waste, fraud, and abuse has been eliminated over the years and we now have to think about what we want government to actually do."

Oct 26th - 10:13am | Kurt Repanshek

AnonymousD, some good questions, indeed. I tend to believe visitation numbers are over-emphasized. The parks, foremost, were set aside for preservation and protection, not to generate a specific number of visits. If we only protect them at a certain level of visitation, well, aren't we missing the point?

Oct 26th - 10:04am | AnonymousD

Interesting question. But is it akin to assigning a dollar value to everything?

New Webcams At Olympic National Park Allow Views of Largest Dam Removal Project in U. S. History

Oct 26th - 22:59pm | Anonymous

I want to see if Olympic National Park Olympic Peninsula Lowland is part of the elwha dam.

Congressman Pushing Legislation To Require National Park Gift Shops To Carry "Made In America" Items

Oct 26th - 20:35pm | Anonymous

The park concessionaires cannot even find the labor force domestically to staff the seasonal positions they have in the parks and thus they import labor. The supply sources for products that people want at a price that allows them to make a profit don't exist in the USA and thus they sell imported products.

Oct 26th - 15:49pm | Sassy Bassmaster

Congressman Israel is trying to be bi-winning. His idea is short sided and will only cause more negative impact on our already struggling economy. Think of all the people he will put out of work, customs brokers, shipyard workers, crane operators, shipping company drivers, park service employees, and on and on.

Oct 26th - 12:49pm | Brian

Why pick on the National Parks, why not Wal Mart?

Oct 25th - 23:25pm | y_p_w

Check a previous article for some background. /2011/09/reader-participation-day-should-more-american-made-products-be-available-purchase-americas-national-8740

Oct 25th - 23:19pm | Anonymoustom

I think this is good idea to institute over time. currently there are not enough competitive vendors making products in the US. It should phase in over 10 years. 10% a year should enable American entrepreneurs to tool up to the demand.

Oct 25th - 22:51pm | Lee Dalton

Anon at 5:16, I'm afraid you nailed it. That's why WalMart exists.

Oct 25th - 22:13pm | Anonymous

Although I applaud Senator Israel and his efforts, it's readily apparent to anyone within this industry that his aspirations at a wholesale change to "Made in America" is pure hogwash.

Oct 25th - 18:16pm | Anonymous

I work in a National Park gift shop. When a guest asks me what items are Made in USA, we gladly point them out. 99 times out of 100, that same guest will look at the price and decline...then they purchase the Made in China item because "it's cheaper." If you're not willing to pay the higher price for a Made in USA item then don't complain.

Oct 25th - 17:05pm | Wiley

During periods of economic hardship we hear more concerns expressed as to why more souvenir products are not “Made in the USA.” It is also common for one to think that if a product is not “Made in the USA” the greater portion of the retail purchase dollar is being exported directly out of the country, which in the case of souvenirs is simply not true.

Oct 25th - 16:05pm | Tom Ribe

This is excellent. The next step will be to get national park concessions to stop selling food that is bad for the planet and bad for people's health. The National Parks should host climate friendly food in all outlets. These foods prevent disease as well.

Oct 25th - 15:16pm | Anonymous

Many ideas for made in the USA:

Oct 25th - 09:58am | Anonymous

There is a big picture to this issue and it might be a bit concerning to many. When the Martin Luther King Memorial was outsourced to China and is now managed by NPS some might recognize a "Houston, we have a problem moment."

Oct 24th - 21:58pm | jjedit

I spent last winter volunteering at one of our National parks. Our bookstore had some wonderful gift items from local natives along with U.S. published books. During my six months in the park, I reached the feeling that Americanization of the parks could begin with the park service. For example, our uniforms and caps were made off-shore though they carried NPS logos.

Oct 24th - 21:31pm | Anonymous

I think Made in America is the way to go when ever I make it up to Montana and go to Glacier and Yellowstone I always buy Jams made right in MT. I also like to buy local carvings my dad has a pentant for bears. I know it cost more but hell I'm on vacation and I want local stuff not stuff I can buy on the internet and is made anywhere but here.

Oct 24th - 19:23pm | RoadRanger

Rep Steve Israeli is a politician doing what politicians do. He's simply pandering to his union voters and their money with another piece of useless, impractical, if not risible legislation. If he had bothered researching the "Made in America" issue with the NPS's uniform acquisition folks, he would have learned something valuable.

Oct 24th - 14:08pm | Rick B.

I'd want to start by going through Congressperson Israel's office and check out the pens in the drawers, the cheapo congressional cufflinks they give to visiting constituents, or those silk ties he brought back from his last European junket, and so forth.

Oct 24th - 12:57pm | Yellowstone Gal

How I wish it could come to be...but I agree that the shelves are going to be bare for lack of products that park visitors might want to buy, be able to afford, or have the taste for. I just returned from a visit to Churchill, Manitoba ("Polar Bear Capital of the World") where the gift shops have the same problem.

Oct 24th - 12:07pm | Anonymous

I just checked the book I bought at Gettysburg. The book was printed in the USA, but the author is Australian. Good for American printers, not good for American authors? What if the little whatnots are designed by Americans but manufactured in China? What does or doesn't generate American jobs is complex.

Oct 24th - 11:29am | Anonymous

I've worked in one of Xanterra's gift shops at the Grand Canyon. Many, but not all, the items were made overseas. The Native American items were not. One problem could be that not all items are available from American manufacturers. I can't think off hand of which items are like that, but I know I've read about the impossibility finding certain items that are American-made. I would like to

Adventure-Journal: Mr. Uberuaga Should Not Have Been Given Grand Canyon National Park Promotion

Oct 26th - 18:42pm | Anonymous

You should get your facts straight before you go and bash the leadership of the National Park Service. Yes, his kids worked for the company that purchased the house, but at the same time, i'm sure you can find someone who works for someone who knows of someone, etc.

National Park Road Trip 2010: Into Nebraska on the Oregon Trail

Oct 26th - 14:50pm | Gene Nelms

Yes it is, Pat. I am now living in Manhattan, Kansas. Would love to hear from you.

NPCA Officials Pushing For Transfer Of Valles Caldera National Preserve To National Park Service

Oct 26th - 13:47pm | Anonymous

I have visited the Caldera many times and enjoyed the view. One of the problems facing this beautiful spot is the lack of access. Yes it's beautiful to see ther caldera from the highway but for hte most part there is absolutely no access to any of the area except to drive down the entrance road to the visitor center. There's no way the average visitor can enjoy any of the view or wildlife vi

Oct 25th - 16:20pm | Megan

Although I agree that the Valles Caldera should be turned over to the National Park Service (and probably should have been placed in their care back in 2001) I strongly urge the NPCA and the National Park Service to take into consideration the level of impact they will have on the ecosystem.

Mission

Oct 26th - 11:16am | Kathy

I just stumbled upon your post today and wanted to thank you for just making my day. I did the same thing in Joshua Tree!! Same identical loop path that ended 7 - 8 miles later after an excursion that took me who knows where? I even went back the next day to see what I did wrong and ended up in the same direction! I think it was the trail marker gone bad. The really funny end to the story

Bluffs Lodge Along The Blue Ridge Parkway Shuttered For 2011

Oct 26th - 10:01am | Julie Adams

This is sad news, indeed. My husband and I love Bluffs Lodge, dated though the rooms may be. That is part of the charm of the place. Always clean, too. We have stayed there almost every year for the last 25 years. Please, please reopen for 2012.

Mexico, United States Pledge To Work Together on Conservation Plan For Big Bend/Rio Bravo Region

Oct 25th - 15:18pm | Susan Raybuck

What a wonderful plan for the area! Thanks to all those who worked with diligence and patience to bring this about. We got to attend the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday. We happened to be staying in one of our favorite spots in the world this weekend when we learned of the events planned. It's not every day that one gets to be part of history.

Oct 25th - 10:14am | Ramon Holguin

This is great news and to think my Grandparents grew up in this region well before it was a National park. Now hopefully in my lifetime i may have the opportunity to visit this areas were they lived. The villages of Boquillas and Santa Elena may once again prosper and some Beautiful and important land will be protected!

Tree Falls Block Scenic Parkway In Redwood National And State Parks

Oct 25th - 15:07pm | Anonymous

Thank you Save-The Redwoods League, 1918, for acquiring Prairie Creek's ancient redwoods beginning in 1923. Shame on You NPS for being so late to the old-growth Protection Party resulting in a compromised national unpark by Oct. 2nd,1968 and then allowing another decade for Arcata Redwood Co. to clearcut ancient forests above the narrow "worm of Redwood

Lynn Hill Among Climbers Celebrating Joshua Tree National Park This Weekend

Oct 25th - 00:12am | Seth Zaharias

Thank you participants, thank you JTNP, thank you venders, thank you guide, and a extra big thanks to Kenji and Keir!

Camping and Woodcraft by Horace Kephart

Oct 24th - 19:03pm | David McGuire

Nice job Danny. Good review and plug for the membership drive. Have a good one. David

Mount Rushmore National Memorial Officials Decide To Do Away With Fourth of July Fireworks

Oct 24th - 13:01pm | Ryan

The fireworks at the park will be missed in the short term, but will serve the park much better in the future. The adminstation of the event with fireworks was a nightmare and this new set up allows everyone to enjoy the park on the 4th (or 3rd) instead of the squatters who got to the park at 8am for that nights fireworks. A better deal all around. Good work NPS!

Lost - and Eventually Found - in the Big Thicket National Preserve

Oct 24th - 11:14am | Phil Briggs

I've been 'detained' a few times... more often in E. Texas than the decade spent in Alaska. E Tex has very few landmarks, and in the deep woods, it's even worse.

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