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How About Some Economic Stimulus for the National Park System?

Oct 30th - 20:15pm | Kurt Repanshek

It certainly wouldn't hurt if some of that money were put into a mass transit system for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon....the one Congress has looked into in the past only to conclude it's too expensive.

Oct 30th - 17:52pm | Bugsyshallfall

d-2 I agree

Oct 30th - 11:26am | d-2

This is an excellent time in the United States to fund park infrastructure and enhance visitor facilities in National Parks.

Rockefeller Family Turns Over More than 1,100 Acres to Grand Teton National Park

Oct 30th - 18:37pm | Anonymous2

Last time I checked, this article was about Grand Teton, not the economic policy....

Oct 30th - 18:27pm | Anonymous

Bravo Mr Mcdonald you have once again put your anarchy stamp on yet another story here at Traveler.

Oct 30th - 18:16pm | Rick Smith

Sorry, Bemis, but I don't buy your bleak assessment of the world or the US. Nor do I agree with your characterization of the two candidates as a socialist and a fascist. Your unremitting pessimism is hard to read. For you, apparently, the glass is neither half full nor half empty; it's empty. It must be hard to get up every morning. Rick Smith

Oct 30th - 18:05pm | Lepanto

Jeepers, Beamis, there's not much grey area in your conception of the world, is there? So, our immorality exceeds all other's, and this comic book version of history you would install in place of any kind of real understanding of how things are, and how they work?

Oct 30th - 13:04pm | d-2

Well, Jim, it is fine to be a contrarian in the abstract, and it is hard not to be affected by the American romantic anarchistic or libertarian vision, but the bottom line is getting the critical mass of support to make the differences we need NOW. Pragmatism is also an american virtue.

Oct 30th - 12:39pm | jsmacdonald

Rick, I agree wholeheartedly with you on Kempthorne's announcement regarding the bison advisory group.

Oct 30th - 12:22pm | Rick Smith

Jim--

Oct 30th - 12:00pm | jsmacdonald

Rick,

Oct 30th - 11:45am | Rick Smith

I don't buy Jim's rant about the Rockefellers either. I suspect it isn't "sour grapes" but Jim's contrarian view about lots of issues. It's always good to have contrarians around as they keep us on our toes and prevent us from getting too smug about long-held beliefs. And no matter how the land was acquired, Grand Teton is one of this nations premier national park areas.

Oct 30th - 11:44am | jsmacdonald

Sour or not, as I said in the other post, the discussion can go forward when someone shows why my own reasons for arguing as I have are contradictory.

Oct 29th - 21:59pm | Tmblwd_92

Teton Cowgirl, I agree with your comment in whole. It is Very well stated. Sounds like Mr. MacDonald's comment is "sour grapes." I too 'salute such visionary, grand-scale philanthropy' of the Rockefeller family. Thank you Rockefellers.

Oct 29th - 14:52pm | jsmacdonald

My reasons for this are discussed at great length elsewhere on this site at /2008/02/park-history-grand-teton-national-park

Oct 29th - 12:36pm | Betty H

Thank you Rockefellers ! Thank you for our Grand Teton NP. I, too hiked the trails and enjoyed the views and wildlife. I also saw "my first" hybrid vehicle reserved parking spaces at the L Rockefeller Preserve. Forward thinking. The Preserve seems to be a safe, quiet place to hike and enjoy. At least this rich family gave something back to all of us.

Oct 28th - 14:42pm | Teton cowgirl

I disagree entirely with Mr. Macdonald and question his sources on the "swindling," - an easy word to throw out, but does he have any hard evidence of illegal practices? Or merely landowners who, in hindsight, wish that they had held onto their land? Nobody forced them to sell - they cashed out. The Rockefellers don't owe you anything, Mr. Macdonald.

Updated: Bush Administration: "A Legacy of Failure for Our Public Lands," Claims Congressman Grijalva

Oct 30th - 17:48pm | Shannon

How depressing - we can only hope that the next president makes a concerted effort to reverse some of these dastardly assaults on our public lands.

How Will the Next Administration Deal With the Environment?

Oct 30th - 10:36am | Random Walker

From audubonmagazine.org The Presidential Candidates Face-Off

Oct 30th - 07:21am | Bob Janiskee

A recent issue of Audubon magazine, probably the current one, has an excellent article on the candidates' positions on environmental issues, including the national parks. In this interview article, Obama and McCain respond to the same ten questions about environmental issues and alternatives. I'd love to report the gist of it, but I no longer have my copy of the magazine.

Oct 27th - 09:43am | Lone Hiker

To clarify a few points: 1) do we really want it to be too easy or too fast to change something like a longstanding policy of the US Government? Yes, absolutely. The inference is that a long standing policy of our government equates to it being a good policy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Oct 27th - 05:19am | Anonymous

Why did the SF Chronicle not report on Obama's voting record? Could it be that he doesn't have one? If so, I guess you can only HOPE for the best - like on so many other issues.

Oct 26th - 13:58pm | Anonymous

Anyone who is mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Pombo should scare the bejeebies out of people who have even a cursory interest in the parks.

Oct 26th - 13:46pm | Rick Smith

Getting back to the topic of how the next administration will treat national parks, I suspect that either candidate will do better than the hopeless Bush administration has done. That said, I am more inclined to think that parks would fare better under an Obama admiinistration than one headed by McCain.

Oct 26th - 10:28am | d-2

Dear Frank C:

Oct 26th - 10:03am | Anonymous

Frank C. and Beamis: How can you honestly assess the holistic damage to this country and make prudent rational decisions until you have reach the presidential seat. We have no idea how extensive the damage is until Bush officially leaves office. I do admit we have a barrel of rotting apples running this country and must dump the ugly stench.

It Breathes

Oct 30th - 06:21am | Anonymous

Elvis?

At Big Thicket National Preserve, a Combative Drug Dealer Changes His Mind When Ranger Stafford Shows Him His Taser

Oct 29th - 15:10pm | mitch

What an ingenious thing to do! It looks like we don't need sophisticated techniques to compete with drug dealers, they can be tricked just like little kids. If only this would be true in all cases perhaps my little brother wouldn't be now in a drug treatment center recovering from drug addiction.

Just Another Snake Story

Oct 29th - 10:59am | JimB

I'll yield to your expertise on whether or not these snakes are a major threat to humans. They do have the potential to wreak havoc as an introduced species in this ecosystem. Its unfortunate so many people think they want snakes or other animals as "pets," and then just discard them into the wild when they become too much trouble to keep at home.

Oct 29th - 06:58am | babybaby91

these snakes are'nt that bad. many think that they are agressive (exspecially burmese pythons) but they are actually gentle and are very relunctant to bite a person because they do not see us as a food prey. i own a ball python (i know ur probably saying its small compared to burmese) but burmese pythons (like the one featured in the picture) are actually pretty docile in nature.

Skyline Drive Designated as a National Historic Landmark

Oct 29th - 10:45am | dapster

Frank_C, Thanks for your kind comments! It was a beautiful day and the foliage cooperated, giving us gorgeous views the entire drive. If you're ever in that part of the country, do take the trip. It's an eye-opener for certain.

Oct 28th - 12:03pm | Page_Co

Considering that this is the highest honor that can be granted to a historic site in the United States, I am surprised that the Park did not bother to celebrate---- or AT LEAST acknowledge --- this milestone on their website, or in a press release. Sad really.

Oct 27th - 13:20pm | Jim Linville

Jim Burnett, Thank you very much for the press release. I have printed the release so that as my wife and I travel we can visit some of the new locations that may take a while to find their way into travel guides. Jim

Oct 27th - 11:57am | JimB

Thanks for the comments. Jim - here's a link to the press release from Interior about the recent designation - it gives a short summary for each of the 16 sites. http://www.doi.gov/news/08_News_Releases/101408b.html

Oct 27th - 11:47am | dapster

Great article, Jim! A well deserved honor for a truly wonderful highway. My family and I drove along 40 miles of the parkway on Sunday, 10/26, enjoying both beautiful high-pressure dominated weather and nearly peak fall foliage. (We traveled South from State Rt. 33 to State Rt. 250, or from Harrisonburg to Charlottesville VA.)

Oct 27th - 09:53am | Kathryn

I am thrilled to read this.Skyline Drive was a major part of my childhood.The fall colors and the ride to see them was always a special time for me.When I went home (to Richmond) to visit, I took my husband and children to Skyline Drive.They were as entranced as I have always been and we have wonderful photos of our trip.

Oct 27th - 05:04am | Jim

Will you please provide the names of the other 15 sites and the states that received the National Historic Landmark designation? Perhaps an article that summarizes each one would be helpful. Thank you

National Park Quiz 25: Threatened and Endangered

Oct 28th - 18:24pm | Bob Janiskee

So, Nannette, does hubbie Jim score as well as you do? I'd be interested to know whether there's a wager involved here. :-)

Oct 28th - 09:37am | nanette

Bob, I did pretty darn good on this one! Looking forward to the next quiz.

4-Year-old Dies in Fall off South Rim of Grand Canyon

Oct 28th - 13:45pm | Michelle

I just returned from a trip to the Grand Canyon. What a beautiful and breathtaking site. However could not help but notice the dozens of people standing too close to the edge to get that perfect picture or climbing over and beyond the railings. One person climbed all the way to the tip of a rock cliff with a drop of about 300 to 400 ft. while onlookers stood by and watched.

Trails I've Hiked: Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

Oct 27th - 22:56pm | Arthur E. Hish

Tom,

Oct 27th - 21:56pm | Rick Deutsch

Half Dome has many faces. I really like the Glacier Point view. From Cloud's Rest you look down at the big rock and get a full-on view of the ants going up the cables. I am never disaapointed with the view from the top of Half Dome itself. The valley below, El Capitan, The Ahwahnee, Tenaya Canyon and the distant mountians are a rush.

Oct 27th - 13:40pm | TOM HUXTABLE

Art, Was your Dad called Red? And, retired from the Navy? If so, you recognize my name. Repy and I'll pass on what your sister is up too. Tom Huxtable

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Oct 27th - 18:32pm | Rick Smith

Frnk-- You missed my pointa--"The River Wild" has as little to do with this debate than does "Deliverance". Rick Smith

Oct 27th - 17:08pm | Rick Smith

Nate-- You ever seen "The River Wild"? Rick Smith

Oct 27th - 14:55pm | Nate

have any of you people seen the movie Deliverance? nuff said if you have

Upon Further Review – The Whirlwind Tourist

Oct 27th - 14:32pm | Lone Hiker

They should have just purchased the DVD........oops, sorry, forgot the timeline. They should have just purchased a packet of postcards........they would have "seen it all". What a tremendous waste of time and effort. I feel mostly for the kids. With parents like that, I'll bet their family reunions are held in a fast-food franchise's parking lot.

Park History: Biscayne National Park

Oct 27th - 14:04pm | Reef2020

Biscayne Bay has snorkeling, but I'm assuming you want to see reefs, and the reefs are not in Biscayne Bay. Perhaps your real question is "Which has better snorkeling, Key Largo or Biscayne National Park?"

Shuttles Make Visiting Cades Cove In Great Smoky Mountains National Park A Bit Easier

Oct 26th - 21:11pm | Anonymous

I would hope that there would be sufficient trolleys so as to allow riders to depart, look and catch the next one back.

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial - War and Peace and Two Memorable Phrases

Oct 26th - 13:36pm | jsmacdonald

I've been to South Bass Island twice and up the monument once and looked at it across the bay throughout most of the summers of my childhood. A couple years ago, I was on South Bass Island with a different purpose in mind - to visit Gibraltar Island and see Jay Cooke's old stomping grounds (Gibraltar Island is right off of South Bass Island).

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.