Part of FDR's "New Deal," the Blue Ridge Parkway was envisioned as an economic development tool that would pump both life and dollars into the Appalachian Mountain Range between Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks. But the long and winding road with the fantastic vistas also took a good deal of life out of the landscape as farms that stood in the path were razed and the families moved off.
It's not easy to get to Big Bend National Park. Located in the crook of Rio Grande River in West Texas where the river turns from a southeast to a northeastern direction, the park promises spectacular vistas, river canyons, and desert plants. But it's a 225-mile drive from Midland-Odessa and 325 miles from El Paso, the closest airports, so no one goes there on a whim.
Just a few more weeks remain for you to suggest areas that Yellowstone National Park planners should consider in preparing a plan for winter-use in the park.
If you head to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area frequently to enjoy the outdoors, you'd be wise to purchase either a $45 annual pass to the NRA, or, if you visit other parks as well, invest in the $80 America the Beautiful pass.
The next time you visit Mammoth Cave National Park, take a look at the landscape just inside the Park City entrance. While it might look unkempt in the near term, down the road it will take on its natural appearance as a "barren," or prairie reminiscent of what originally existed.
Improved access for vehicles and pedestrians, better parking, and vehicle capacity limits are among the items contained in the draft off-road-vehicle management plan released Friday by Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials.
Camping in the Everglades doesn't hold much appeal for many Americans today, especially if they're city dwellers. Throw in worries about bugs, alligators and giant pythons, and a campout in the 'Glades can be a hard sell. Everglades National Park is overcoming those hurdles with a new approach that started with a reality TV program and an approach called CAMP.
A week-long Girls in Science Camp is being offered this summer for rising eighth grade girls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can't beat the price and applications for the residential program are now being accepted.
High public interest has prompted the superintendents of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River and National Recreation Water Trail to extend by a week the public comment period on a proposal to run a transmission line across the areas.