Dreaming of visiting Dry Tortugas National Park off the Florida Keys is one thing, getting there is another. That's where the Yankee Freedom III comes in.

In honor of National African American History Month, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, and NPS Deputy Director Peggy O’Dell will host events at national parks across the country during February. As part the Every Kid in a Park initiative, the secretary, director and deputy director will invite local fourth graders to participate and learn about African Americans’ contributions to the nation’s history and culture.

During a mid-January visit to Big Bend National Park in Texas, photographer Rebecca Latson tried out the photo app Instagram in addition to her usual arsenal of SLRs and lenses. Here's a quick rundown of her thoughts.

As the snow continues to pile up in the Rockies, thoughts not surprisingly turn to warmer settings, and Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona is a great place to explore in early spring. Wildflowers are coming up, temperatures are warming, but not too hot or too cold, and crowds seemingly have gone elsewhere.