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On River Time: Three Days In Dinosaur National Monument

My wife and I are staring at a lizard that must be four feet long, holding our breath in astonishment. Light tan in color, this creature is vividly outlined against an overhanging wall of sandstone. Painstakingly chipped out of the rock by some nameless Native American artisan, it has been on display here for at least seven hundred years, or longer than the Giotto frescos in Florence’s Santa Croce church.

It's Tarantula Season At Bandelier National Monument

It's about this time of year, every year, that tarantulas start making themselves known in Bandelier National Monument and other parts of New Mexico. Every autumn, mature male tarantulas start out on their quest to find a mate. This exposes them to many dangers, from hawks and skunks, which want to eat them, to fast-moving cars, to people who just find them creepy and may think they should be squashed.

Washington Monument To Reopen To The Public On October 1

The Washington Monument is expected to reopen to the public on October 1 at 9 a.m. after a six-month closure. The monument will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a new set of safety and cleaning procedures to keep staff and visitors safe from the spread of infectious diseases. Tickets will be available online starting September 30.