National Parks Traveler

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold its 11th annual “Music of the Mountains” celebration April 17-19 with a mix of music that harkens to the "Old-Time" music that long has reverberated through the mountains.

A popular hike at Lake Mead National Recreation follows a former railroad grade associated with the construction of Hoover Dam in the 1930s. Thanks to work by a youth trail crew, visitors now have an additional option for accessing the Historic Railroad Trail: a 0.3-mile spur connecting the Railroad Trail to the Hoover Dam Lodge parking area.

Modern technology, including cell phones and helicopters, can be a mixed blessing when emergencies occur in remote locations in parks. The downside is some people will expect quick results when things go awry, and due to weather, terrain or other factors, cell phones don't always work, and helicopters aren't always available. When everything comes together, however, those modern devices can make a big difference for rescuers and victims alike.

Rosin up your bow and tune your mandolin, for the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival is coming to Homestead National Monument of America.