Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California will host its second annual Recreation Festival later this month, and plans to fill the day with plenty of family activities in the outdoors.

Looking for something to do in the National Park System in November and December? Check out this listing of activities, from Andersonville National Historic Site to Yoemite National Park.

For over 70 years, there was plenty of "star gazing" at the Paramount Ranch. Located near Los Angeles, the Ranch was used for filming more than 150 movies and TV shows featuring some of the biggest names in the industry. Now part of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the ranch will host a chance for the public to enjoy a more timeless type of star gazing during a winter sky star party on the evening of February 8.

Bottled-up genetics lead to problems, as evidenced by the inbreeding woes of the wolves at Isle Royale National Park. Though mountain lions that roam Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area aren't as inbred as those wolves, the lack of genetic diversity is a growing concern.