How about those trees! Taller than tall, "A forest with giant sequoias, the largest trees in the world, is a feast for the senses. The giant sequoias’ red/orange bark is distinct among the grey and brown bark of other trees. And if you stand beneath one of these giants, you can gaze all the way up its tall trunk and through its high branches to see sky above. The treetop is often hidden above the highest branches.

Who says geology is boring or dull? "Dinosaurs once roamed here. Their fantastic remains are still visibly embedded in the rocks. Today, the mountains, desert, and untamed rivers flowing in deep canyons support an array of life. Petroglyphs hint at earlier cultures. Later, homesteaders and outlaws found refuge here."

"The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park!" Arrive before dark with your camera to photograph the sunlight bathing dunes and peaks as the sun sets.

According to the NPS, "The skunkbush sumac, also known as lemonade bush, forms pedestals by binding gypsum sand grains into a compact mass around its roots, branches, and trunk. In the spring before the leaves appear, clusters of yellow and white flowers make the plant stand out. The plant also produces red and orange berries used by American Indians to make a tart lemonade-like drink. The flexible stems of the plant were used for basketry and binding. The branches contain tannin, which is useful in producing dyes.

Rugged, colorful landscape and bison roaming that landscape will greet the viewer upon a visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. According to the NPS, "When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today."

Happy New Year, Travelers! Where will the trail take you for 2024? Perhaps to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California?

The Traveler asked contributing photographer and writer Rebecca Latson what parks she might want to visit that she'd never traveled to before and this month's Park Photo of The Week is a photographic list of the parks in which she'd like to photograph this year or in the coming years. Maybe these parks are places you've already visited, or places to which you'd like to travel, yourself.

As the sun sets on another year, this is a reminder for you to always be a National Parks Traveler. Stick to the trails and boardwalks, pack out what you pack in, don't pet the fluffy cows or feed the wildlife, and practice the Leave No Trace Principles. Ensure these public landscapes are left in pristine condition for future generations.

Mother Nature does a mighty fine job of preparing for the holiday season, doesn't she?

Nothing says "Yellowstone" like bison and geysers. And a snowstorm adds to the drama.

Nothing like red rock and white snow. The trail to Landscape Arch is less than two miles roundtrip, with a side trail to Pine Tree and Tunnel arches.