While landscapes and wildlife usually come to mind when thinking about units of the National Park System, there are national parks dedicated to the protection and preservation of human history, their architecture, art, and culture. Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado is one such park.

It's still a bit early to predict what winter might throw at the National Park System, but if you enjoy snow and cold here's an overview of some of the parks you should consider visiting.

As the sun set over the Sonoran Desert, the animals came out to play. The deer grazing among the saguaro were probably mule but could have been white-tailed — it was tough to say at dusk with only mini red-light flashlights in hand instead of binoculars. The bird that perched on a tree branch for a few seconds before flying away had the distinctive silhouette of an owl. There was no mistaking the yips and howls of coyotes.