Articles

National Parks

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

45 Million Acres of Public Vacationland Open to Loggers and Miners If We Don't Fight by Sept. 19

Most nations in the world no longer retain much of their pristine wilderness. Most societies built over their wild places long before any of us were born.But the United States is…

Article / Miscellaneous

Trump's Policies Are Making Travel More Expensive and Less Convenient

The United States travel industry is in a period of contraction, and that's bad news for travelers—and all Americans.Anger over President Donald Trump’s stated intentions to acquire…

Article / National Parks

These Spectacular National Park Photos Remind Us Why Public Lands Are Worth Preserving

Drastic funding and staffing cuts recently affecting the National Park Service suggest that some folks, particularly those currently running the U.S. government, could use a reminder…

Article / Arts and Culture

2025's UNESCO World Heritage Sites List: Fairy-Tale Castles, Lost Cities, and Natural Wonders

A onetime hub for real-life pirates of the Caribbean and the real-life inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland are among the places newly inscribed as UNESCO World…

Article / National Parks

Tourists Continue to Make Terrible Decisions Around the Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park

The hot springs at Yellowstone National Park have injured or killed more people than "any other natural feature" there, according to the National Park Service. As you might imagine,…

Article / National Parks

Grand Canyon Wildfire: How It Happened, What's Destroyed, and What Travelers Should Know

Nearly a hundred years ago, the Union Pacific Railroad commissioned architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood to design a resort hotel at its depot on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in…

Article / Miscellaneous

New Executive Order Demands National Park Price Hikes for International Tourists

On the day before Independence Day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to make international visitors pay more to visit America's national parks. In a confusing new…

Article / National Parks

Great Native American Attractions Near Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Even before the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, many white explorers, government officials and business owners repeated a false and pernicious fallacy that few…

Article / Miscellaneous

U.S. Senate to Force Sale of Millions of Acres of Publicly Owned Vacationland

There is an update to this story at the bottom of the post.The U.S. Senate is marking public lands to be pillaged, and preservation groups are sounding the alarm to call fans of…

Article / National Parks

Amid Trump Budget Cuts, New Activist-Led National Park Tours Aim to Spur Social Impact

There are good reasons to worry about U.S. national parks right now. The Trump administration's extensive layoffs of National Park Service workers and proposed cuts of $1.2 billion to…

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

The Most Unique Thing to Do in Glacier Bay National Park: Go Ashore

Funny thing about Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park. Although the site’s mountains, fjords, rugged coastlines, and marquee glaciers attract more than 700,000 annual visitors, the vast…

Article / National Parks

Trump Budget Cuts Could 'Wipe Out' Operations for At Least 350 National Park Units

"The president's proposed budget plan is beyond extreme. It is catastrophic."That's what Theresa Pierno, the head of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an urgent…

Article / Slideshows

9 Spectacular Wildlife Experiences in the American Midwest

Moose, wolves, elk, bald eagles, bison—the list of creatures that call the American Midwest home is a lot longer (and a lot wilder) than you might realize. At nearly 750,000 square…

Article / National Parks

This Summer Is Your Last Chance to Visit Oregon's Crater Lake Until 2029

After this summer, anybody who wants to take to the waters of Oregon's Crater Lake, whether as a swimmer or on a bout tour, is in for a long wait. Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only legal…

Article / Car, Bus, Rail

Rocky Mountaineer's U.S. Scenic Rail Train Gets Easier, Cheaper, and a New Name

A well-received scenic rail service through the red-rock canyons of the American west will expand its service options in 2026, making it easier to use.In 2021, the Rocky Mountaineer,…

Article / National Parks

Which National Park Facilities Are Closed Because of Trump's Actions? How to Find Out

As you prepare to pay your federal income tax again this year, take special note of how much less you're getting from your government for your money now.The National Park Service (NPS)…

Article / Road Trips

Arizona Road Trip Itinerary: Tucson to Grand Canyon in One Week

Few destinations connect as deeply within the American psyche as Arizona, and with good reason. The entire state is one giant road tripper’s dream. There’s a lot of rich territory to…

Article / National Parks

The U.S. National Parks Bring In Much More Money Than They Take from Federal Funding

To my mind, the U.S. National Park System (NPS) is invaluable. Its 85 million acres span all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and every U.S. territory. In these parks are…

Article / National Parks

Full List of 34 Targeted National Park Leases: "Parks Being Dismantled Before Our Eyes"

The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate the National Park Service leases of at least 34 buildings that function as visitor centers, law enforcement offices, museums,…

Article / Passportable

Long Hiking Tradition Ends As Canada Closes Border on the Pacific Crest Trail

Canada closes its connection to the Pacific Crest Trail, a landmark for international hikers, in response to changes in U.S. policy.

Article / Passportable

Understaffing Could Make National Parks a Real Mess This Summer

A government hiring freeze could result in understaffed national parks, which could in turn cause maintenance issues this summer.

Article / Passportable

Get Amtrak's USA Rail Pass for Nearly Half Off in January Flash Sale

You have until the end of Friday, January 17, to buy a USA Rail Pass from Amtrak for just $299. The usual price is $499.The USA Rail Pass is like Amtrak's version of Europe's Eurail…

Article / National Parks

Chuckwalla: Some of U.S.'s Oldest Land Becomes Newest National Monument in California

The designation, long sought by local leaders, preserves a unique desert ecosystem with ancient Indigenous significance near Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California.

Article / National Parks

Jimmy Carter's Georgia: Where to Learn About the 39th President's Life and Legacy

These Jimmy Carter sites in Plains, Georgia, and Atlanta tell the story of his childhood, presidency, and remarkable life after leaving office. 

Article / Air Travel

What a Federal Government Shutdown Means for Air Travel, National Parks, and Passports

When congressional dysfunction leads to a federal government shutdown, here's what that means for airports, national parks, and passports.