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Greening the National Parks: Environmental Achievement Awards Highlight Sustainable Design, Energy-Efficiency, and Recycling

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 14, 2008 - 3:00am
To encourage eco-friendly operations, the National Park Service presents Environmental Achievement Awards each year to parks and concession companies that have excelled in incorporating high environmental standards into their operations. The 2007 awards were presented to Blue Ridge Parkway, Yosemite National Park, Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, and Xanterra Parks & Resorts.

Visitation Decline at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Has Area Businesses, Residents, and Governments Worried

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 9, 2008 - 6:35am
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the busiest of the flagship National Parks, reports 5% lower visitation at its main entrances and anticipates 250,000 fewer visitors this year. The related decline in visitor-based income and tax revenues has area businesses, employees, and governments fretting.

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 6, 2008 - 1:55pm
With ginseng fetching record high prices, illegal harvesting has increased in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a serious federal crime. Convicted ginseng poachers get hefty fines and jail time.

National Park Quiz 18: A Potpourri of National Park Trivia

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 3, 2008 - 3:27am
While past quizzes have focused on specific genre involving the National Park System, this week's quiz is a more wide-open, undefined quiz of national park trivia. Answers are at the end.

National Park Quiz 16: Waterfalls

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 20, 2008 - 4:00am
A waterfall is defined as a steep descent of water from a height. Whatever you call these falling waters, they delight the senses. This week’s quiz will see how much you know about waterfalls in the national parks. Answers are at the end. If we catch you peeking, you’ll be assigned plunge pool cleaning duties.

“10 Best National Parks”? National Geographic, You Have Got to be Kidding!

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on June 28, 2008 - 3:15am
National Geographic might be considered a gold standard authority on national parks. Why, then, is a hilariously flawed “10 Best National Parks” list included in a recently published National Geographic book? Is NG testing us to see if we’re paying attention?

National Park Quiz 3: Bridges

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on May 21, 2008 - 2:43am
Bridges are among the most favored of all human structures. They serve us well, make a bold visual statement, and open the door to a storehouse of memories. Who doesn’t admire the elegant lines of a suspension bridge? Who can look at a covered bridge without thinking of a time when life was simpler and slower and friendlier? This week's quiz will find out how much you know about the bridges and bridge-related things in our national parks. Answers are at the end. No peeking.

Blue Ridge Parkway Revising General Management Plan, Might Close Campground

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on May 14, 2008 - 6:19am
It's been roughly six decades since the Blue Ridge Parkway's general management plan was tinkered with, so it shouldn't be too great a surprise that parkway officials are working on an update. However, what parkway officials are proposing might not sit well with everyone.

Flying Squirrels, Scenic Vistas, and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on April 22, 2008 - 1:54pm
The National Park Service has a cumbersome conundrum on its hands at the Blue Ridge Parkway, where the agency is grappling with how to preserve scenic vistas along the 469-mile-long road while not making further inroads on habitat critical for the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel.

Are Blue Ridge Parkway's Historic Guardrails At Risk?

Submitted by Chance Finegan on April 18, 2008 - 2:15am
A hallmark of driving the Blue Ridge Parkway - and most national park roads - has always been the rustic stone or wood guard rails that line the roadway. But now, that could all change.