National Parks Traveler

A couple weeks ago we looked at the annual birding festival in Acadia National Park coming up this spring. Keeping in mind that not everyone can get to the East Coast frequently, it seems fitting to highlight the gem of west coast birding events: the Point Reyes Birding Festival.

For the National Park Service, the 112th Congress, which was in session over 2011 and 2012, was notable more for what was not accomplished than what was. In a departure from all other sessions in recent memory, the two-year Congress that ended on January 3rd did not authorize any new national park units, national heritage areas, wild and scenic rivers, national trails, wilderness areas, or studies of potential new designations.

Teachers interested in field programs in Yellowstone National Park are being encouraged to apply for full-tuition scholarships to attend Yellowstone Association seminars.

Though an intriguing and beautifully hued sea creature, the Crown-of-Thorn starfish can be deadly to coral reefs. That's why divers at National Park of American Samoa recently killed nearly 100 of the starfisjh.

When President Obama steps to the podium Tuesday evening to layout his agenda for the country, onlooking environmental groups hope he lays out a plan for tackling climate change driven by human actions.

Watch our new video to see why visiting a national park in another country doesn’t have to be hard—especially in Finland. Nuuksio National Park’s spectacular lakes and trails will be a major tourist attraction this summer when the park's hi-tech Finnish Nature Centre Haltia opens—a fast, easy bus ride from Helsinki.

While the National Park Service is moving ahead to test expanded cellphone and Wi-Fi service in some units of the National Park System, it should consider that testing carefully and measure it against the relative solitude and release from the seemingly nonstop attention wireless technology can demand that park visits provide.

Work to recover Fire Island National Seashore in New York from Hurricane Sandy continues, but it's too early to plan a Memorial Day Weekend escape there, according to national seashore officials.

It was just about a year ago that Eastern National, a non-proft that produces interpretive and educational materials for national parks, introduced its first cellphone app, for iPhones. Well, 'Droid users, your day is here. The organization just released a similar app for your phones.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, who wouldn’t lean toward cuddling up with someone special for a "Romancecar" train ride to a spectacular national park, especially one known for outdoorsy options where spas and great food are part of the program. Here's how easy it is to enjoy the trip.