Acadia National Park

While there are still two months left to 2011, it's not too early to think about making a tax-deductible contribution to your favorite national park-related organization.

With the calendar about to run out of days for October, the folks at Acadia National Park are getting ready to transition out of their summer mode and into winter mode.

It's easy to name colorful parks come fall. Acadia National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park are just three. But where do you go to see spectacular fall colors...without the crowds?

Inspired in no small measure by others who gave so much to the National Park System, Roxanne Quimby is offering 70,000 acres for a national park embracing Maine's North Woods.

Though Hurricane Irene was hundreds of miles away, officials at Cape Cod National Seashore and Acadia National Park were getting for the lady's arrival, closing down facilities and urging visitors to be careful.

The Friends of Acadia is celebrating its 25th anniversary this Saturday with a dinner and auction to help it continue to work on behalf of Acadia National Park. And you don't even need to attend in person to vie for such items as Maine-made artworks or tickets to the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White House come December.

Would you still contribute to charitable organizations such as the National Park Foundation and park friends groups if you couldn't deduct the donation on your income taxes?

Birders and wildlife watchers are starting to get used to the fact that gear manufacturers recognize us and want to make equipment specifically for us. So it wasn’t a surprise, but definitely great news, when Lowepro came out with their Optics Series for wildlife viewing.

It's been nearly 225 years since Congress called for lighthouses "beacons, buoys and public piers" to be built for the safety of the public and seafarers. You can celebrate that occasion, which fell August 7, 1789, by visiting one of the many lighthouses across the National Park System.

OK all you Droid owners, now's the time for you to add a national park app to your phone...for free!

Chimani continues to grow its library of national park apps for iPhones and Droids.

Though you'll probably need a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope, adult peregrine falcons and their chicks should be somewhat visible at Acadia National Park from now into August.

Coinciding with the first day of summer is another entrance-fee-free-day in the National Park System.

Add Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the number of national park apps Chimani has in its growing library.

Acadia National Park soon will grow by 39 acres thanks to federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars that will enable the Park Service to acquire the acreage near the Lower Hadlock Pond.

Looking for information to help you plan your national park vacation? Today the Traveler is rolling out the first in a series of "park profile" pages to help you with your homework.

With the summer travel season officially here, millions of folks will be heading out into the National Park System in the coming months. If you're one of them, just remember to be mindful of your safety, and that of your family and friends.

With spring still on its way to the Rockies and High Sierra, and summer well under way in some parts of the country, this seems a perfect time to honor all 2010 Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, consider ways to support national parks, and look at ways to enjoy the parks.

Leaving your laptop or desktop computer behind when you head to a national park doesn't mean you have to leave the Traveler behind, too. Through an exclusive agreement with Chimani, LLC you can now subscribe to the Traveler's feed on your iPhone.

At least 29 units of the National Park System offer "artist-in-residence" programs. Those accepted range from visual artists and photographer to sculptors, composers, and even writers. Here's a list of those parks and the application deadlines.

The Interior Department's 2011 "State of the Birds" report focuses on the importance that national parks, and other public landscapes, provide for hundreds of bird species.

While corporate support can be vital to the health of national parks, whether to accept that support can be a challenging question, particularly in these times of financial stress and overall declines in charitable giving.

National Park Week arrived in Southern California with hot, dry, sunny weather, and a volunteer effort indicative of the good that can be done for national parks when the need is demonstrated.

Is April really the best month to celebrate National Park Week? After all, some northern tier parks such as Glacier, Yellowstone, and North Cascades have limited access, and many kids are in school and can't get away to the parks.

The National Park System is renowned for scenic drives. These traverses, loops, and shuttles in the eastern parks deserve a place on your windshield touring short list.

Great paddling adventures are ready to be had in the National Park System, whether you intend to spend just a few hours or a week or more on the water. Here's a look at some great choices for where to dip a paddle.