Caution: Lakes that have been emptied for repair work can harbor deep pits of mud. A 19-year-old discovered that the hard way when she became mired up to her waist at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Peregrine Falcons, once teetering on extinction, are regulars at Acadia National Park. Bald Eagles, also once feared to be ready to blink out, have rebounded incredibly and are highly visible in many national parks. During a week-long canoe trip in Yellowstone National Park last fall I was blown away by the birdlife. But how is the overall "state of birds" in America these days? Unfortunately, things aren't entirely as they appear.

With national park redesignation back in the news, this seems like a good time to remind Traveler readers just how nonsensical NPS unit nomenclature has become. Why can’t Congress and the Park Service put their heads together and come up with an NPS unit designation system that actually makes sense?

You don’t need to be a railfan to do well on this week’s railroad-focused quiz. Answers are at the end. If we catch you peeking, we’ll make you polish the brass in Traveler’s private rail car.