Earlier this summer we ran a list of the Top 10 Lodges in the park system. Admittedly it's a "soft" list, one that definitely is not objective. But what some might find objectionable are the nightly costs for staying in some of these places.

While Montana has been much in the news lately, courtesy of all the forest fires burning in that state, the folks at Glacier National Park want to assure you that the park is open for business and flame-free.

Seattle-area residents who've heard about the Yellowstone to Yukon initiative but want to learn more have a golden opportunity from now through the end of the year. A collection of Florian Schulz's photographs that captures the heart and soul of Y2K are on display at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle.

It's only a snapshot, but I'm told that visitation in Yosemite, Glacier, and Yellowstone national parks is on the upswing this year. Exactly why, as usual, is a good question.

Folks heading to Glacier can now let someone else do the driving once they reach the park. The park's Going-to-the-Sun shuttle system is now up and running and can drop you at a number of campgrounds and trailheads along the Sun Road.

Riding a bus in the city is part of the daily grind; kids take them to school, adults take them to work. Should we settle for having to ride a bus on a vacation to a national park too? My feeling is now 'yes, we should'.

Computer animations can bring 18th-century cannon fire to life, but can they bring Gen-Yers to the national parks? Can an audiocast leading teens across a battlefield entice them enough to set foot in Saratoga National Historical Park? Can tracing a hike in Glacier National Park from the comforts of their homes convince this generation to beg their parents to visit Glacier on their next vacation? Those are questions that have more and more park managers searching for answers.

It's been a long time coming, but Glacier National Park officials are cautiously optimistic that they'll be able to open the Going-to-the-Sun Road from end to end this coming Sunday. That, of course, is barring any unexpected torrential downpours or snowstorms.