Looking for a break from shopping, football, and end-of-year hustle and bustle? December is prime time for special programs and events in a number of parks. Here's a sampling in areas from coast to coast.

If you've got a hankering to feel the wind and salt spray from the deck of a historic sailing ship, the staff at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park has a deal for you.

A number of NPS areas are offering special activities for Junior Ranger Day on April 25, 2009, and a related Junior Ranger Essay Contest offers a serious prize: a $1,000 Visa gift card.