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Yellowstone National Park

National Parks 101: Who Runs The Lodges And Dining Establishments?

Many travelers (readers of the Traveler excepted) mistakenly believe commercial facilities in the national parks – lodging, dining, and retail - are operated by the federal government. While national park officials have ultimate oversight on things such as pricing, these facilities are operated by private companies that bid for the right to rent rooms, operate dining facilities, sell T-shirts, and offer specified activities such as trail rides and guided tours. NPS rangers continue to staff visitor centers and offer interpretive activities, but nearly all commercial activities are handled by the private sector.

House Passes Public Lands Package, Sends Measure To President For Signature

A massive public lands bill that protects Yellowstone and North Cascades national parks from mining on their doorsteps, designates some 1.3 million acres of wilderness, and permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday evening and now heads to President Trump for his signature.

Episode 2: Lodging In The Parks, Maintenance, And Glacier Bay

In this week's edition of National Parks Traveler, host Kurt Repanshek discusses lodging in the National Park System with David and Kay Scott, authors of The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges, updates congressional efforts to whittle away the park system's nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog, and reviews a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

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Photography In The National Parks: Negative Space And Color Space

Believe it or not, space has a lot to do with photography. No, not outer space. Negative space and color space both have a huge effect on your national park composition. What are these two spaces? Photographer Rebecca Latson defines and discusses negative and color spaces to help you better understand how to frame and later process your national park image so it looks its best for online and print use.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.