All Parks News

"I have a StairMaster right in my own basement, but honestly it's been there for years gathering dust and making me feel guilty," said Miriam, one of my patients. "It wasn't until I started walking the three-mile trail in the park near my house that I got serious about exercising. I do it now rain or shine. I love the fresh air. The best part is that I get a great workout and don't even mind sweating."

Here's proof that you can indeed land a steal of a deal on airfare to a fabulous year-round destination - Salt Lake City. American Airlines to Salt Lake City of $72 one-way ($93.20 including all extra fees, taxes) is good on trips taken through October 13, 2010. And, this deal is good any day of the week (based on availability) with just a 3-day advance notice of travel. There are just a few blackout dates to avoid: Nov. 20, 28, 30; Dec. 18, 19, 23, 24, 26-30 and Jan. 2-4.

With days getting shorter, the weather getting markedly cooler and the transition from leaf-peeping season to what we euphemistically refer to as stick season, most sportsmen and women are focusing their attention on deer and turkey season and have put their fishing gear away. But for a few of us in the know, we who believe that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear, November and December is a great time to go fly-fishing. Not only are the fish still biting, you’ll have entire rivers to yourself. 

Did you know that you can order our little, green Oh, Ranger! guides, and all the rest of the gear your next trip, online right here at OhRanger.com?

Whose scat is that? What critter made those tracks? Are these berries an animal’s unfinished snack? Find the answers to these questions and more in Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species by Mark Elbroch.

In recognition of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month we’re highlighting this recipe for American Indian Corn Chowder. It’s sweet—and savory—and is the perfect meal for a chilly autumn night. Ingredients1 can corn, drained1 onion, chopped1/2 pound mushrooms6 cups meat stock or water1 green pepper, chopped1 potato, diced2 tablespoons butter1 tablespoon dill weed, chopped

Follow some of our tips and make Thanksgiving a green one! Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and planning is certainly underway. When preparing for the holiday, keep in mind a few of our tips to make your Thanksgiving a green one. It won’t take much to be environmentally and locally friendly this holiday season, take a look. Keep it Organic

Perhaps no other animal symbolizes the West as dramatically as the American bison, which has roamed the North American Continent from the Great Slave Lake in northern Canada, south into Mexico and from coast to coast for millions of years. Bison are part of the family Bovidae, to which cattle and goats belong. Often referred to as buffalo, this name is in fact a misnomer as they are not in the same family that includes “true” buffaloes—Asian and African buffalo. One of the physical differences between the old world buffalo and the American bison is the large shoulder hump of the bison.

The Canon Photography in the Parks finalists are in and you, too, can be a winner simply by voting for your favorite image. More than 20,000 photographers submitted their most impressive images to compete in this year’s contest.

Archaeology is a high-profile activity at Fort Vancouver, but it's not the only example of the science going in the National Park Service."It ranges from atmospheric chemistry to zoology," Gary Machlis said, using an A-to-Z format.And that's just the biophysical realm, he said."Cultural sciences include archaeology and anthropology; social sciences include economics, psychology and geography."

A jacket owned by Red Cloud. A dress worn by the Sioux war chief’s wife. Bear skin and lion skin rugs owned by Theodore Roosevelt. George Washington’s tent. John Brown’s Bible. Leather steamer trunks of immigrants passing through Ellis Island.

Moose eat plants; wolves kill moose. What difference does this classic predator-prey interaction make to biodiversity? A large and unexpected one, say wildlife biologists from Michigan Technological University. Joseph Bump, Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich report in the November 2009 issue of the journal Ecology that the carcasses of moose killed by wolves at Isle Royale National Park enrich the soil in “hot spots” of forest fertility around the kills, causing rapid microbial and fungal growth that provide increased nutrients for plants in the area.

U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey announced Monday he has introduced a bill that could pave the way to inclusion of the Hudson River Valley in the National Park Service system, giving the region access to “significant” amounts of federal money and increased attention.The bill would authorize the park service to conduct a study to determine if the area could benefit from its programs, said Hinchey, D-Hurley. He said the study could take as long as 24 months to complete.

Looks like Billy Carter's gas station in Plains, Ga., is about to be recognized as a national historic landmark. If the U.S. House gives its OK this afternoon to HR 1471, the  National Park Service site honoring President Jimmy Carter will be doubled to include the Billy Carter Service Station museum.

The planning agency for the federal government has approved a revised perimeter security plan for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial to be built in West Potomac Park. In September 2008 the National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary and final site and building plans for the memorial but rejected proposed security bollards — short vertical posts — for the memorial’s two entrances.