All Parks News

PATERSON, N.J.

Earlier this month, in the wake of a call from Representative Sam Farr, a California Democrat, to make Pinnacles National Monument a national park, we solicited your ideas for other candidates around the country.

If you haven't seen that photo, you were probably on vacation and not plugged in the past few days.

The Obama administration says the recession is convincing more people to stay closer to home and visit inexpensive national parks, just like the president did this past week as he toured Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.It said on Monday that visits to national parks were up about 4 percent in the first half of the year. In Utah, park visits were up a bit more, about 5 percent overall so far this year.

In August 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an act creating the National Park Service. Since then, 391 destinations have been designated as national parks, monuments, seashores, battlefields and other recreational and cultural sites under the control of the National Park Service.

NEW YORK — Over the past weekend, President Barack Obama took a break from the heat — literal and political — to take his family on a whirlwind tour of two national parks in the western United States.Mr. Obama used his trip to Grand Canyon and Yellowstone to highlight the importance of parks to America’s heritage. (He was heard to pronounce the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone “cool.”)

Despite the easy association of American culture with prosperity and modernity, historically, it was America’s National parks that were seen as a reflection of national character, as well as national priorities. Travel to America’s National Parks, and you are quickly reminded that it is not our wealth, not our cars, not our designer boutiques, our high rise buildings or our suburban homes that define America. Rather, as so many have said, it is these parks that are the crown jewels of our country.

The White House is announcing that the first family will travel to national parks in the West next week.President Barack Obama and his family will visit Bozeman, Mont., Yellowstone National Park, Grand Junction, Colo., the Grand Canyon and PhoenixSpokesman Robert Gibbs says the trip is meant to encourage people to visit the national park system, and it will occur during a "fee-free" weekend for national parks. And, he said Obama also will promote his policies during the trip.

According to Representative Sam Farr, a California Democrat, Pinnacles National Monument near Carmel — with its pointy peaks and California condors — ought to be upgraded to a national park.

This month, catch a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Ken Burns’ newest film, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” Featuring exclusive interviews with the filmmakers and rare footage, “PBS Previews: National Parks” will be airing on PBS up until the film’s broadcast premiere on September 27th at 8 p.m.

With the temperature heating up, more and more people are seeking relief at the beach. Your next trip to the beach can be both fun for you and helpful for the environment. Keeping it green at beaches ensures that the water stays blue, so take a look at these tips to see how you can make your next visit green!

A group of Arizona Western College honors program students hiked into the wilds of three national parks as part of their coursework requirements to demonstrate leadership abilities this summer.

For 65 years old, Smokey the Bear is lookin' pretty freaking buff. Everybody's favorite fire-fighting woodland creature first began scaring kids straight into leaving a dead fire back in 1944, and he's remained largely unchanged since (except for buying a gym membership in the 90s).