Joel S.'s blog

No matter where you head this summer, be sure to take lots of photos, and enter your best national park photographs into the fifth annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest. The contest, open until September 30th, invites photography enthusiasts to enter by submitting their “Inspirational Nature Images”–the theme for this year’s contest. Photos taken at any park or monument in America can be entered through the Canon Digital Learning Center.

As poor economic news persists and the official start of summer less than a week away, many of us are still looking for fun family escapes that will enrich us with memorable experiences without emptying out wallets. The National Park Service is helping to make planning a little easier, extending to its extremely popular free weekend program. On June 5th and June 6th, more than 100 parks will keep their gates open, waving you in and waiving entrance fees. Mark your calendars and plan accordingly.

Earlier this year, the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, the not-for-profit partner of Rocky Mountain National Park, received an offer it couldn't possibly refuse.

Stewart Udall, the former interior secretary and last surviving member of President John F. Kennedy’s original Cabinet, died Saturday at his home in Santa Fe, N.M. He was 90.

From the time it began operation as an immigration station in 1892 to the time it ended in 1954, Ellis Island was the starting point for millions of tired, hungry and poor for a better life in the United States. Today, more than 40 percent of America's population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island. That's a lot of Americans!

Yep. It's SAVING time, not SAVINGS time. While I'm a big fan of winter, It'd be my favorite season if we could stretch the days out a little longer. There's nothing worse than a 3:30 pm sunset. Think of it, last chair could be at 8 pm, instead of 4 pm.

While I wouldn't want the job, being the president definitely has some benefits. I've been to Yellowstone several times and it never was this easy to get to. Air Force One to West Yellowstone or Bozeman (definitely beats the SkyWest service), Apache shuttle to the park. Some great interactions with lots of rangers. In the good old days, they would have brought out bears for some personal interaction. One place where it looks like he got equal treatment was at the Ice Cream store.

Today, the greatest value in american recreational destinations got even better as the National Park Service announced the first of what we hope will be several free visitation periods this year. Yosemite National Park? Free! Yellowstone National Park? Free! Acadia National Park? Free! Disney World? Not free. Major League Baseball Tickets? Sorry. Not free. Tickets to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D. Not on your life. That skywalk near the grand canyon?

With oversnow travel ending in Yellowstone National Park this week, National Park Service maintenance crews will be out in force as begin clearing roads. As

The park's interior roads will reopen to automobile travel between mid-April and the end of May.  On Friday, April 16, the roads from Yellowstone’s North and West Entrances to Norris, Madison, Canyon and Old Faithful, open to visitors.