No matter how many times you’ve seen them, seeing black bears in the wild is always an exciting experience. For some of America’s best black bear viewing, spend a few days in Shenandoah National Park, exploring its woodlands, meadows and waterfalls. This mountainous park stretches along the crest of central Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, characterized…
Apricot crumble bars recipe inspired by: Capitol Reef National Park, Utah Besides its towering sandstone formations and spectacular views, Capitol Reef National Park is also famous for its historic orchards. Planted by Latter-Day Saints pioneers between the 1880s and 1960s, these thousands of trees used to provide food and income to the families who lived…
Offering epic day hiking opportunities, great wildlife viewing and stunning scenery, Mount Rainier National Park requires at least two or three days. Luckily, there are a number of frontcountry campgrounds and a couple of excellent accommodation options in Mount Rainier National Park! This post is not about camping in the park, but discusses the two…
This news story about the first roads in Yellowstone National Park to reopen in 2022 is based on an April 7, 2022, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. After another long and harsh winter season, Yellowstone National Park is slowly reawakening. One of the first indications that the tourist…
Official Senate bean soup recipe inspired by: National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C. For this national park-inspired recipe, we’re heading to Washington, D.C., to the epicenter of American politics. I am, of course, talking about Capitol Hill, the place where laws are created and amended, where politicians enter into seemingly endless disagreements, where there’s…
Buckeyes recipe inspired by: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio Essentially a slightly fancier and more regional version of classic peanut butter cups, buckeyes are a type of candy that make for fun, little, sweet dessert bites. This is a particularly popular candy in Ohio, nicknamed the “Buckeye State”, which is why this recipe was inspired…
This news story about the retirement of Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest National Park Service ranger, is based on a March 31, 2022, NPS press release. You can read the original release here. Thursday, March 31, 2022, was the last day in the extraordinary career of Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest active ranger in the…
Featured Outdoor Diversity Organization: Indigenous Environmental Network During the month of April, we are highlighting the work of Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) in our community effort to showcase organizations who are working towards social justice and more inclusive public lands. We invite you to learn more about this incredible organization and to join us in…
One of the most iconic mountains in the Pacific Northwest, Washington’s Mount St. Helens is famous for its 1980 eruption, which is still the most devastating and deadliest volcanic eruption in the history of the United States. Nowadays, however, it’s a fantastic place to witness the resilience of nature up close. More than 200 miles…
Spiced pumpkin waffles recipe inspired by: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee (alternatively: Shenandoah National Park or New River Gorge National Park) Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, well-stocked farm stands and harvest festivals abound in the Great Smoky Mountains in fall. This historic region has a long and rich agricultural history, going back…
This news story about President Biden’s $3.6 billion National Park Service budget proposal for 2023 is based on a March 28, 2022, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. On Monday, March 28, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration submitted the President’s Budget for fiscal year 2023 to Congress. In this budget…
New England cod chowder recipe inspired by: Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (alternatively: Acadia National Park) In addition to Boston cream pie, Maine lobster rolls, johnnycakes, fried clams and red flannel hash, fish chowder is one of the most quintessentially “New England” dishes. There’s no better pairing of dish and park than this Cape Cod…
The fact that American bison aren’t extinct in the United States is largely thanks to Yellowstone National Park. These extraordinary animals, a very symbol of American wilderness, came perilously close to extermination in the 19th century, but were able to find a safe haven in national parks like Yellowstone. Particularly the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, established…
French-Acadian ployes pancakes recipe inspired by: Acadia National Park, Maine (alternatively: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument) Deeply rooted in the lifestyle and diet of the French-Acadian refugees who settled in northern Maine and eastern Canada in the 18th century, ployes (which rhymes with “boys”) are a traditional food in the far northeast of North…