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Kayaker gains respect for bay’s beauty
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — I pulled into the small parking lot at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center on a sunny afternoon here and the first thought I had was that I had to be lost. It seemed, for lack of better phrasing, to be in the middle of nowhere. It didn’tRead More…
Nation’s first wildlife refuge at Pelican Island
SEBASTIAN, Fla. — Looking out from the 18-foot observation tower, visitors can get a clear view of the 5,375 acres that make up the nation’s first national wildlife refuge –Pelican Island. It sits on the Indian River Lagoon, east of A1A near Sebastian. The water is a greenish blue andRead More…
Park’s unique plants, trees enrich visits
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.—-When thinking of a desert, a flat, sandy, hot terrain comes to mind — one spotted with scarce cacti, rattlesnakes and lizards and maybe even a few camels. Though this may be the case for deserts around the world (except for the camel part), Southern California’s Joshua TreeRead More…
Deserted isolation: Both blessing and curse
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — When concrete, nightlife and fast-paced days are what you’re used to, the remote and relaxed atmosphere that defines Joshua Tree National Park and Twentynine Palms, Calif., may come as a bit of a culture shock. What’s more, if you’re used to skyscrapers and, well, pollution, theRead More…
Crime in parks? Mostly minor, officials say
Crime in the national parks? “There is some crime. But, fortunately, there is not much violent or serious crime in the nation’s parks, preserves, and historical sites,” Bill Line, communications officer for the National Capital region, stated. The National Park Service does face challenges in the areas of environmental crimes,Read More…
Unusual Joshua tree often surprises visitors
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – It reminds me of a makeup brush. If you’ve ever seen the L’Oreal brand Telescopic Explosion mascara, you’ll notice it is distinct, unusual and unlike other mascaras in the industry. The brush on this particular product is in the shape of a ball instead of theRead More…
Camping offers full desert experience
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — With so many trails to hike and unusual sights to see, one day in Joshua Tree National Park is not nearly enough. Throughout the vast 794,000-acre park, there are nine different campgrounds, giving visitors the opportunity to get the full California desert experience. “I thought itRead More…
Bats maligned, but offer much to parks
Due to their unique and unfamiliar appearance, bats have been cast by humans as frightening and ugly. Their nocturnal habits have automatically associated them as dark and evil. Bats can also thank the Romanian legend of Dracula, where a man turns into a bloodthirsty vampire bat at night and fliesRead More…
Roosevelt’s home undergoes major rehab
OYSTER BAY, N.Y. – In 1880, fresh out of his graduation from Harvard College and newly married, a young man named Theodore Roosevelt purchased a plot of land overlooking Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island. The home was built by 1885 and the estate, which Roosevelt named Sagamore Hill, wouldRead More…
Water pollution continues to threaten parks
The greatest concern for environmental protection groups in South Florida, such as Friends of the Everglades, is the introduction of high levels of phosphorus in the waters of the Everglades National Park. “It only takes a tiny amount of phosphorus to change a lot in the environment in the Everglades,”Read More…
Parks accessible for disabled visitors
Disability is not an obstacle for people who want to enjoy what our national parks have to offer. From the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic Coast to the core of the country and our nation’s Capital, the parks are accessible for everyone. Although most of the national parks showcaseRead More…
Parks seek to expand to protect environs
Looking at the Everglades on a map, one could see the system begin with the Kissimmee River and extend itself all the way down to Florida Bay. Yet, only one-seventh of this area is known as the Everglades National Park in South Florida. Click on a video at the leftRead More…