Recent Stories
Ten Thousand Islands attract global visitors
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. — When thinking of the Everglades, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely the Florida alligator. Mosquitos, swamp-land, and birds are probably second, third and fourth. But the Everglades are so much more than that. They are a serene but simultaneously wild habitat forRead More…
Preservation vs. reservation at San Marcos
St. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Even before Jamestown in Virginia and Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts, there was St. Augustine. In 1565, Spanish admiral and explorer Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed at the mouth of the St. Johns River and established what is known today as the oldest continuously occupied EuropeanRead More…
Volunteers are heart of volcanoes park
Volunteers in any national park are of vital importance, however, the need for a strong support team of volunteers in the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is fundamental due to the park’s unique and dangerous terrain. Located on the Big Island of Hawai’i, the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park includes both theRead More…
A wild date: The Florida Everglades
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — One recent study called Miami one of the “most single” cities in the United States. On average, people in Miami date three times as much as other people in the United States. With so much courting going on, it is likely that singles in Miami areRead More…
Does running in national parks cause harm?
The mesmerizing views at national parks are enough to lure millions of visitors each year. But for a select few endurance athletes, the allure is more than the views; it is the opportunity to conquer the next big challenge. That challenge? Running rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon. Or “running theRead More…
Dry Tortugas offers colorful snorkeling
KEY WEST, Fla. — Coming face-to-face with colorful parrotfish, various schools of angelfish swimming in perfect formation, and spotting a variety of coral, it is difficult to not become bewitched while snorkeling in Dry Tortugas National Park. Established as a national park in 1992 by Congress, Dry Tortugas is foundRead More…
Tanoak in danger at Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park and the Northern California area is best known for its massive, majestic and imposing redwood trees. While these trees are certainly the most famous, they are not the only plant species that thrive in the area. There are thousands of different shrubs, grasses, and trees that makeRead More…
A threat to the keeper of the Everglades
SHARK VALLEY, Fla. — It’s a warm afternoon at Shark Valley, one of the visitor centers of the Everglades National Park. While guests sit on the wood benches under the mahogany trees across from the visitor center, Park Ranger Chris Littlejohn puts on his campaign hat and heads outside, readyRead More…
For city gal, guy: Why visit Shark Valley?
SHARK VALLEY, Fla. — Growing up in the city takes a toll on people. It’s harder to change the routine and disconnect from the fast-paced lifestyle. In fact, it’s almost impossible to see beyond the concrete jungle and appreciate the beauty of the state of Florida. South Florida is aRead More…
Fallen sequoias tell tales of park history
THREE RIVERS, Calif. — As we marched through the Giant Forest of monumental trees prestigious enough to be named after former U.S. presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, Frank Helling, park ranger at Kings Canyon National Park, halted at what seemed to be an uninteresting stump. With thatRead More…
First stop should be Giant Forest Museum
THREE RIVERS, Calif. — Park Ranger Dawn Ryan looked out at the Giant Forest Museum from behind her post at the information desk with a smile. Whether it’s your first time visiting Sequoia National Park or your 15th, the first place to go is the Giant Forest Museum. Providing basicRead More…
Alligators are top draw in Everglades
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — “Daddy look!!! There’s another alligator!” Brian Sears, age 7, shouted pointing at the rippled surface of the water at the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades National Park. Most kids, as well as adults, are excited to catch a glimpse of an alligator but Sears has grownRead More…