Is there an overrated unit of the National Park System, one that doesn't quite meet your criteria for being among the properties carrying the tag of national park?

Visit Mesa Verde National Park in December and you can experience cliff dwellings by the soft glow of luminarias. Head to Yosemite National Park later in the month and you can feast at The Ahwahnee. But what other winter events are there that interest you?

Many feel the national parks are being used by both parties as "political pawns" during the government shutdown. If that's the case, is the temporary reopening of several major parks likely to shorten or lengthen the shutdown?

The equipment we use to capture photos of our park visits has changed dramatically over the years, and although they aren't likely to replace a "real camera" for serious photographers, the ability of cell phones to capture quality images has made them increasingly popular with many people. Has your phone replaced your camera for your photos, in parks and elsewhere?