Situated on the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park offers a wonderful opportunity to experience a unique cultural and physical landscape. The park's numerous archeological sites, including renowned Cliff Palace, are some of the most significant and best-preserved in the U.S.

Half again as large as Yellowstone National Park, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve can be a conundrum for visitors. If you arrive via cruise ship, how can you possibly get a good taste of this 3.3-million acre landscape of ice, ocean, and forest?

If you frequent national parks on a regular basis, you need a well-stocked personal library of park-related books. They're essential to plan for trips, and to place yourself in a national-park setting from the comfort of your armchair. What titles should you stock? In this checklist, the Traveler touches on a general reading list that will provide a sound backbone for your collection. Down the road we'll delve into region-specific lists.

Volcanic activity and volcanic landscapes are the centerpiece attractions of this unique park on Hawaii’s Big Island. Here are some things to know before you go.