National Parks Traveler

Following a Thursday stay at Peaks of Otter Lodge, we drove north under blue skies to the terminus of the parkway at Waynesboro, Virginia. We decided to drive down the mountain into town for a few groceries, gasoline ($2.42 compared to $2.78 that we would find in Shenandoah NP), and a stop at the public library to email Kurt the Peaks of Otter story.

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By David and Kay Scott - June 14th, 2010 2:45am

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Updated: Phone App Reviews: Chimani's Acadia and Nomad's Great Smoky Mountains

The number of national park phone applications recently grew by two, with Chimani's Acadia National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park guide(s) recently sent to market by Nomad Mobile Guides. We recently test drove both. Here's what we found.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 15th, 2010 8:11am

2 comments

With A Growing Number of National Park Phone Apps, What Should You Expect?

Like it or not, we are indeed becoming a society tethered to our electronics. If anyone doubts that this is the "information age," know that recent surveys estimate that nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population carries a smart phone in their pocket or purse.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 14th, 2010 2:15am

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Productive Nesting for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles At Padre Island National Seashore, But Oil Awaits

Through a gift of nature that guides them the seas, dozens of highly endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles have made their way to the sandy beaches of Padre Island National Seashore to lay thousands of eggs. And many showed up on the same day.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 14th, 2010 2:09am

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway: Peaks of Otter Lodge Really Has An Otter

Friday's weather was much improved with mostly sunny skies on the drive from Rocky Knob Cabins to Peaks of Otter Lodge, a distance of about 90 miles. Before heading north, we stopped for breakfast at Mabry Mill, where Kay went through a combination pancake platter consisting of one sweet potato pancake, one buckwheat pancake, and one corn meal pancake, before waddling back to the car. I demonstrated restraint by consuming two biscuits topped with black cherry preserves.

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By David and Kay Scott - June 13th, 2010 2:50am

4 comments

Mark Your Calendars: Acadia National Park's Night Skies To Be Celebrated in September

If your idea of an excellent trip to a national park includes gazing at the starry skies overhead, consider making plans to visit Acadia National Park in September when the 2nd Annual Acadia Night Sky Festival is celebrated.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 13th, 2010 2:19am

2 comments

Historic Cabins In Zion National Park Get Renovated, But Retain Old Look

For more than a few folks, staying in a cabin during a visit to one of the West's national parks is a highlight of their visit. For those who land a reservation in one of the cabins in Zion National Park, their stay will be a bit like stepping into the past thanks to recent renovations.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 13th, 2010 2:18am

11 comments

Mule Packers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Prove They're Among the Best in the Business

The ability to "pack a mule" so the animals can safely carry anything from beans to bolts is perhaps as much art as science, and it's a skill that's still in demand in backcountry areas. A team from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks recently won a number of awards during a competition to determine the World Champion Pack Team

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By Jim Burnett - June 13th, 2010 1:18am

3 comments

Fishing, Boating, and Camping Rules Changing at Glacier National Park

Concerns over the introduction of non-native pests into the waters of Glacier National Park have led to changes in boating and fishing rules at the park.