Flickering shadows dancing on the walls of Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde National Park will help usher in the holidays at the park in southwestern Colorado early next month.

On December 10 the Hoffman House, which is associated with the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, will be open to the public.

Visit the national parks next summer, because who knows what shape they'll be in in 2013. That was the message Monday evening from National Parks Conservation Association officials in reaction to the failure by Congress' supercommittee to craft a deficit reduction plan.

Serious road cyclists do not often dally about when they're out for a ride, instead preferring to dance on the pedals at speeds of 20 mph and more. While they can easily do that on many National Park System roads, legislation pending in Congress could force them onto paved paths now enjoyed by walkers, folks with strollers, those in wheelchairs, and others not zooming along.