Did the National Park Service bend over too far to accommodate Sarah Palin and her family during their East Coast tour, which had more than a few political overtones? That's what at least one congressman wants to know, and he's asked Park Service Director Jon Jarvis for an explanation.

When Trail Ridge Road opened end-to-end on Monday in Rocky Mountain National Park, it marked the latest opening of the road in more than 20 years, according to park officials.

Acadia National Park soon will grow by 39 acres thanks to federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars that will enable the Park Service to acquire the acreage near the Lower Hadlock Pond.

Backpacker magazine has devoted its June issue to the national parks, and the 112-page mag packs quite a lot of information -- including some great features on park destinations and a discussion-spurring list of parks the editor-in-chief would do away with in favor of new units -- between the covers.