Two species of birds that hold tenuously to survival are expected to benefit from a partnership recently signed between the National Park Service and the Argentine Administracion de Parques Nacionales. Through the partnership, the United States and Argentina will continue to expand on previous work to benefit the future of the California condor and its slightly larger relative, the Andean condor.

It was just more than a year ago when a series of earthquakes shook and rattled Yellowstone National Park for enough days to raise volcanologists' eyebrows. Well, there's another swarm of quakes shaking the park, but so far the scientists say there's nothing unusual going on.

There are lotteries for landing backcountry campsites in the national parks, lotteries for winning the privilege for floating down the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park, and even lotteries for the chance to drive down the Denali Road in Denali National Park & Preserve during the fall color season.

It might seem obvious to readers of the Traveler why someone would travel hundreds, even thousands, of miles to visit one of our country’s amazing national parks. The experience of getting lost in nature, seeing wildlife, and hiking trails recharges your system. You feel refreshed, happier, energized and less stressed. That's why it's important to get our kids outside.