A basic principle of national parks is that they're just that—national, rather than local sites—so a family from Houston has the same opportunity to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains as one from Gatlinburg. Officially, there's no preferential treatment in national parks for local residents, but it's only human nature for some people who live near a park and use it on a regular basis to develop a sense of "ownership" of the area.

The Obama administration's nominee for Interior secretary, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, today sailed through his confirmation hearing. Along the way he spoke of supporting an economic stimulus package for the national parks.

Got time for a mid-winter break? Over 60? Then the folks at Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch in Death Valley National Park have a slight break on lodging to offer you.

Every little bit helps, particularly in these challenging times. Just ask the folks at Friends of Big Bend, who just received an $8,000 grant to help pay for a new orientation film for Big Bend National Park.