Bob Janiskee posted a recent story on the Traveler entitled, "Believe it or Not, Yosemite National Park Once had a Zoo." Some wags might suggest that title could also refer to campgrounds in Yosemite Valley in times past—and a old government report suggests they'd be correct.

Areas near Olympic National Park have been in the news in recent months for some pretty bizarre reasons. First it was those mythical vampires in nearby Forks, Washington, inspired by the best-selling Twilight books and movie. Now there's the following news headline: "Science Finds Swirling Vortex of Poison off Washington Coast."

A 48-year-old man has been killed in Zion National Park, apparently the victim of a 400-foot fall from the Canyon Overlook near Zion Tunnel.

President Obama's proposed 2010 budget carries $12 billion for the Interior Department, though exactly how much will trickle down to the National Park Service is hard to say at this point.