Olympic National Park is not something to be rushed through, but rather savored like a fine glass of wine, a bold cup of tea, or a beautiful sunset. And the road network, such as it is, ensures that you won't rush through this park, which is how it should be. There's just so much to enjoy that you shouldn't rush.

Lighthouses are a popular attraction, and what better time to appreciate one than at night? Cape Hatteras National Seashore is offering the unusual chance to climb to the top of the venerable Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on a new nighttime tour.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most biologically diverse units of the National Park System. And now you can get a feel for that diversity without leaving the comfort of your home (though hopefully you'll be inspired to visit the park).

In what could be a sign of what's to come, a court has blocked Wal-Mart from building a Supercenter near Joshua Tree National Park because the company did not adequately consider its greenhouse-gas impacts.