What is the most elegant, upscale hotel located in the National Park System? While an argument could be made in favor of several hotels, it is likely that most people would say it is the 4-star-rated Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

Yet another act of vandalism has struck nesting grounds at Cape Hatteras National Seashore -- this time involving a turtle nest -- and in turn seashore officials expanded the off-limits boundary area around the site.

While the National Park System protects wide swathes of officially designated wilderness, there are many, many wilderness-quality acres in the parks that are not so designated, though they are managed as de facto wilderness. President Obama, with hopes Americans would become more familiar with wilderness, has designated September as National Wilderness Month.

Fall can be a fantastic season to experience Glacier National Park, what with the crisp air, wildlife on the move, color streaking the forests, and crowds somewhere else. But road construction on the Going-to-the-Sun Road could complicate things for even the savviest traveler.