Some portions of Voyageurs National Park have been placed off-limits, temporarily, to give nesting bald eagles a little peace and quiet while they raise their broods.

In the National Park Service, the acronym "VIP" usually stands for "Volunteers in Parks," but recent awards confirm an alternative meaning could be "Very Impressive Performance." The recipients of the 2009 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service were honored at a recent ceremony, and their work was impressive indeed.

Impacts from the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico are starting to be seen at Gulf Islands National Seashore, where some birds have come in contact with the oil and tarballs are coming ashore in some areas.

When you start looking at the numbers associated with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the "national park" that boasts the greatest visitation year after year after year, it's easy to get numbed. From the millions of dollars this park receives, and generates in tourism, to the number of visitors each year, Great Smoky is an over-achiever.