There are lotteries for landing backcountry campsites in the national parks, lotteries for winning the privilege for floating down the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park, and even lotteries for the chance to drive down the Denali Road in Denali National Park & Preserve during the fall color season.

It might seem obvious to readers of the Traveler why someone would travel hundreds, even thousands, of miles to visit one of our country’s amazing national parks. The experience of getting lost in nature, seeing wildlife, and hiking trails recharges your system. You feel refreshed, happier, energized and less stressed. That's why it's important to get our kids outside.

How many folks, if they had an extra million dollars, would offer it to a national park's friends group? At least one person is holding out that check to the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, which can claim the $1 million by matching it dollar-for-dollar by year's end.

A tall stoic man stood at the back of his pack, consumed by his own thoughts. He had been listening to an instructor from the Yellowstone Association. For a couple of days, he squinted into roadside spotting scopes and absorbed eloquent discourses on natural history. He was there with family members who arrived to watch wolves together in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park.