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"The Last Spike" - Separating Fact From Tradition At Golden Spike National Historic Site

If you were a contestant on one of several TV shows that test your knowledge of famous historical events, how would you fare if the question involved the driving of the "golden spike" to mark the completion of the transcontinental railroad? If you happened to miss a key fact or two, you'd be in good company, and the staff at Golden Spike National Historic Site has to contend with some long-established traditions that don't quite "hit the nail on the head."

America’s Premier Hut System is 125 Years Old—A Classic Appalachian Trail Adventure

America’s premier hut system is 125 years old this year. Scattered for 56 miles along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in New Hampshire, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s system of 8 huts and two major lodges are all about a day’s hike apart. “This is an AT adventure of the first order,” says Rob Burbank, of the Appalachian Mountain Club. “Imagine an opportunity to hike one of the most rugged and spectacular sections of the Appalachian Trail with just a tooth brush in your pack!”

High-Tech Meets The Past Via Animated Fly-Through Tours Of Historic Locations

There are some historic features in the National Park System we just can't walk through in person, such as the remains of the Civil War gunboat USS Cairo at Vicksburg National Military Park. Now, thanks to some high-tech wizardry, anyone can take an animated "fly-through" and explore the interior of the ship—or five other historic locations around the country.

Sample Mountains-to-Sea Trail With May 4th Hike And Talk At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a thousand-mile route for hikers across North Carolina, and you can get a short sample with a two-hour hike followed by a talk about the trail on Saturday, May 4 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more qualified hike leader and speaker, because Danny Bernstein has walked the entire length of the trail,