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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Fall Color Without the Crowds at the Great Smoky Mountains or the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are justly famous for their fall color—and a flood of mid-October visitors. Can you avoid the heavy traffic and still enjoy some autumn foliage by timing your visit a bit earlier? Here's a Traveler trip report.

Traveler Special Report: Lack Of Dollars Crippling National Park Facilities For Staff And Visitors

Craftsmanship flowed through the main building and surrounding cabins the Civilian Conservation Corps built above the Current River in the hill country of southeastern Missouri. But the passage of nearly nine decades has taken a toll on the Big Springs Lodge and Cabins at today's Ozark National Scenic Riverways, where the National Park Service shuttered the buildings four years ago until they could be rehabilitated.

Essay | On Sharks, Bears, National Parks, And the Wildness Of Nature

Recents deaths in the National Park System traced to a great white shark and possibly a black bear should remind us of the dangers that reside in the park system. But we shouldn't strive to sanitize the parks of those risks. Wildlife are among the many incredible aspects of the parks. They must remain so, for their majesty, for what they bring to the ecosystems, and to remind us that we are not alone at the top of the food chain.

Fall Spectacular: What's That Sound? Where To Listen To -- And Look For -- Wildlife In The National Parks

In the fall, animals and birds prepare for winter. Bears eat constantly to fatten up before they slow down. Many birds are already on their migration path. Elk and other ungulates are preparing for the mating ritual, the rut. Take a look -- or stop and listen -- in many national parks this fall and you'll catch a glimpse of this autumnal spectacular.

Telethon Raises $210,000 For New Radio System At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Friends of the Smokies collected $210,525 in donations during its 24th annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon from hundreds of callers, online donations, and support from sponsors Dollywood, Mast General Store, Pilot Flying J, and SmartBank. The donations will support the organization’s 25th Anniversary Signature Project to upgrade Great Smoky Mountains National Park's emergency radio systems.

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

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The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

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