Let's face it: at National Parks Traveler, we're excited about summer in the National Park System. This summer will be particularly memorable for folks who are able to visit a park on August 21, when a total solar eclipse will darken a swath of the country, from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon, through Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and eastward into Congaree National Park in South Carolina.

Beginning on May 13 in Glacier National Park in Montana the spring hiker-biker shuttle that began last year will once again be available on the west side of the park. The shuttle will run on the weekends (and Memorial Day) and will stop at the Apgar Visitor Center, Lake McDonald Lodge, and Avalanche Creek (once the Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to Avalanche Creek).

If the National Park System had an "injured reserve" or "disabled list," as professional sports teams do, how might things look heading into the high summer season? Let's imagine...

In an age of digital overload, polarized politics, and the overwhelming rush of modern life, there’s a place you can go to recharge, rejuvenate, reconnect, and embrace a more simple time. There’s a dude ranch waiting for you out there, and more than likely it’s close to a national park if you want the best of both worlds (ranch and park worlds, that is).