There are still a few days left to celebrate National Park Week, which runs from April 18-26.
Although it's too late to take advantage of a weekend of free admission to the country's national parks (that was last weekend)—there are still ways to celebrate America's Best Idea from the soft glow of your computer screen. Maybe that's all it will take to inspire a trip to a national park near or far.
The Los Angeles Times has put together a slideshow of great images from the 20 most-visited national parks, including some incredible photos from some of my personal favorites: Zion Canyon National Park in Utah (#8), Yellowstone National Park (#4), and Grand Canyon National Park (#2). Unfortunately, the photo for Glacier National Park (#10) is actually an image from Peyto Lake in Banff National Park in Canada. Thanks to Twitter user @joelpavila for pointing out that error.
Yahoo Travel also shares a series of the best selfies at national parks taken by both the Yahoo Travel Explorers and the Yahoo Travel staff. To accompany her selfie taken at the iconic tunnel view vantage point of Yosemite Valley, writer Lana Lee Neil offers the words Ansel Adams used to describe that park, but which could apply to many of the places in the national park system: "Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space."
FULL STORY: The 20 most-visited national parks in the U.S.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Overcrowding at Yosemite National Park
Long lines of cars have been trying to enter the park, with many stuck in traffic for hours and vehicles parked illegally in traffic lanes, on grass, and between rocks.
New National Monument Proposed South of Joshua Tree
The 700,000 acre monument would protect threatened species and important historic and cultural sites.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research