Trailhead
Navigate May permit drops without gambling your PTO: read each unit’s recreation.gov or NPS rules, set realistic alternates at adjacent forest service lands, respect walk-up quotas honestly, and show up prepared so rangers spend minutes not hours on your briefing.
Survive the first big outdoor weekend: book or walk-in with a plan B, pick sites that drain rain, set camp without colonizing the loop, manage kids and dogs like neighbors exist, and leave the place cleaner than the holiday rush found it.
How tariff revenue from 1870-1913 funded the federal budget that let Theodore Roosevelt protect over 230 million acres — with a rundown of the national parks, 18 national monuments, and forest expansion he drove, and where that legacy stands today.
Ten family winter activities—snowshoeing, dog sledding, backyard snow forts, ice skating, cabin stays, winter camping, sleigh rides, tubing, cross-country skiing, and northern lights viewing—with where-to-go ideas and practical tips for each.
Trip-planning guide to Redwood National and State Parks: how to get there, scenic drives, must-sees like Tall Trees Grove and Fern Canyon, hiking trails with mileages, campgrounds, food options, and nearby towns for lodging.
A first-timer's guide to Sequoia National Park: entrances and getting around, must-see stops like the General Sherman Tree and Moro Rock, hikes from easy loops to Alta Peak, plus camping, lodging, food, and safety basics.